Ranking the Kansas City Chiefs by Position

The Sporting News has been ranking the top 20 players at each position in the NFL. Last week we went over the quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, guards, centers and tackles. Matt Cassel and Brian Waters were the only ones to appear on that list.

Today, we'll be completing the offense with the running back and fullback rankings, along with the defense: outside linebacker, defensive ends, inside linebacker and defensive tackle.

Running back - No Chiefs (#1 - Adrian Peterson, Vikings - Full list here)

Wow. When we talk about Larry Johnson's stock plummeting this is what we mean. As much as I've criticized LJ, he is a top 20 back in this league. As of now, is a rookie like Chris "Beanie" Wells really better than LJ?

Fullback - No Chiefs (#1 - Greg Jones, Jaguars - Full list here)

I'm not sure many people in the NFL outside of Kansas City know who MIke Cox is (that's what she said).

Defensive tackle - No Chiefs (#1 - Albert Haynesworth, Redskins - Full list here)

Maybe in two years Tank Tyler will crack this list. Or maybe Glenn Dorsey...if we go back to the 4-3.

Defensive End - No Chiefs (#1 - Jared Allen, Vikings - Full list here)

These rankings don't look too fondly on the end who was ranked 106th in the NFL last year (Tamba Hali).

Outside linebacker - #12 Mike Vrabel (#1 - DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys - Full list here)

Vrabel is getting up in years and coming off a subpar season, but he will have an important leadership role in the Chiefs' transition to a 3-4 scheme. Coordinator Clancy Pendergast likes to play the matchup game and mix looks, and Vrabel can play just about anywhere, even on offense.

Inside linebacker - No Chiefs (#1 - Brian Urlacher, Bears - Full list here)

Zach Thomas is an acceptable inside linebacker (assuming he's healthy) but certainly isn't in the top 20 category anymore. Derrick Johnson is moving to the middle this season.

After the jump I included the write up of the other positions linked above.

Quarterback - #20 Matt Cassel (#1 - Peyton Manning, Colts - Full list here)

Cassel wildly exceeded expectations in New England last year, but a good portion of his success can be attributed to the Patriots' system. New coach Todd Haley certainly will play to Cassel's strengths, inserting him in a pass-first, shotgun-heavy attack. Smart coaching and a favorable system are enough to keep him on this list, but he will not be lining up behind Patriots' line or have Randy Moss and Wes Welker outside. And it remains to be seen whether RB Larry Johnson has anything left to offer.

I'm wiling to cede the argument that Chad Pennington (#19) is better than Cassel, but I will not agree that Jason Campbell (#18) and Matt Schaub (#17) are better options.

Wide Receiver - No Chiefs (#1 - Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals - Full list here)

No real arguments here. While Bowe is an excellent receiver whose put up over 2,000 yards in his first two years, numbers that don't come around very often, he's not in the elite category yet. Maybe that's because of the oft-cited dropped balls issue or that he hasn't had a great quarterback throwing to him, but he's not a top 20 receiver...yet.

Tight End - #2 Tony Gonzalez No Chiefs (#1 - Jason Witten, Cowboys - Full list here)

Of course Brad Cottam, who has never started a game for the Chiefs, isn't on the list. Tony Gonzalez should be #1, but that's a different argument for a different day.

Center - No Chiefs (#1 - Nick Mangold, Jets - Full list here)

Rudy Niswanger is a converted guard playing center. The Chiefs signed Eric Ghiaciuc, who wasn't re-signed by the Bengals.

Guard - #3 Brian Waters (#1 - Steve Hutchinson, Vikings - Full list here)

Despite getting off to a shaky start with the new boss, Waters is a former Pro Bowler and the Chiefs' best lineman. Scott Pioli and Todd Haley know it, which is why Waters didn't go anywhere during draft weekend despite numerous rumors indicating he might be dealt. He is 32 years old, but his combination of strength and agility is hard to find in a man his size.

No surprise here. Even at 34 years old Waters is one of the best in the game.

Tackle - No Chiefs (#1 - Ryan Clady, Broncos - Full list here)

I won't argue that Clady should be #1 since he gave up 1/2 a sack last season but no Brandon Albert is a bit surprising. He gave up 4 sacks in his rookie year.

***

I agree with the majority of this list. I would strongly disagree with the running back rankings. Larry Johnson is still a top 20 talent in this league, especially when he's compared to rookies.

I can see the argument that Dwayne Bowe should be in the top 20 wide receiver rankings. He's had 2,000 yards in his first two seasons. Then again, people keep pointing to him dropping balls.

Poll

Do you agree or disagree with the Chiefs rankings?

Agree

95 votes

Disagree

141 votes

Ambivalent; explain in comments

26 votes

262 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 11 comments | Share

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Comments

I voted no

Because I think a lot of the players on the Chiefs are in the top 20 of their position, they just havent proved it yet because most of the players are in new positions or on a new team or rookies.

by Grand Master A on May 24, 2009 1:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You took the words right out of my mouth.

We have many reasons to be optimistic. The Chiefs will improve significantly this year. LJ won’t have the Adrian Jones / Damien McIntosh handicap he had last year, hopefully. This alone should improve our running game. Dwayne Bowe will have a better QB throwing him passes this year, and we’ll see him improve because of it. We have brought in players on defense who aren’t going to be content to look like bitches.

We got rid of a coach who’s foolish conservative philosophy took us out of games we were winning almost every time, and a GM who treated our players like his kids, instead of the employees they are. Sure, these moves may not have any great impact on this coming season, but it brightens our future in a big way.

And, let us not forget, we may only need to win 8 games to make the playoffs.

by GonzosDirtyTrailer on May 25, 2009 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

furthermore

where is Larry Johnson? off the field problems aside he is an awsome RB.

by Grand Master A on May 24, 2009 1:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

I agree. Love him or hate him he’s better then and proven more then quite a few of the guys on that list. McFadden that high?

by GenericBrand on May 24, 2009 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not just disagree about Chiefs....

Calvin Johnson at 11? This guy is forgotten about because he’s in Detroit but Id have him top 3 for sure. I think Bowe is talented enough to be considered top 20(just barely), Chad Johnson’s ship has sailed so he’d be the guy out of the top 20 to make room for Bowe.

Tony Gonzalez maybe not be a Chief but this would be based on what he’s done as a Chief and for him to not be #1 at that position is ludicrous. Might sound biased but based on even what he did last year alone would prove he’s still better then Witten.

I know he’s still “unproven” but I think I’d still put Cassel ahead of Shaub, Campbell and probably even Delhomme. Pennington and Flacco as of now would still be ahead of him.

I didn’t know Vrabel would be that high but then when I look at the players behind them and don’t even know who most of them are then I guess that makes sense.

by GenericBrand on May 24, 2009 1:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

agreed Calvin will prove that hes #1 with a decent quarterback

by SayHeyWerd on May 24, 2009 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Even with just a consistent QB. I mean look at the numbers he put up with the revolving door of Qbs last year including Dan “I ran through the back of the endzone?” Orlovsky.

by GenericBrand on May 24, 2009 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs