The Kansas City Chiefs are staring at a prediction that would have sounded outrageous not long ago: another year outside the playoff picture.
That’s the kind of call that grabs attention fast, especially after Kansas City went 6-11 last season. But this forecast isn’t just a hot take thrown out for clicks.
Solak laid out the case by saying, “Two things I think are equally true. First, the Chiefs got better this offseason.
Second, it isn't going to be enough.
“Kansas City's roster is once again quite shaky.”
At the center of that skepticism are the Chiefs’ “tentpole” players: quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and defensive tackle Chris Jones. Solak sees real concern around all three.
Mahomes is coming off a knee injury that could keep his mobility from being the same every week. Kelce is moving into his late thirties and, as the source put it, is basically making his last hurrah.
Jones, meanwhile, is coming off a controversial season in which he underperformed and was called out for not hustling.
The concerns don’t stop there. Solak also pointed to several players who were supposed to matter and didn’t deliver.
Tackle Jawaan Taylor has been cut, safety Chamarri Conner is also no longer around, and Hollywood Brown didn’t provide much after being brought in to help replace some of Tyreek Hill’s production. On top of that, Solak said, “coach Andy Reid's offense grew stale.”
Kansas City did make additions that should help. Running back Kenneth Walker III gives the offense a hand-off game it previously didn’t have, while rookies Peter Woods and R Mason Thomas should strengthen the pass rush at defensive tackle and edge rusher.
Still, the big question remains whether those moves are enough to lift this group back into the postseason. Solak also emphasized that Mahomes’ scrambling has been a major part of the Chiefs’ passing success, and if he struggles early, that could be the difference between sneaking into the playoffs and settling for a .500 season.
That’s where the rest of the AFC comes into the conversation. Solak doesn’t view Kansas City as a top-seven roster. He said the Denver Broncos have a “clearly better roster,” and added that the Los Angeles Chargers are about equal in talent and could take off offensively under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
It’s a bold prediction, no question. But the reasoning behind it is there, and the Chiefs will have to come out fast if they want to quiet the noise.
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