The Kansas City Chiefs may still be linked to Tyreek Hill, but the conversation around their receiver help is starting to widen.
Reports over the past couple of months have pointed to Kansas City as a possible destination for Hill, though his NFL future is still murky because of off-the-field issues. Even with that in the background, the bigger picture for the Chiefs appears to be their need to add another pass catcher, whether Hill is in the mix or not.
That’s why the latest chatter connecting the Chiefs to Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Chris Godwin fits. Kansas City has looked like one of the best teams in football to open the season, maybe only behind the San Francisco 49ers, and it clearly has a legitimate Super Bowl path. But even with that kind of start, the receiver room remains a question.
“Chiefs - Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin: How much of his decline is due to the fact the Bucs haven’t been able to push the ball downfield for years and Baker Mayfield was not good or healthy least year and same thing this year? And the loss of Mike Evans has set Tampa’s pass game back?
“The Chiefs likely need more than one roll of the dice at the receiver position given all their issues there, and lack of another playmaker was a concern even before the season began. "Even if they sign (free agent WR Tyreek) Hill, Andy (Reid) is going to want to do something else," said an NFL exec who knows Reid well and used to work with him,” Jason La Canfora wrote.
Godwin has been a reliable player for a long stretch of his career, though injuries have been part of the story too. This season, he has been solid for Tampa Bay, but not at the level many have come to expect from him.
Some of that could be tied to Baker Mayfield being injured, and there’s also the question of whether the 30-year-old is starting to slip a bit. Through the season, Godwin has 23 receptions for 260 yards, averaging 9.4 yards per catch. He still hasn’t found the end zone.
In Other News...
Chiefs Mourn The Loss Of A Respected Former Defensive End
Allen Bailey, a dependable presence on the Chiefs defensive front for eight seasons, has died at 37, leaving behind a legacy that stretched beyond his work on the field. The former defensive end also spent time with the Falcons, but for Kansas City fans, he was part of a hard-nosed era and later became known for his community efforts through the Allen Bailey Foundation.
His death was discovered by his wife at their Florida home, and no cause has been announced. For a player remembered as much for his steady professional approach as for his off-field impact, the news lands as a sharp and sudden loss for the Chiefs community. [Read more 🡒]
Andy Reid Gives Chiefs Fans Real Hope Heading Into Seattle
Sunday night brings another test against the leagues measuring stick, and Andy Reid has given Kansas City plenty of reason to feel comfortable in that spot. Since taking over the Chiefs in 2013, Reid has repeatedly had his team ready for games against the defending Super Bowl champions, and that track record has become one of those quiet little edges that can matter in a big primetime setting.
Reid has been at this long enough to make the matchup feel familiar rather than overwhelming, which is part of why the Chiefs can head into Seattle with some optimism. His overall history against reigning champions stretches back to the start of his head coaching career in 1999, and while the Seahawks bring the usual challenge that comes with being the team to beat, Kansas City has every reason to trust the sideline advantage it carries into the game. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Are Giving Arrowhead A Very Different Offseason Role
Arrowhead Stadium is getting a different kind of fall event this year. The Chiefs announced Kingdom XP Gaming, a Nov. 7 gathering that will turn the building into a place for free play and tournament-style competition, with tickets available for purchase and prizes on the line for participants. It is open to all ages, with special recommendations and requirements for younger attendees, giving the stadium an offseason use that looks far removed from a typical game day.
The appeal for Kansas City fans is as much about the setting as the activity. Instead of football on the field, Arrowhead will host gamers looking for a full-day experience inside one of the NFLs most recognizable venues, and the setup gives the team another way to keep the building connected to the community between seasons. The Chiefs have left room for more of the events details to unfold, but the concept alone shows how they are trying to make Arrowhead feel like more than just a football stadium. [Read more 🡒]