The Kansas City Chiefs fell one win short of returning to the playoffs in 2014. To move forward, the team must address its shortcomings at wide receiver as well as along the offensive line and secondary.
2015 NFL depth charts: Chiefs looking for receivers who can actually score a touchdown
Kansas City needs to figure out which of its wideouts reverse a yearlong trend of scoreless play as well as resolve its ongoing offensive line woes.
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While the Chiefs did bring in plenty of talent through free agency and the draft, they also lost several important players. Starting center Rodney Hudson joined a worryingly long list of offensive linemen who have departed in recent years. Kansas City also saw utility blocker and occasional starter Jeff Linkenbach leave for Miami. The line could prove an issue even if injuries are minimal.
The Chiefs also revamped their receiving corps. Pro Bowler Jeremy Maclin signed a multi-year deal with the team to take over as the lead wideout, but the rest of the group offers little proven ability.
As for the secondary, it could prove to be either a strength or weakness depending on the early development of the rookies, and whether Eric Berry is able to play this season. Berry is currently away from football while he deals with cancer treatment.
Let’s take a look at the Chiefs’ important position battles:
Offensive line
Projected depth chart:
LT: Eric Fisher, Curtis Feigt
LG: Ben Grubbs, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
C: Eric Kush, Mitch Morse
RG: Jeff Allen, Paul Fanaika
RT: Donald Stephenson, Derek Sherrod
Rookies: Mitch Morse
The Chiefs have lost at least one starter along the offensive line each of the last two offseasons. In 2014, guard Jon Asamoah departed in free agency while Branden Albert was traded to the Miami Dolphins to open up left tackle for Eric Fisher. This year, Hudson accepted the Oakland Raiders' Brinks truck in order to head for Northern California. Losing 60 percent of a starting line in such a short amount of time is problematic on its own. The departures prove even worse when the replacements fail to live up to expectations.
Fisher has greatly disappointed since the Chiefs invested the No. 1 overall pick on him two years ago. He allowed seven sacks in 2014 according to Pro Football Focus. Jeff Allen gave Kansas City just one game last season, further depleting the unit. Hudson performed well, but now he's gone.
Aside from the possibility of Fisher putting it together in 2015, the Chiefs face the prospect of another difficult year along the line. Former third-round pick Donald Stephenson, a part-time starter thus far in his career, must provide at least adequate play in order to give his quarterback a fighting chance.
Also important is the battle at center. While fans often overlook the position, the amount of responsibility heaped on the starter is second only to the quarterback. Eric Kush has played in only two games since entering the league, and rookie Mitch Morse must transition from tackle.
Wide receiver
Projected depth chart: Jeremy Maclin, De'Anthony Thomas, Jason Avant, Albert Wilson, Chris Conley, Da'Ron Brown
Rookies: Chris Conley, Da’Ron Brown
Barring injury, Jeremy Maclin will lead the Chiefs wideouts in all major receiving categories in 2015. He comes off the best season of his career, an 85 catch, 1,318-yard campaign that also saw him haul in 10 touchdowns. That production came while playing with Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez at quarterback, which suggests that he can remain productive with Alex Smith at the controls.
Everything behind him remains shrouded in mystery. De’Anthony Thomas is an explosive playmaker, but he’s mostly a gadget player that requires the offense to manufacture ways to get him the football in space. Jason Avant is an old Andy Reid favorite, but he isn’t a starting-caliber receiver at this point in his career. Albert Wilson showed some ability towards the end of 2014, but his size (5’9, 200 pounds) limits his utility.
The wildcard is third-round rookie Chris Conley, an all-world athlete lacking polish. If he follows a similar trajectory to that of the Steelers' Martavis Bryant, Conley could become a meaningful deep threat at some point this season.
Secondary
Projected depth chart:
LCB: Marcus Peters, Phillip Gaines
FS: Husain Abdullah, Kelcie McCray
SS: Eric Berry*, Ron Parker, Tyvon Branch
RCB: Sean Smith, Sanders Commings, Steven Nelson
Rookies: Marcus Peters, Steven Nelson
There are two versions of the Kansas City secondary, the one with Eric Berry and the one without him.
With Berry, the group has multiple big-play threats at safety, allowing for big cornerbacks Sean Smith and Marcus Peters to take more risks on the outside. That’s particularly important for Peters, who was selected in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft and expects to be thrust into the starting lineup immediately.
Minus Berry, free agent Ron Parker takes over at safety. Parker has performed well in pass coverage last season for the Chiefs, but he is a liability against the run and doesn’t have Berry’s ball skills. The Chiefs can survive with him as a starter, but he’s better as a role player in sub packages.
Regardless of whether Berry plays in 2015, the team must determine their best option at nickelback. Phillip Gaines was shaky during his first season but could take a significant leap in Year 2. Joining him is third-round rookie Steven Nelson, a 5’10 corner with eight interceptions during his final two seasons at Oregon State.
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