Arrowheadlines: Justin Jefferson deal puts pressure on Chiefs’ rivals to pay their stars

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PFF Cornerback Rankings: Top 32 ahead of the 2024 NFL season | PFF

2. TRENT MCDUFFIE, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

McDuffie, a 2022 first-round pick, helped lead the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Bowl victories to start his career. He has graded well, earning an 83.8 coverage grade that ranks seventh at the position over the last two years. However, he excels at preventing separation, rushing the passer and stopping the run, giving him an elite all-around game.

1 Player Each NFL Team Should Consider Trading Before the 2024 Season | Bleacher Report

Kansas City Chiefs: WR Skyy Moore

The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t exactly a team that impresses as being in a “selling” mood—the team is attempting to become the first franchise in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls. And given the Chiefs’ struggles at wide receiver last year, it’s that much harder to imagine them dealing a player at that position.

OK, except Kadarius Toney—Kansas City would likely give him up for a strawberry Pop-Tart if they could find a buyer who still thinks the former first-rounder is an NFL wideout.

But after adding Rashee Rice in 2023 and veteran Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy in 2024, the Chiefs wide receiver room looks a lot different. And that affords Kansas City the opportunity to rid themselves of another mistake from the past few years.

In 2022, the Chiefs drafted Western Michigan wideout Skyy Moore in the second round. To day that Moore has been a disappointment to date is an understatement—he has yet to eclipse 250 receiving yards in a season.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach told reporters that the team still holds out hope that Moore can be the player they thought he was.

“Skyy has always been a mentally tough kid,” Veach said. “He had that knee injury last year, too. So, to some degree, it is just these guys being on the field and staying healthy, and then making plays when their number is called.”

If Veach can get another team to actually believe that, Kansas City should get what they can and move on.

Because just like Toney, it just ain’t gonna happen with Moore.

Wide receiver market brings up mixed feelings for Kansas City Chiefs fans | Arrowhead Addict

On the one hand, it’d be great to employ Justin Jefferson. On the other hand....

At this point, Tyreek Hill and his mega-deal worth $30 million per season is not even in the top four at his position. Yikes! And of course, having witnessed new deals for the likes of his teammate, A.J. Brown, and more, Hill is reportedly interested in having his own contract updated. Yes, more money for the league’s top receivers.

When hearing the levels of these deals, it’s common to experience at least some level of relief that our favorite team—at least around here—isn’t saddled with such a deal. The Chiefs haven’t lost a Super Bowl since trading Tyreek Hill two years ago, and the resulting five draft picks from Miami helped set the stage for a deep defense and the most balanced rosters in recent Chiefs history.

2024 NFL Week 1 betting action report: ‘Expect a lot of sharp action on the Jets’ | FOX Sports

Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs

In the AFC title game on Jan. 28, the Chiefs went to Baltimore as 4.5-point underdogs. Kansas City proceeded to grind out a 17-10 victory. The Chiefs went on to beat San Francisco 25-22 in overtime to win the Super Bowl.

For the Sept. 5 rematch kicking off the 2024-25 season, Kansas City is a home favorite getting some early attention.

“That’s been one of the more popular games. We opened at Chiefs -2.5, and we got a sharper bet on the Chiefs’ side. So we now sit at -3,” Feazel said. “Obviously, the Ravens want revenge from the AFC Championship Game.”

Baltimore hopes to get a boost to the run game and take pressure off quarterback Lamar Jackson with the addition of running back Derrick Henry, who signed a free-agent deal with the Ravens after eight years with Tennessee.

Top Five AFC Values Dynasty Fantasy Football | Last Word on Pro Football

Marquise Brown – WR Kansas City Chiefs

Is Rashee Rice playing every game this year? Is Xavier Worthy going to be a focal point of the offense? Brown has the ability to explode and win people weeks, is only 27, and gets to play with the best quarterback in the league in 2024. It’s worth noting his contract is likely a one year rental, but after a couple spike weeks early in the season he’ll dominate his WR47 price right now. For a mid second round pick managers can go grab Hollywood, and it’s a bet worth taking.

Former Chief Donnie Edwards: ‘I never wanted to leave Kansas City’ | Chiefs Wire

Former Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards earned All-Pro honors twice as a San Diego Charger, but told Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. about how much he loved his time in Kansas City.

“Kansas City and Arrowhead Stadium, that’s my home,” Edwards explained. “There’s one Kansas City, which is my town. They adopted me when I was 22, 23 years old. They took me in, right? So they’re the ones that’s my foundation, right? And I tell you, I never wanted to leave. I never wanted to leave Kansas City. I just signed a new contract. But as I told you, when you have a new coach come in, they have a different mentality.

“Dick Vermeil came in, and he’s all about offense. So we have to take the money away from the defense and put it on the offense. These are things that you can’t control. But I never wanted to leave Kansas City. I want to make sure that it is known. I think everybody knew that because the city didn’t want me to leave; I didn’t want to leave, but it’s out of my control.”

Around the NFL

Justin Jefferson: Wide receiver signs biggest non-quarterback contract in NFL history with Minnesota Vikings | Sky Sports

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has signed the highest-paid non-quarterback contract in NFL history, sealing a four-year $140m extension which includes $110m guaranteed.

The 24-year-old previously turned down a deal which would have paid him over $28m annually the day before the 2023 season started.

Jefferson announced the news himself on social media, quelling any Minnesota worries by confirming he finally signed “the deal I have been waiting for since I was a little kid.” The Vikings confirmed the news soon after.

Justin Jefferson contract: 11 NFL stars still awaiting big deals | USA Today

WR Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

He’ll doubtless be angling for a pact in the orbit of Jefferson, his former LSU teammate. Injuries and Burrow’s own early exit last year have prevented Chase, a three-time Pro Bowler regardless, from approaching his production in 2021 (81 catches for 1,455 yards and 13 TDs), when he was the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. Little reason to believe the numbers won’t fully rebound, and that Chase won’t rank among the NFL’s top wideouts once he and Burrow are fully back in sync … though it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the Bengals wait a year to write that mammoth check, especially as Chase stays away from voluntary offseason activities.

Justin Jefferson’s contract gives Tyreek Hill a target for his next deal | NBC Sports

Receiver Tyreek Hill, who is actually making $25 million per year in new money (not $30 million), will want the Dolphins to tear up the contract and replace it with a new deal. And he’ll want the new-money average to match or exceed $35 million per year, the value of Jefferson’s deal.

Hill has cash payouts of $19.765 million in 2024, $22.935 million in 2025, and $45 million in 2026. That’s $87.7 million in old money. (Even though the last year is phony, it’s still relevant to the old money/new money analysis.)

Larry Allen dies at 52: Former Cowboys great was one of NFL’s best OL | USA Today

The Dallas Cowboys on Monday announced the death of Hall of Fame offensive lineman Larry Allen. He was 52.

“The Dallas Cowboys are very saddened to share that Cowboys legend, Super Bowl Champion, Cowboys Ring of Honor member and Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Allen passed away suddenly while on vacation in Mexico with his family on Sunday,” the team revealed in a press release.

“Larry, known for his great athleticism and incredible strength, was one of the most respected, accomplished offensive linemen to ever play in the NFL. His versatility and dependability were also signature parts of his career. Through that, he continued to serve as inspiration for many other players, defining what it meant to be a great teammate, competitor and winner.

Sources - Giants expecting TE Darren Waller to retire - ESPN

Waller, 31, said during an Instagram Live on Friday that a decision was coming very soon. He has been contemplating retirement since the end of last season and hasn’t attended any of the team’s voluntary offseason workouts this spring.

Mandatory minicamp for the Giants is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce take home $6 million, per NFLPA

The duo’s on-field magnificence helped lead Kansas City to its second world championship in as many years — and Kelce’s newfound relationship with pop sensation Taylor Swift pushed his notoriety to new heights.

Patrick Mahomes earned $3.6 million in group licensing and marketing income during the 12 months through February, according to the NFL Players Association’s annual report filed this week with the U.S. Department of Labor. The tally led NFL players and was up 53% from the prior year, when the Chiefs also won the Super Bowl.

The licensing income of Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, soared 177% to $2.4 million and ranked fourth among NFL players, behind Mahomes and quarterbacks Jalen Hurts ($2.7 million) and Josh Allen ($2.5 million)

One can only imagine what these percentage increases may look like should the Chiefs indeed pull off the elusive three-peat.

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