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The latest
The offseason for the Chiefs has thus far been headlined by the unexpected decision to move on from starting tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, whose absence basically cost them any shot at defeating Brady and a visceral Bucs defense. They’ve since worked toward bringing in more talent at the edges, but there’s no way they can pass on a player like Radunz with their first pick. He sets them up for success at the left tackle position both now and later, and can also move to right tackle, if and as needed. With more protection for former league and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes in tow, adding another offensive weapon would stretch Mahomes’ smile even further — the loss of Watkins can easily be repaired (and upgraded) by the addition of Moore to go along with the speedy Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman.
Gregory Rousseau EDGE
Kansas City
The Chiefs added Jarran Reed in free agency, but they need more edge rushers. Rousseau had 15.5 sacks in ‘19 before opting out, but was impressive in his recent pro day and the former wide receiver is only going to get better as a pass rusher.
In my pick for the most interesting QB draft of the decade, the Chicago Bears traded up one spot to make sure they got their guy, one-year starter Mitch Trubisky, at second overall. This move seems comical in hindsight, given who they left on the board. But it was not seen as crazy at the time at all. Trubisky was widely considered to be the favorite to be the first QB taken. NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks even called the pick number correctly. Trubisky has just begun the second phase of his career, as a backup to Josh Allen in Buffalo. After Mahomes and Watson were selected second and third, no more notable QBs were selected in this draft.
Keeping Kansas City out of 2026 World Cup would be a mistake | The Stylus
The United States will have 10 host cities, which must be narrowed down from a pool of 17 that have made the final cut— which includes Kansas City. Kansas City’s bid is being organized by Kansas City Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt as well as Sporting KC Principal Owner and Cerner Corporation co-founder Cliff Illig.
Kansas City’s bid has a lot going for it, like the number of quality facilities that could host teams, games being played at a renovated Arrowhead Stadium with a capacity of 69,070, being within a four-hour flight to the furthest host cities, and already proving to be an American hotbed for soccer.
Assuming the largest cities are most likely to be chosen, Kansas City’s biggest competition are Nashville, Cincinnati and Denver. From these four cities, there will likely only be one or two selected. Still, Kansas City should stand as the frontrunner.
Compared to those other cities, Kansas City clearly is the best fit. It has experience hosting the biggest sporting events in America such as the AFC Championship, the World Series, All-Star games for MLB and MLS, and the MLS Cup.
Kansas City also has a number of training facilities that could host teams, including Sporting KC’s current training facility, Compass Minerals National Performance Center.
NFL power rankings: 2021 free agency, pre-draft trades boost Rams, 49ers, Cowboys | USA Today
2. Chiefs (3): They’ve made very nice pickups on both sides of the line scrimmage – notably OL Joe Thuney and Kyle Long and DT Jarran Reed – and should get G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif back from his opt-out year, though still not clear who QB Patrick Mahomes’ tackles will be in 2021.
Around the NFL
New Baltimore Ravens WR Sammy Watkins says QB Lamar Jackson can be elite if players get open | ESPN
Watkins said he believes Lamar Jackson can become an “elite” quarterback in the NFL if the Ravens’ wide receivers get better separation for him.
“It takes guys getting open to be great and look great and be the Patrick Mahomes of the world and be Tom Brady,” Watkins said. “You got to have that No. 1 receiver or that No. 2 or that No. 3 nowadays to go out there and be successful and literally throw the ball with your eyes closed and be unconscious. If I can go out there and be healthy and the other wideouts can make plays ... we can be a balanced offense. [If] we get open when we need to get open, I think Lamar can throw for those 4,000 yards or those 4,500 yards [or] 5,000 [yards] — whatever these guys are putting up. I think he can be that quarterback and be elite in this game.”
New York Jets trade QB Sam Darnold to Carolina Panthers for 3 draft picks | ESPN
In return for Darnold, the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2018, the Jets received three picks: a sixth-rounder in the 2021 draft later this month and a second-rounder and fourth-rounder in 2022.
Without a proven quarterback on the roster, the Jets are expected to select Darnold’s replacement with the No. 2 overall pick in the April 29 draft in Cleveland (on ESPN and the ESPN App). The leading candidate is BYU’s Zach Wilson, who has met virtually multiple times with the Jets’ brass.
If the Jets do select a quarterback at No. 2 overall they would become the first team in the common draft era (since 1967) to select two quarterbacks within the top three overall picks in a four-year span, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
According to King, the league will replace the doubleheader with a Week 18 Saturday doubleheader on Jan. 8, 2022 — which will feature two games involving teams with playoff implications. The Saturday doubleheader in the final week of the regular season was added in the NFL’s new television contracts, and will begin this season.
The one Week 1 “Monday Night Football” game is expected to start at 8:15 p.m. ET, the same time as the other Monday games during the season. The “Monday Night Football” doubleheader was a staple on the schedule since 2006, as the late game (typically starting at 10:15 p.m. ET), featured West Coast teams. The doubleheader in Week 18 can feature any team in the league that’s fighting for a playoff spot or division title, and won’t be limited geographically.
Former Washington, Seahawks CB Quinton Dunbar signing with Lions on one-year deal | NFL.com
Dunbar is a six-season veteran who garnered six starts with the Seahawks last year and is heading to Motown on a one-year deal.
Ranked No. 83 among Gregg Rosenthal’s Top 101 free agents of 2021, Dunbar heads to the Lions under the new Dan Campbell regime on a prove-it deal for himself and as a low-risk, high-reward addition for Detroit’s rebuild.
Heading into his age-29 season, Dunbar is likely to compete for snaps with Amani Oruwariye and Corn Elder at cornerback with 2020 No. 3 overall pick Jeff Okudah locked into the starting lineup.
In case you missed it at Arrowhead Pride
The AP Nerd Squad picks a full seven-round Chiefs mock draft
94. WR Seth Williams, Auburn
Williams is a receiver who has a skillset the Chiefs need to stockpile. He profiles as an X receiver who can win above the rim and outside the numbers. The Chiefs would be smart to add a bigger-bodied receiver who can get the ball at the catch point, play physically through contact and be a force in the red zone. Williams has the tools to do just that.
A tweet to make you think
Patrick Mahomes First 46 Career Starts:
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) April 4, 2021
NFL All-time Rank
38 Wins 1st
108.7 Pass Rating 1st
114 Pass TD 1st
14,152 Pass Yds 1st pic.twitter.com/zF6pknEbj0
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