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Chiefs’ Safety Justin Reid Wins Chess.com’s “Blitz Champs” Tournament | The Mothership
Reid bested several other current NFL players on his way to the title of champion, defeating Tennessee Titans’ cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and Buffalo Bills’ wide receiver Mack Hollins before topping Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback Kyler Murray in the final round.
“I’m a competitive guy, but it’s not always about winning,” Reid told the folks at Chess.com following his win in the final match. “This is awesome, but I just love getting better, so I’ll continue to challenge myself.”
As part of his victory, Reid won $30,000 for his foundation, “JReid InDeed,” which focuses on supporting disadvantaged youth and communities through interactive programs, community engagement, and technology access.
2024 Stat Predictions for NFL’s Top Rookie Wide Receivers | Bleacher Report
Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs
Even if Rice misses several games, Worthy will likely be the No. 2 wdeout behind Marquise Brown, whom the team signed in free agency.
Coming into the league as the first wideout selected in the 2019 draft, Brown has several years of starting experience and has caught quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ attention with his route-running.
Worthy tweaked his hamstring during an OTA practice. Kansas City may slowly bring the 5’11”, 165-pound receiver along early in the season, though he’s capable of big plays because of his speed and potential opportunities while Rice serves a suspension.
Stat prediction: 54 receptions, 736 yards, 3 touchdowns
Biggest remaining offseason priority for each AFC team | NFL.com
Kansas City Chiefs
Top priority: Find out if rookie Kingsley Suamataia can start at left tackle.
See AlsoSome Braves trades hurt your heart more than othersThe disciplined approach behind Tucker's MVP pushThe BrilliantlyDumb Show - Winamp2024 Women’s College World Series: Teams, matchups and players to knowRemember last offseason, when the Chiefs signed Jawaan Taylor to a big-money deal with the plan to move him to left tackle, then changed their minds less than two months later, inked Donovan Smith and flipped Taylor back to the right side? I wonder if Brett Veach and Andy Reid are similarly in a play-it-by-ear mode at left tackle this year. Suamataia and second-year tackle Wanya Morris are set to compete for LT duties. Do the Chiefs love youth protecting Patrick Mahomes’ blind side, trusting the MVP QB to make it work? Or might they bring in a veteran — perhaps Smith — closer to training camp? It could depend on how Suamataia and Morris look in the coming months.
Bills Trade to Give AFC Rival Chiefs Xavier Worthy
Here’s a novel thought. If you’re a viable AFC contender who has struggled to get past the Kansas City Chiefs in the postseason, maybe trading down in the draft so that your conference rival can land the fastest receiver in combine history isn’t such a great idea.
The Bills thought otherwise and allowed the Chiefs to trade up four spots to secure Texas wideout Xavier Worthy.
Sure, Buffalo picked up a third-round selection in the deal—which it used on Duke defensive lineman DeWayne Carter—but it also equipped Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs with a receiver who ran a 4.21-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine.
“It’s a speed game and the more speed you have on the field, the harder it is for defenses to take away different elements of the game,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said, per ESPN’s Adam Teicher.
Ranking the Kansas City Chiefs’ weakest positions heading into 2024 | Arrowhead Addict
Defensive Tackle
There are two ways to view this position: 1.) it’s the most talent-deficient position overall on the Chiefs roster or, 2.) the Chiefs don’t seem to be too worried about defensive tackle so that should speak for itself.
Chris Jones is a potential Hall of Fame candidate in his prime who just signed a mammoth contract extension to stay with the Chiefs through the 2028 season. So, yes, it might sound weird to point to a position with such a productive player and call it the biggest weakness on the team. It’s just that beyond Jones, it’s a precipitous fall to the next player (and that’s being kind).
The truth is that the Chiefs haven’t invested much of anything at the position in quite some time and that seems to be okay with Veach. They drafted Keondre Coburn in the sixth round last year and then lost him to waiver claims. They swapped another low-level pick for Neil Farrell. Other than that, they continue to bring back replacement-level players on cheap single-season deals again and again.
This, of course, isn’t the first time Kelce’s shown up for a recent Dallas sports playoff game. Last October, you may recall, Kelce was spotted in attendance at Globe Life Field watching the Texas Rangers in Game 1 of the 2023 World Series.
He also has shown support for Dallas sports history, in a way. Late last NFL season, Kelce donned a throwback Dallas Texans jacket en route to a Chiefs game — a winking nod to the Chiefs’ origins here in North Texas before the team moved to Missouri.
Around the NFL
4. The Los Angeles Chargers return to form ... under Jim Harbaugh
Brandon Staley didn’t exactly have a ringing endorsem*nt from fans or local analysts when the Chargers wrapped 2022 by blowing a 27-point lead in the opening round of the playoffs. Even his in-season exit last December wasn’t all too surprising. But few could’ve pegged Harbaugh as a legitimate option to take over. Repeatedly downplaying NFL interest, the former San Francisco 49ers coach was coming off his best season at Michigan to date going into 2023, still eyeing a national title for the Wolverines. A year later, having secured that ultimate prize for his school, Harbaugh is back to retool Justin Herbert’s squad.
49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk targeting Amon-Ra St. Brown’s $120 million deal for new contract | Yahoo Sports
Aiyuk and the 49ers reportedly aren’t close on agreeing to a contract extension, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. That has led to speculation that the fourth-year wideout will request a trade if he can’t get the deal he wants. Yet Aiyuk’s agent says the receiver hasn’t asked out of San Francisco, despite unfollowing the team on social media.
However, another contract recently signed by a fellow NFL receiver might have provided the number that Aiyuk and his representation want in a new deal. Just before the NFL Draft, Amon-Ra St. Brown signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the Detroit Lions that included $77 million in guaranteed money. That apparently set the bar that Aiyuk wants to reach, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“[Aiyuk] doesn’t need to be the highest paid in the league,” Fowler reported on “NFL Live.” “But he’s done enough and accomplished enough in that offense where he’s probably going to need to be at that number or higher.”
Veteran center Billy Price retires after ‘terrifying’ blood clot | ESPN
Billy Price, a 2018 first-round draft pick, announced his retirement from the NFL on Saturday because of the potential of complications from a blood clot.
“In the blink of an eye, everything can be taken away,” Price wrote on Instagram. “On April 24th I had emergency pulmonary embolism surgery to remove a saddle clot that was entering both of my lungs. As a healthy 29 year old, an unprovoked pulmonary embolism with no further medical explanation is terrifying. I am truly thankful to be alive today.
“Unfortunately, I will be retiring from the NFL as the risk of an internal bleed while on blood thinners creates tremendous risk.”
Price, a center, last played in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals during the 2022 season.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
How Jaden Hicks fits into the Chiefs’ plans in 2024
Reid and Cook will be the Chiefs two starting safeties in 2024, but Hicks will likely get a chance to take the role that was played by Edwards last season.
Edwards was critical to the Chiefs’ defensive success, not only as a ballhawk who forced three turnovers but also as a key depth piece and eventual starter once Cook went down with an injury.
While Hicks will have a chance to compete for this role, he will also have to contend with up-and-coming second-year defensive back Chamarri Conner. More of a hybrid type between a safety and corner, Conner is a player who could have a breakout season in his own right and will be there to provide quality competition for Hicks during organized team activities (OTAs) and training camp.
Hicks will find the field eventually in 2024, but early on, he will likely be a key special teams contributor and reserve defender while learning Spagnolo’s system.
2024 is the final year of Reid’s contract with the Chiefs, and if the team chooses not to re-sign him, this will open up a chance for Hicks to compete for a starting job during the 2025 season.
During Brett Veach’s tenure as the general manager of the Chiefs, he has used drafting in quantity to build his secondary, and the selection of Hicks matches this philosophy.
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