Arrowheadlines: The Chiefs passing attack added another weapon in Clyde Edwards-Helaire

The latest

Clyde Edwards-Helaire can ‘thrive’ early in Chiefs’ passing game | ESPN

“It started early on, me being a receiving back in high school,” said Edwards-Helaire, who the Chiefs drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. “I was on the same team as Derrius Guice in high school ... so I had to find a different way to get on the field. They wanted me to get on the field so I started playing slot receiver, and I kind of hopped back and forth from slot to the backfield in a two-back set, so ultimately it was just kind of something that was part of my DNA.”

What each No. 1 pick still in the NFL has to prove in 2020 | SB Nation

2013: LT Eric Fisher, Chiefs

What he has to prove: He’s still worth his $11.5 million salary

Fisher has been a starter in Kansas City since he was drafted. Although his rookie season wasn’t great, he’s been a solid offensive lineman each year since then. But Fisher missed half of last season due to a groin injury, then returned in November in time for the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run.

Fisher might be looking over his shoulder a bit next season, though. In the 2020 NFL Draft, the Chiefs selected TCU OT Lucas Niang in the third round, which might give KC the opportunity to move on from Fisher after this season.

I’ll let Arrowhead Pride explain:

Although the expectation is for Niang to be kicked inside this season, the Chiefs may decide to move him back outside to tackle in 2021. If he is capable, the team gives itself the option of moving on from Fisher. If they do decide to release the No. 1 pick of the 2013 NFL Draft, the Chiefs would free up $11.5 million in cap room.

Fisher has been a fixture in Kansas City and will still be tasked with protecting Patrick Mahomes this season. As long as he stays healthy, he can remind the Chiefs why they drafted him so high in the first place.

2020 NFL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, plus post-draft winners for every team | ESPN

1. Kansas City Chiefs

Post-free-agency ranking: 1

Player who benefited: QB Patrick Mahomes. Drafting RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire not only gives the team another threat, but is another sign that the Chiefs are committed to surrounding Mahomes with top offensive skill players. Kansas City won a Super Bowl with Damien Williams as the featured back, and other capable runners are on the roster, but the Chiefs weren’t satisfied. They felt like they had to take it up another notch, and Mahomes is the main beneficiary. — Adam Teicher

What debate? Watson, Mahomes leave Trubisky in past | Houston Chronicle

The Chiefs traded away the No. 27 overall pick, a third-round selection and a 2018 first-round pick for their franchise-changer at No. 10.

The Texans followed the charge — stunning their fanbase and instantly altering their organization at the same time — by leaping up from No. 25, and sending that pick and a 2018 first-round selection to Cleveland for the opportunity to land Watson at No. 12.

Mahomes was consistently doubted throughout the silly mock-draft process. Watson was once viewed as a late first-rounder. Both selections have obviously already worked out and now the only remaining questions are the big ones.

How many Super Bowls is Mahomes going to win?

Will Watson lead the Texans to their first AFC Championship game, then their first Super Bowl stage and world championship trophy?

New England Patriots should consider signing veteran QB Matt Moore | Musket Fire

That quarterback is Matt Moore, who just contributed to the Kansas City Chiefs winning the Super Bowl last year.

Moore went undrafted in 2007 and has spent his career being a backup quarterback for multiple teams, but most recently last year with the Kansas City Chiefs. After spending a year out of football, Moore was the current coach of a high school team when the Chiefs signed him in the wake of an injury to Chad Henne, who was the original backup to Patrick Mahomes.

Due to a dislocated kneecap that had Mahomes sidelined for two weeks, Moore stepped in and went 1-1 while providing solid outings in the absence of Mahomes.

The most impressive part of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run last year has to be when Mahomes went down and Moore stepped up to the plate for Kansas City, thus showing that he is in fact a quality backup quarterback on a good team.

Examining the difference in the Watson and Mahomes fifth-year options | Pro Football Network

Deshaun Watson’s fifth-year option salary

In contrast, Watson, who was the 12th overall pick in 2017, will have his fifth-year option salary calculated very differently. The salary for players selected outside of the top-10 has their salary calculated as the average salary of the third through 25th highest-paid players at their position. That number is expected to be $17.54 million, over $7 million less than Mahomes.

LeBron James earned the Kids’ Choice Generation Change Award | Silver Screen and Roll (LA Lakers SB Nation site)

LeBron James likely would have been in the running for NBA end-of-season awards if the league weren’t currently suspended. Even so, James is still being recognized for his work on and off the court.

The Lakers superstar earned favorite male sports star at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards Saturday, beating out a loaded field including Cristiano Ronaldo, Patrick Mahomes, Shaun White, Tom Brady, and Stephen Curry.

AFC West Analysis: Futility against Chiefs drove offseason plans for challengers | The Denver Post

The Chargers signed cornerback Chris Harris and defensive tackle Linval Joseph and drafted first-round linebacker Kenneth Murray to join a defense that gave up the league’s sixth-fewest yards last year.

“Kansas City’s offense can fly,” Telesco told the Los Angeles media. “It’s more than just covering those fast guys. It’s about getting to the quarterback, too.”

This Chiefs Fan’s Man Cave is Absolutely Fantastic | 12 Up

Just look at all of those autographed jerseys and helmets! Most sports fans are lucky to own one of each. Oh, and he’s got a glowing Chiefs logo to help illuminate the cave at night while watching the plethora of the team’s primetime games.

But perhaps what puts this Chiefs room above the rest is his Super Bowl ‘legends cabinet,’ which is devoted to the team’s two Super Bowl victories. Items inside include autographed cards from Len Dawson and Travis Kelce, singed cleats, and even a Super Bowl LIV-themed Bud Light bottle from the big game in Miami!

Travis Kelce is still the fantasy TE1 | Roto Baller

Yes, tight ends aren’t always able to maintain their explosiveness after the age of 30, but Kelce’s able to win in a variety of ways as a receiver and should still have multiple seasons left as an elite fantasy option. The only short term downside for Kelce is the cost, as he’s going to be one of two tight ends going in the first two rounds; some fantasy owners aren’t huge on paying such a price for this position. But Kelce is going to return value at a shallow position and is more than worth a second round pick in 2020. In fact, don’t be surprised if Kelce winds up having a better 2020 than 2019, especially if his touchdown rate can look more like it had in 2017 and 2018.

Around the NFL

LA Chargers: Justin Herbert is in the best situation to succeed | Bolt Beat

That isn’t inherently bad for a rookie quarterback, but we’ve seen more examples in recent years where quarterbacks succeed after coming into better teams. Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are two examples of rookies that came into fairly good situations after a team with talent traded up for them.

The Chargers did finish 5-11 in 2019, but they’re a year removed from a 12-4 season with much of the same high-end talent still on the team. Cincinnati and Miami don’t have players that are on the same level as Keenan Allen, Joey Bosa, or Derwin James. Both teams picked solid prospects in the draft that have potential, but having some established veteran stars is important for a younger quarterback.

Bills ‘the most complete team’ but not the Patriots’ lone AFC East challenger | NBC Sports

The Dolphins did add a lot of talent to their team especially with their three first-round draft picks of QB Tua Tagovailoa, OT Austin Jackson, and CB Noah Igbinoghene, and they also added a lot of talent in free agency. Notably, they signed former Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy to a four-year deal, cornerback Byron Jones to a deal worth over $80 million in total, and former Patriots center Ted Karras to patch some of their biggest weaknesses.

And given how hard they played for Flores last year, perhaps they’ll be ready to make a bit of a leap to be even more competitive in 2020.

Why the NFL Canceled the International Series, Don Shula’s Florida Impact, More NFL Notes | MAQB

We got our answer on Monday on the International Series, with those five games brought back stateside, as expected. One of the primary reasons why is really interesting—and sheds some light into the NFL’s planning for the fall. As the league worked with London mayor Sadiq Khan, and officials from Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur in the UK, and Televisa in Mexico, the differences in circumstances from country to country became apparent. As part of returning to the field in the fall, the NFL plans to implement strict protocols at its stadiums, I’m told, and it was clear in talks that it was going to be hard to impose the same ones internationally at venues that would only be hosting a game or two. Of course, the bigger reasons center on how problematic sending hundreds of people to and from foreign countries is at this juncture. But it’s at least notable that the protocols that are being planned are stringent enough to have played a role in scuttling those dates.

Colts declining safety Malik Hooker’s fifth-year option | NFL.com

Hooker, the 15th overall selection in the 2017 draft, missed half of his rookie season but has been a staple of Indy’s defense ever since. In three seasons, Hooker has made 33 starts, logged 11 passes defensed and two fumble recoveries and intercepted seven passes.

The safety will make $2.18 million in the fourth and final season of his rookie deal, in what now will be a contract year.

In case you missed it at Arrowhead Pride

Clark Hunt issues statement on the late Don Shula

HUNT: “Without a doubt, Don Shula was one of the greatest coaches in the history of any sport. Over the course of his remarkable 33 seasons as a head coach, Coach Shula had a profound impact on the game he loved, paving the way for the exciting brand of offensive football that has become a mainstay in the modern NFL. No one coached more games or won more games than Coach Shula, and his 1972 Dolphins set a standard for perfection that has never been duplicated. On behalf of my family and the entire Chiefs organization, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Shula family and the Miami Dolphins.”

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