Welcome to the first edition of the KC Sports Network Newsletter!
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Welcome to the first edition of what a “normal” KC Sports Network newsletter is going to look like when our content kicks off consistently on July 1.
This early-morning newsletter will get fans up-to-date on everything that’s happening with the Chiefs that day. It will always include multiple items and there will be a rundown like you see above that lets you know everything that’s in the newsletter.
It will also always include the latest podcast, which will have been recorded the night before, so again, the information is always up to date.
Not only are we taking care of business on the podcast end of things, but you’re also going to get your daily fix of written content with KC Sports Network as well.
If it’s wanting to know breaking news the second it happens, we’ve got someone for that — his name is Matt Derrick and you can find him at 1 Arrowhead Drive whenever credentialed media are allowed back in the building. He’ll be sending off newsletters during the day to keep everyone updated and informed.
If you’re wanting next-level analysis on what’s happening between the white lines during the season, or from a salary cap perspective during the offseason, or you’re looking for the most in-depth NFL Draft coverage specific to the Chiefs anywhere — don’t worry — we’ve got some nerds who are best friends for that, too (see below).
We’ve also got three former NFL players on the squad — two who played for Andy Reid in Kansas City, one on each side of the ball in offensive lineman Jeff Allen and defensive lineman Mike DeVito. They’re joined by former K-State All-American and Super Bowl champion Nick Leckey to keep us honest with our written analysis and to make sure what we’re putting out there isn’t as wrong as a lot of what’s out there right now.
If that’s not enough, any time a player gets injured and you’re worried about what it means for him — you guessed it, we’ve got someone for that, too. Aaron Borgmann spent 12 years on NFL sidelines as an athletic trainer for the Chiefs and Eagles and he’ll drop by to provide some information whenever it’s needed as well.
Again, you can’t find a more well-rounded group of Chiefs’ analysts on one platform anywhere else. It probably won’t look, sound or feel like anything you’ve come across before, and that’s the point.
It’s quality content that gives you multiple perspectives on the Chiefs straight to your inbox every day.
Entertain. Educate. Inform. That’s what we’re going to do.
It’s almost that time again, Chiefs fans. The NFL’s 2021 schedule comes out Wednesday, May 12, giving a full scope of the Chiefs’ home and away slate, the bye week, the quick turn-around Thursday night game and the new 17th regular-season game.
Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said he wants to have fans at 100 percent capacity of the newly rebranded GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for 2021, so Wednesday’s announcement could bring about a flurry of attendance plans for the Chiefs faithful.
We know that the Chiefs will be on the road against the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, Washington Football Team and their usual AFC West opponents. That leaves nine home games (with the additional Week 18 affair this year) for Chiefs fans to choose from. Ahead of Wednesday’s schedule release, I’m going to rank the Chiefs’ home games worst-to-first for fans to hit up this 2021 season. Let’s get to it!
9. New York Giants
With no disrespect meant to Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley, the 2021 Giants likely won’t strike fear into the hearts of the reigning AFC Champs. They have a lot of young talent on the roster and an emerging defense under head coach Joe Judge but are likely a year or two away from being a major threat. This feels like a laid-back noon game with some casual tailgating and a loud crowd, but not at its peak.
The NFL Draft weekend doesn’t end with the Mr. Irrelevant selection every year. There are good football players who slip through the cracks at the conclusion of every draft. Undrafted free agents (UDFA) are another piece of the roster-building process — and if you have a good plan in place, you can reap the benefits.
Last year the Chiefs had 27 undrafted players suit up at one point on their active roster. NFL rosters are littered with players who have fought their way onto a roster despite not being selected in the draft.
Brett Veach has shown the ability to identify players on the margins and get quality production out of them. Undrafted free agents, practice squad players and reserve/future contract signees are known around here as lottery tickets: players that cost minimal investment that could pay off big with a cost-controlled addition to the 53-man roster.
It’s a numbers game — compile enough quality swings on ability with your undrafted free agents and reserve/future contracts and you’ll land on a couple of contributors. The Chiefs have been great about finding some quality lottery tickets. The list includes the likes of Darrel Williams, Andrew Wylie, Byron Pringle, Ben Niemann and Tershawn Wharton who started their careers in Kansas City as undrafted, practice squad or reserve/future contract players.
Wharton proved to be a great find in the UDFA process last season — turning into a quality rotational defensive lineman who showed promising burst and effort to disrupt plays along the interior. Who could be that guy this year? Here are three top candidates to be contributors and potential long-term additions to the 53-man roster.
CB Dicaprio Bootle, Nebraska
The former Cornhusker earned a fifth-round grade from us in the 2021 KC Draft Guide. He’s a player that profiles in the slot — a position where the Chiefs need additional depth. Should a player like Bootle hit, the Chiefs have more flexibility with 2020 fourth-round pick L’Jarius Sneed — a player who showed outstanding ability both inside and outside. Bootle isn’t a great athlete — or a big one — but possesses great instincts, football character and a willingness to stick his nose into the run fit despite not being the biggest guy.
S/LB Zayne Anderson, BYU
Daniel Sorensen isn’t getting any younger, so naturally, the Chiefs added another BYU alum to potentially replace him in the future. The athletic profiles are similar between Anderson and Sorensen. The skillsets are, too. Anderson could develop into a subpackage safety and fulfill some of the roles that Sorensen has held onto in the dime package — operating in the box in light personnel. Special teams will be critical for Anderson if he’s going to stick on the roster short term — and perhaps he can earn time on defense in the future.
CB DeAndre Baker
Baker is perhaps the most unique reserve/future contract in the entire NFL. He experienced many ups and downs already in his NFL career — drafted in the first round, released by the Giants due to an off-field incident a year later, signing to the Chiefs practice squad and breaking his leg in the one game he saw significant snaps in Week 17.
Baker was a practice squad call-up twice last season — and signed a reserve/future contract after the season. The talent is certainly there and the Chiefs felt comfortable with the infrastructure they have with their locker room and coaching staff to support Baker as he gets his career back on track. He should be ready for training camp or close to it, and the Chiefs believe in his talent. He could become a contributor as an outside corner if he continues on the track he’s been on. That would be a big get for a team that hasn’t invested all too much in the cornerback position historically in the Veach era.
First of all, I wanted to thank every single one of you who took the time out of your day to come by and check us out this week. We appreciate every single one of you, and you are one of the driving forces behind us starting this new venture.
I wanted to kick off the newsletter with something that we are excited about in regards to the upcoming Kansas City Chiefs season. As anyone who already knows me is aware — and others will quickly find out, I’m sure — I love the NFL Draft. It will come as no surprise that something I am excited about is tied to the Chiefs’ rookie draft class.
In the last three seasons with Brett Veach at the helm, the Chiefs have seen their rookie class play 1,362 snaps, 2,050 snaps and 1,553 snaps respectively. Last year injuries to Clyde Edwards-Helaire and L’Jarius Sneed drove down the total number of snaps played or it likely would have ended up near the 2,000-mark as well. The Chiefs have been able to get valuable snaps and playing time out of their rookies over the past few seasons and I’m curious to see if that trend continues with the 2021 Draft class.
When you look at the past draft classes, there have been some players netting big snap numbers early on in their career. Juan Thornhill, Mecole Hardman, Breeland Speaks and Derrick Nnadi all join Sneed and Edwards-Helaire in playing more than 400 snaps in their rookie season.
If the Chiefs are to continue the trend of a high snap count for their rookies, a couple of players will have to hit that benchmark again. Fortunately for them, center Creed Humphrey and linebacker Nick Bolton look to be in prime positions to compete for starting roles. The next question is which other player can get on the field to help push the 2019 Draft class total of 2,050 snaps?
Can Joshua Kaindoh show enough development in training camp to get some run as a positional pass rusher? Is Cornell Powell’s route running and ability to beat press coverage enough to get him on the field? Will it be Noah Gray excelling in a new-age H-Back type role? Or will Trey Smith come out as healthy as can be and win a starting job at some point in the season?
There are multiple avenues for this team to continue their trend of playing rookies early in their careers, it’s just a matter of who will join Humphrey and Bolton as the biggest contributors in year one.
Chiefs set dates for offseason workouts
The Chiefs are set to host a rookie minicamp in eight days followed by voluntary workouts on May 25 but the outlook remains hazy on whether players will attend.
The NFL announced minicamp and organized team practice activity (OTA) dates for all 32 clubs on Thursday. The Chiefs plan to host their rookie minicamp May 14-16. OTA workouts are set for May 25-27, June 1-3 and June 8-11. The mandatory team minicamp is set for June 15-17.
The rookie minicamp and OTA practices are voluntary activities. Players are not required to attend, and the NFL Players Association is encouraging players to bypass the voluntary sessions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league made its offseason virtual last year with no in-person practices until training camp.