What's wrong with the Chiefs?

[50-yard-line]

Ok... So you draft defensive rookies on cheap contracts

Except that now you're drafting 29-32. Every round.

 

[Ross12]

Mahomes isn't on a rookie contract anymore. Chiefs were stacked early on because mahomes was making $700k. Now they paid mahomes, hill, Kelce

And there's no money left for the defense.

They still haven't really "paid" Mahomes yet. His cap number this year is only $7M. Next year it balloons to $36M and then to $47M in 2023.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I agree with this. I think our ridiculous success for 2 decades has crushed the rest of the NFL in terms of expectations. And with Brady continuing to dominate in the NFC, it has been almost a triple mind blow.

Yep, what we saw will never happen again imo. 2 goats on one team and coexisting so long. Even what kc has done is above average for the typical nfl window. And I’m not giving up on them being in the hunt this year, but hard to see them or anyone in the afc getting past Buffalo right now

 

[Sicilian]

Ok... So you draft defensive rookies on cheap contracts

This is obviously the best way to sustain a team once your QB gets his big contract, but there's two problems with it:

1) You're picking after the consensus "sure fire" prospects are gone, and it only takes a couple misses to turn a good drafting record into a bad one.

2) Those contracts are cheap, but even with good selections, rookie seasons are hit or miss. So that might be a good talent on a cheap deal, but they're not going to be necessarily playing above that contract production wise until years 2 or sometimes 3.

So longterm it's best, but it's not like they could just go draft a defensive player at 31 this past year, plug him in, and see an immediate impact.

 

[Sicilian]

Yep, what we saw will never happen again imo. 2 goats on one team and coexisting so long. Even what kc has done is above average for the typical nfl window. And I’m not giving up on them being in the hunt this year, but hard to see them or anyone in the afc getting past Buffalo right now

Yup. I wanted to wait and see Buffalo do it back to back years before I declared anything about them, but they're certainly showing last year was no fluke. Further evidence that you have to take week 1 in the NFL with a huge grain of salt. No way this current Bills team loses to that Pittsburgh team now.

 

[Kontradiction]

The defense is trash. Sorensen is maybe one of the worst starting safeties in the league, the pass rush isn’t there, and Jones is really the only threat up front.

Offensively, they have a lot of speed but the only real consistent chain-mover/possession receiver is Kelce.

 

[Dingleberry]

What's wrong with the Chiefs?

They used to be tough. Now, they are soft and believe the media reports of invincibility.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

They still haven't really "paid" Mahomes yet. His cap number this year is only $7M. Next year it balloons to $36M and then to $47M in 2023.

This is why they’re so screwed. Even last year’s team, looking at all their close games, wasn’t that great considering it was on Mahomes rookie deal. This is the second year in a row they’ve kicked the Mahomes payment down the road. Their overall roster is much worse than most teams who are already paying $30M+ for their QB.

 

[Ross12]

The defense is trash. Sorensen is maybe one of the worst starting safeties in the league, the pass rush isn’t there, and Jones is really the only threat up front.

Offensively, they have a lot of speed but the only real consistent chain-mover/possession receiver is Kelce.

You might think they could try to sign some defensive players next year to shore up the defense, but they only have 27 players signed for 2022 with a projected $30M of cap space available.

 

[BradytoMosstoGronk]

wait, so their idiotic proclamation isn't panning out?

Bummer.

 

[Pats2000]

Ok... So you draft defensive rookies on cheap contracts

You have multiple levels of Defense that need to be drafted for. That's not something you can typically do in one or two drafts. It's a mix of drafting, free agents, and undrafted talent. To rebuild a defense in one to three years.

The Chiefs have also been picking at the bottom of the draft for the last 4 years. That's what happens when you win. The talent pool becomes murkier. It's why having such a great coach like BB is important. There are people here who will tell you that he was **** drafter and yeah, maybe his drafts weren't the best, but he made up for it with undrafted talent and bringing in the right free agents.

 

[Sam Bam Cunningham]

The Bills defense is truly great and Josh Allen is really playing at an MVP level. Rocket arm, accurate and great decision making as well as a fantastic runner. Chiefs D could not deal with him.

Ironic that 2 years ago Jalen Ramsey said Allen sucks and is the worst QB in the league.

Now he is a more valuable player than Ramsey.

I do not see anyone in the AFC beating the Bills this year and that certainly includes the Chiefs.

 

[Kontradiction]

You might think they could try to sign some defensive players next year to shore up the defense, but they only have 27 players signed for 2022 with a projected $30M of cap space available.

With all the commercials and advertisements he’s doing, you’d think he wouldn’t have hamstrung the salary cap by taking top of the market deals and gone Brady’s route if he really wanted to be in the GOAT convo.

 

[zydecochris]

There is nothing wrong with the chiefs. Staying on top is basically impossible. They had an excellent three year run - like most dominant teams - that resulted in one SB.

Understanding “what’s wrong with KC” (which is ‘nothing’) is step one towards appreciating the ridiculous success of NE since 2001.

Yes. The NFL simply isn't set up to sustain long-term success, it is what is so remarkable about the Pat's run (unprecedented really in all of sports).

.....And in the last two years, the Pats spent a year getting their dead salary cap situation under control (instead of kicking it down the road like the Saints and other teams), drafted what appears to be a long term solution at QB on an absolute bargain rookie contract (freeing up lots of $$$ for other positions), drafted a promising pass rusher, and brought in several free agents, some of which have panned out nicely (with Judon looking like a steal). The result: a 2 and 3 record. Two of the losses were close games and one of the wins was close. Not the usual situation for the Pats, but a common situation for pretty much every other team, especially with a rookie QB.

....The result of the PatsFans.com fan base? In the Houston Game Day thread during most of the game the discussion basically was debating whether BB needed to fire all of his assistant coaches or if Kraft needed to fire BB also.

 

[zydecochris]

They still haven't really "paid" Mahomes yet. His cap number this year is only $7M. Next year it balloons to $36M and then to $47M in 2023.

Yep, they are kicking the can down the road just like the Saints.

 

[borg]

This is why they’re so screwed. Even last year’s team, looking at all their close games, wasn’t that great considering it was on Mahomes rookie deal. This is the second year in a row they’ve kicked the Mahomes payment down the road. Their overall roster is much worse than most teams who are already paying $30M+ for their QB.

I'm curious how Chargers management proceeds in the next few years.
Herbert is in the value sweet spot for a couple more years which would make a depth conscious roster builder like BB giddy.
But then you look at Bosa's ($30+ mill) and Allen's ($20+ mill) extreme cap hits thru at least 2023 and it looks like LAC is intent on copying the Jerry Jones' pay over the top for stars strategy which does sell tickets but too often leaves rosters vulnerable to injury.
Ekeler's contract is a friggen bargain at $6 mill/ year for next 3 years and one would think his agent might suggest to his client he consider a Gilmore-like strategy of renegotiation sooner rather than later. Ekeler makes 1/3 what Allen makes now but his value to the team is comparable.
And when Herbert's time comes, he could set new contract records given his skill level and the Chargers willingness to empty its coffers.

Still, great problems to have..... an abundance of true difference makers
Hope NE has such future "problems"

 

[VectorPrime]

Yep, they are kicking the can down the road just like the Saints.

That’s a perfectly fine idea when you want to maximize the final years of a HoF QB. Not for someone who is 26.

 

[Tunescribe]

KC has the same record as us. Their defense is letting up an average of 32 points a game. Mahomes has looked off a lot this season.

What's the problem in KC?

Did Brady/Bucs break them? Are defenses figuring them out now the 4 man front and 2 deep safeties?

What can they do to get back on track?

Why do you care? Their struggles should be cause for celebration! ANY team with Tyreek Hill on it and fans who do that moronic "tomahawk chop" chant deserves to lose early and often.

 

[Kontradiction]

Why do you care? Their struggles should be cause for celebration! ANY team with Tyreek Hill on it and fans who do that moronic "tomahawk chop" chant deserves to lose early and often.

As a Florida alum, I support this message.

 

[Bruins29]