Another Free Agency period has come, and it has brought its bittersweet gifts. The Chiefs said goodbye to future Hall of Fame running back Jamaal Charles and defensive linemen Dontari Poe. They also said hello to running back C.J. Spiller and defensive lineman Bennie Logan. So while recent departures may be a tough pill to swallow, recent acquisitions certainly help.
Kansas City Chiefs Must Capitalize in 2017
As the draft comes closer, the Kansas City Chiefs are beginning to put together their game plan for the 2017 season. This season will indeed be one of the more exciting seasons to date, as the AFC West is now the home of two of the AFC’s best teams. The reigning AFC West Champions have their eyes on their historic and hated rival, the Oakland Raiders. It may only almost be April, but winter is coming, and it is time to prepare.
State of the West
A lot has happened since the end of the 2016 season. The Chargers moved to Los Angeles, the Broncos announced their new head coach, and the Oakland Raiders got funding for a move to Los Vegas. That all happened before the free agency period. Already, the 2017 season looks to be a lot different from the 2016 season. With that established, let’s talk Free Agency.
The Chiefs said goodbye to famed running back Jamaal Charles. Releasing Charles, who had been dealing with age and injury, was a sensible move for Kansas City. The Chiefs also split paths with defensive lineman Dontari Poe, who signed with the Atlanta Falcons. The Chiefs signed running back C.J. Spiller and defensive lineman Bennie Logan. Both could be considered upgrades, depending on how you look at it.
Around the AFC West, the Chargers and Broncos added players, though not at skill positions. The Raiders, however, added depth at wide receiver and tight end and are talking about adding former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch. They split paths with Latavius Murray, who has since moved to the Minnesota Vikings.
As it stands, the Chiefs and the Raiders are poised for a battle, and it will be one that isn’t just based on skill, but on last year’s season.
Raiders/ Chiefs Rivalry Heating Up
Last season, the Raiders led the Chiefs for much of the season in the AFC West race. However, after quarterback Derek Carr suffered a gruesome leg injury, the Raiders fell behind the Chiefs in the final week, and lost to the Houston Texans during Wild Card week.
This season they expect to have Carr back, and with the sting of last season’s end, you can bet they’ll play the Chiefs hard. The Chiefs-Raiders rivalry has always been heated, but the 2017 season looks to be an especially hot battle. The Raiders will seek to prove that they can own the West, as they almost did last season. The Chiefs seek to consolidate their grip on the competitive division, which is no easy task. However, the Chiefs also have something else to prove, something they failed to do last season
Chiefs Have Need to Prove They’re a Postseason Threat
As it stands, you can rely on the Chiefs to win games. Every season they will win around 10 games and most likely earn a playoff birth. However, they have failed to prove they can go farther than the first or second round. The reason became clear during last seasons tough playoff loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers, where the Chiefs scored two touchdowns and held the Steelers to only field goals, yet still lost the game.
The Chiefs need a change of pace at the Quarterback position. Alex Smith is reliable, and he wins games. However, he hasn’t had much success in the postseason, and will be reaching the end of his contract soon. The Chiefs haven’t yet picked any quarterbacks so far in Free Agency, however there is still time to do so. The Chiefs have worked out a few quarterbacks before the Draft, and should draft a future franchise player.
That, however, doesn’t address the short term need of an offensive stimuli. Alex Smith has had games where he has put up points, however it isn’t as common as other quarterbacks who have had success in the postseason. The Chiefs need a good season from Alex Smith before he departs.
All in all, the Chiefs are a great football team, and we can expect an exciting 2017 season. Keep an eye out for Oakland, because they are ready to play some football. As I said earlier, winter is coming, and the Chiefs need to be ready.
