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Arrowheadlines: PFF believes Juan Thornhill was the biggest loss this offseason
The latest
• Biggest loss (PFF WAR): S Juan Thornhill, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
• Biggest Win (PFF WAR): ED Charles Omenihu
The Chiefs released Frank Clark and lost both starting offensive tackles in Orlando Brown Jr. and Andrew Wylie. But their signings of tackle Jawaan Taylor and ED Charles Omenihu mitigate those losses.
Taylor has become one of the better pass protectors on the right side across the NFL, ranking top-15 in pass blocking rate (76.7) and pressure rate allowed (5.2%) among tackles on true pass sets in 2022.
Kansas City Chiefs
Top needs: DL, WR, Edge
To defend Super bowl champ, the draft will be all about reloading.
The Kansas City Chiefs lost some key contributors this offseason, namely wideouts JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman, safety Juan Thornhill, defensive tackle Khalen Saunders and edge rusher Frank Clark, who was released and remains unsigned.
Saunders, who collected 48 tackles, 3.5 sacks and nine quarterback pressure last season, is a bigger loss than many fans realize. He came up huge in Super Bowl LVII with two tackles and a sack.
Kansas City should be eager to replace Saunders and improve a run defense that ranked a good-not-great 15th in yards per carry allowed (4.4).
Safety may be a position to address with Thornhill gone, but Kansas City has 2022 second-round pick Bryan Cook and free agent signing Mike Edwards. Pass rushers are probably a bigger need with both Clark and Carlos Dunlap (nine combined sacks) still unsigned and only Charles Omenihu coming in to reload.
Offensively, the Chiefs must find a way to replace Smith-Schuster and Hardman, who combined for 1,230 receiving yards and seven touchdowns last season.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Chiefs are “at least looking” at a DeAndre Hopkins trade. If Kansas City doesn't add a quality veteran between now and the draft, however, receiver will be a major need.
Joe Burrow, Justin Jefferson and 30 other NFL players who should wear No. 0 | Sports Illustrated
Tommy Townsend, P, Kansas City Chiefs
It has become something of a Wilt Chamberlain-esque tradition for the players to pose with a sheet that reads “0” after zero points in a game. Probably no one does it more than Patrick Mahomes punter.
2023 NFL mock draft: Panthers make the ultimate upside with Anthony Richardson | FOX Sports
31: Kansas City Chiefs — Will McDonald IV, Edge, Iowa
Only 236 pounds, but he has enough speed and power off the edge to be a hitter early for the Chiefs. Pass-rushing depth is extremely important for the Chiefs in January and February, when they face an annual gauntlet of elite quarterbacks.
Round 1 – pick 31
Dawand Jones OT
OHIO STATE • SR • 6'8” / 374 LBS
After signing Jawaan Taylor in free agency, and allegedly moving him to left tackle, Kansas City is taking a massive right tackle in the late first round to fill out the offensive line.
Around the NFL
Former Pro Bowl safety Keanu Neal signs two-year deal with Steelers | NFL.com
The Steelers have agreed to terms with veteran safety Keanu Neal on a two-year deal, Neal's agent, David Canter, announced via Twitter Thursday.
Neal entered the league as a top draft pick Atlanta Falcons 2016, playing a key role in the Falcons' run to Super Bowl LI as a rookie. In his second season, he earned a trip to the Pro Bowl, quickly establishing himself as a playmaking safety in Dan Quinn's defense.
It was the high mark for Neal, who dealt with multiple injuries over the next two seasons, returning to play 14 games in 2020 before his time with the Falcons ended. Neal reunited with Quinn in Dallas in 2021, but lasted just one season before moving to Tampa, where he joined the Buccaneers and appeared in 17 games (eight starts) last season.
John Mara jokingly warns Brian Daboll – Don't go ‘from Bono to Bozo' | ESPN
Brian Daboll was the toast of the city in his first season with the Giants, leading New York to an unexpected postseason appearance and winning several coaching awards.
Daboll's rock star status in the Big Apple hasn't gone unnoticed by team owner John Mara, who said during a recent interview that he jokingly offered a light-hearted warning to his head coach.
“We're fooling him,” Mara told SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I mean, right now he's Bono walking around New York City.
In case you missed it at Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs Draft Prospects 2023: Tennessee's Darnell Wright can shore up offensive tackle room
Passport protection against elite competition
Measurement 6'5″ and 333 lbs. at the combine, Wright has the size and power that a prototypical NFL tight end needs. With size, elite quickness out of his stance and tremendous core strength, he dominated elite pass rushers.
Wright explodes from his stance, keeps his weight on the inside of his foot and slides into his drive-and-catch pass.
Projected total top-five picks Will Andersson shuffling his hands from the schnapps, not showing his intent. He throws his hands at Wright and tries to bull him. Anderson reaches out, but Wright has his hands positioned just right to land his punch on Anderson's chest. He then sits back and anchors the ground, stopping the pass rush.
Facing speed and flexibility requires a much different skill set than tackling power rushers. One of Wright's more intriguing matchups in 2022 was going against potential first-round draft picks BJ Ojulari of LSU.
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