AFC West News And Rumors: Raiders, Chiefs Lose Their Own; Denver Adds Big Names; Chargers Quiet

Jan 4, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid during the 2013 AFC wild card playoff football game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Signing: Husain Abdullah (contract unknown)

Losses: Branden Albert, Dexter McCluster, Geoff Schwartz, Jon Asamoah, and Tyson Jackson

Cap Space: $9.6 million (Does not include Abdullah signing)

I wonder if Chiefs Nation would have handled the news of Albert, McCluster, Schwartz, Asamoah, and Jackson leaving better if it had been spread out over a few days as compared to the 90 minutes it took on Tuesday? It isn’t easy to see so many players go so quickly and not know immediately what the Chiefs plan to do to replace them. There’s sort of a shell shock developed from the suddenness of the news.

There’s no reason to panic yet about 2014 or the future. Kansas City didn’t lose Joe Thomas, Percy Harvin, Logan Mankins, and Haloti Ngata, they lost replaceable parts.

For example, Jon Asamoah lost his starting spot on the offensive line to Geoff Schwartz, a guy nobody wanted a year ago. Did you know last season was the first time Schwartz had started a game since 2010? Now he’s going to be a highly paid starting guard for the Giants.

Nobody seemed to think we needed to re-sign Tyson Jackson for the most part. We developed scenarios where re-signing him could fit or makes sense but most everyone thought Jackson could be improved upon.

Branden Albert is the best player the Chiefs lost on Tuesday. However, there is a solid argument to be made that some of the Chiefs’ best offensive line performances in 2013 came when Albert was out with an injury. It isn’t unreasonable to think Kansas City can find another Albert in the draft nor is it unreasonable to think Eric Fisher or Donald Stephenson could develop into quality left tackles.

This isn’t meant to say the Chiefs are not a worse team than they were before 3 p.m. on Tuesday because they are definitely worse off. The argument is the ground John Dorsey needs to make up to get the roster quality back to where it was at the end of 2013 is not nearly as much as some would think. If Dorsey is as good as everyone says he is then it shouldn’t be a problem for him to identify the talent the Chiefs need. And if Andy Reid and his staff are as good at developing players as has been touted over the year then it shouldn’t be a problem for KC’s current young talent to take a step forward in 2014.

The Chiefs didn’t flip from a 2-14 team to an 11-5 team in one day and they’re not going to fall back to 2-14 in one day either. Let’s at least give the Chiefs through the second day of free agency before we declare judgement on the roster.