Arrowheadlines: The Chiefs Super Bowl window has only just opened

The latest

The Five Types of NFL Title Windows | The Ringer

When you look at NFL title windows in this way, Patrick Mahomes’s mind-boggling contract doesn’t seem so, well, mind-boggling. Mahomes has shown enough in two seasons to prove that he’s the future of the NFL and one of the most gifted passers to ever step onto a football field. And while his rookie contract has helped the Chiefs field a Super Bowl roster, the team should also expect to be in contention even when Mahomes’s cap hit rises north of $40 million and even $50 million. He’s just that good.

If anything, the length of the contract gives the Chiefs a major roster-building advantage, because they know exactly what Mahomes will cost them for a long time. Recent history shows that a team with a quarterback as good as Mahomes can contend for championships for more than a decade. The Chiefs are planning for exactly that.

Why the Chiefs had no problem re-signing their top players | ESPN

Winning

Not only are the Chiefs defending Super Bowl champions, but the future looks good. Many of their better players are still young in football terms. Mahomes is 24, Jones 26, Tyreek Hill 26, Frank Clark 27 and Tyrann Mathieu 28. Among their best players, only Kelce at 30 and Mitchell Schwartz at 31 are at an advanced football age.

“Guys want to be around a winning atmosphere,” Henne said. “Obviously, a Super Bowl helps, but when you’re around guys who want to compete each and every day and fight for one another, I think it’s definitely just something that you want to be a part of. Throughout my career, ups and downs, winning [and] losing, winning is the way to go. We have great tradition here and a lot of great people around us.”

History suggests Chiefs GM Brett Veach could look to make some trades soon | Chiefs Wire

In August ahead of the 2018 season, the Chiefs added Jordan Lucas in trade with the Dolphins. They also added current starting CB Charvarius Ward in a trade sending draft pick Parker Ehinger to the Cowboys.

Finally, when Veach took over in 2017, some of his first decisions as general manager included trades. He acquired both OL Cam Erving and LB Reggie Ragland in trades ahead of the start of the season.

Now, this COVID-19 affected season will obviously be much different. Veach and his staff won’t have preseason game film to use as an evaluation tool when it comes to acquiring players.

Ranking the top 10 young offensive cores in the NFL: Cowboys near the top, Giants land in top five | CBS Sports

6. Kansas City Chiefs

QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB Darwin Thompson, WR Mecole Hardman

Mahomes is truly a transcendent quarterback talent — the first of that rare kind since Aaron Rodgers — so his presence alone gets the Chiefs on this list. Edwards-Helaire is an ideal fit as a pass-catching, in-space specialist for Andy Reid’s system. Thompson is another small, compact receiving back with suddenness who theoretically could be a productive backup to CEH this season.

Hardman doesn’t have the agility of Tyreek Hill and is a tick slower, yet severely threatens a defense with 4.33 speed. As a rookie, the former Georgia star had four touchdowns of more than 40 yards. Hill and Travis Kelce are the horses in this offense, but the Chiefs have begun to plan for the future with Mahomes signed to a decade-long contract.

Colin Cowherd Ranks His Top 10 NFL Fan Bases | The Spun

Cowherd also gave props to the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos. Honestly, it’s odd to see him rank the Seahawks at fifth because he’s always been a fan of that franchise. You’d think he’d place them somewhere in the top three.

The top three for Cowherd consists of the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers. It makes sense that Green Bay earned the top spot on the power rankings since its fan base travels everywhere.

Around the NFL

Ashley Roethlisberger opens up about ‘challenging’ 2019 offseason for marriage with Ben Roethlisberger | ESPN

“Last year’s offseason was probably one of the most challenging offseasons that we’ve had in our marriage,” said Ashley, referring to the criticism Roethlisberger faced after the departure of Antonio Brown and the tumult that ensued as people around the league admonished Roethlisberger for his handling of the locker room. “Personally, there were disappointments. Professionally, I understand criticism is part of the job. I get that. I wish it wasn’t, but I get it. But last year seemed different.”

Top 3 NFL wide receivers by route: Michael Thomas reigns | NFL.com

GO ROUTE

1 - DeVante Parker

Miami Dolphins · WR

This route is a little easier to explain, primarily because of one infallible truth: Everyone loves the long ball.

Parker went deep plenty in 2019, running 155 go routes and seeing 36 targets on those routes. However, he finds himself atop this list because of his league-leading 396 receiving yards and five touchdowns on go routes, which came as a result of 13 receptions and a 4.6% catch rate above expectation on such routes. His reception total was also the most in the NFL on go routes (minimum 75 total targets, regardless of route). Simply put, no one was more prolific on the go route than Parker.

Jadeveon Clowney to Raiders? Yannick Ngakoue to Jets? Nine moves NFL teams should make RIGHT NOW | NFL.com

9) Cincinnati Bengals should keep A.J. Green in bubble wrap until Week 1

I’ve long argued that Green is a Hall of Famer. I’ve short argued that the Bengals’ offense is going to be great in Year 1 with uniquely talented rookie Joe Burrow at quarterback.

Green didn’t play a down last season and he’s been nicked this preseason. As a great leader — and a fantastic target for Burrow — his value to this Cincy roster cannot be overstated. Keep him in bubble wrap. He will respond when called upon in Week 1. Green’s the ultimate pro.

Carolina Panthers to sign XFL star receiver Cam Phillips | ESPN

Phillips led the XFL with 455 receiving yards in five games. He also had nine touchdowns, including three from Walker during a Week 3 game in which Phillips had eight catches for 194 yards.

Phillips will add depth at a position that has been depleted by injuries. Omar Bayless had arthroscopic knee surgery on Tuesday and is out 2-4 weeks. Keith Kirkwood suffered a shoulder injury in practice that required surgery. Seth Roberts is in the concussion protocol.

In case you missed it at Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs among four teams (so far) to play with fans in 2020

“It’s going to be very hard because some stadiums they’re allowing people in and it looks like we’re not going to have any fans in there early, which really stinks because we have unbelievable fans, and they make that place rocking every Sunday,” said Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer on Friday, per NFL.com. “But the best way to have homefield advantage is to play really good. Execute, make tackles, don’t make mistakes, don’t commit penalties, turnovers, all those things.”

Zimmer made a good point. Not every NFL team is a powerhouse at home and a creampuff on the road. Including postseason games since Andy Reid’s arrival in 2013, the Chiefs are 44-18 (71%) at home and 37-22 (63%) on the road — and of course, 1-0 in neutral site games. By way of comparison, the Chiefs teams led by head coach Marty Schottenheimer were 64-20 (76%) at home and 40-45-1 (47%) on the road.

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