Gil Brandt lists Chiefs among 10 most talented teams in NFL
By Matt Conner
NFL.com’s Gil Brandt has listed the most talented overall teams in the league and he’s got the Chiefs at No. 8 overall.
The Kansas City Chiefs finished the regular season as the second-best team in the AFC and have arguably had the least amount of turnover since 2016. For Gil Brandt, analyst at NFL.com, it’s enough to list the Chiefs among his top 10 most talented teams heading into the 2017 regular season.
The Chiefs come in at No. 8 overall on Brandt’s list, the fourth AFC team on the actual list. The top two are occupied by the two teams who fought for the AFC Championship: the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brandt also has the Oakland Raiders listed before the Chiefs at No. 4 overall. Other honorable mention teams included the Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans and, surprisingly, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
About the Chiefs, Brandt writes:
"The Chiefs are very deep on both sides of the ball. Safety Eric Berry, corner Marcus Peters and pass rusher Justin Houston are special defensive players, while Chris Jones and Dee Ford are young studs. Tyreek Hill can score through the air, as a runner or returning punts and kicks. Tight end Travis Kelce is one of the toughest outs in the business — when the Chiefs need a first down, he’s their man. Quarterback Alex Smith might not win games with big plays, but I think that might have more to do with the overall offensive philosophy than it does with Smith’s ability. Moreover, Smith definitely won’t lose you any games and he can make things happen with his feet. If Smith had been drafted 10th instead of first overall in 2005, I think he’d be viewed differently."
The Chiefs swept the AFC West last season, which means the onus should be on the Raiders to improve but offseason columns like this always love to give more credit to perceived improvements or signings than teams who stand still. Yet there’s a reason the Chiefs have created such a winning culture. Their offensive line will continue to grow together for the next few years and everyone on both sides of the ball should have an even better idea of how to work together and their part in the overall scheme.