At a glance: Kansas City fans won't acknowledge it, but their team got worse since losing the AFC Championship game to New England in January. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill's future is in doubt, the running back position wasn't adequately addressed since Kareem Hunt's release and seemingly every piece that helped last year's barely-serviceable defense is gone. For every Alex Okafor signing a Mitch Morse was lost, and ultimately it looks like the Chiefs are a tiny bit weaker than when they last played.
Chiefs fans are some of the most loyal out there, but too many of them have their blinders on this off-season. Big name additions like defensive end Frank Clark and safety Tyrann Mathieu had everyone buzzing over the last few weeks but those upgrades don't outweigh edge rushers Dee Ford & Justin Houston leaving along with safety Eric Berry. With so many like-for-like moves across the roster, fans should be worried the defense will again hold a phenomenal offense back. The trade for Cleveland's Emmanuel Ogbah might be an underrated move however -- Ogbah looks to fit in nicely to Steve Spagnuolo's new scheme.
On the offensive side of the ball, it is likely the team will take a step backwards in 2019 but still remain elite. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman needs time to develop so isn't going to be Tyreek Hill in Year 1. The team wasn't in a position to land a running back early in the draft after missing out in free agency, and sixth round pick Darwin Thompson looks most likely to challenge Damien Williams (who has started less than 10% of his games since entering the league in 2014). Quarterback Patrick Mahomes may light the league on fire again in 2019 but we're betting the records he set last year are safe.
DRAFT PICKS (per ESPN)
2.24 Mecole Hardman WR
2.31 Juan Thornhill S
3.20 Khalen Saunders DT
6.28 Rashad Fenton CB
6.41 Darwin Thompson RB
7.02 Nick Allegretti C
ORIGINAL COVER PHOTO: SB Nation
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