Kansas City Chiefs: Positions to upgrade for a Super Bowl run
By Andrew Jones
Offensive Line
There are several difficult decisions to be made by John Dorsey and his scouting team this offseason. Do you keep an offensive line together in the name of cohesiveness or do you look at each individual player? Individually the Chiefs have two above average players on the offensive line. Mitch Morse and Mitchell Schwartz are easily the top players on the line but rookie Parker Ehinger could make some significant strides this offseason.
That leaves Zach Fulton and Eric Fisher as potential starters that might need replacing. With the contract of Eric Fisher as it currently stands that isn’t an option. Guard is a position that will not only aid the running game but protect whomever the Chiefs put under center. While it does not look good in the draft, guard can be updated through some free agency finds.
Inside Linebacker
Derrick Johnson has stated several times that he wants to play this next season. The problem is that even with Johnson in the lineup, the Chiefs cannot stop the run. Johnson is an excellent cover linebacker that has an uncanny ability to submarine the offensive line and get guys down in the backfield. Sometimes though Johnson picks the wrong gap to submarine and leaves a wider hole. It also doesn’t help that his speed has been limited as he has aged.
The Chiefs could stick with Josh Mauga who should be available off of injury in 2017. However the draft has some linebackers that could suit the Chiefs’ needs. Even if the tandem of Johnson and Mauga remains in the starting lineup, the Chiefs need to prepare for Johnson’s inevitable retirement.
Wide Receiver
It was pointed out recently by @ryantracyNFL that Jeremy Maclin and Tyreek Hill are not enough to pose a credible threat to opposing defenses. The Chiefs need more from their wide receivers. We could keep waiting on Albert Wilson to grow some hands or for Chris Conley to be a better vertical threat. The options are there but the Chiefs need some better players at wide receiver.
Just about anyone around the league would tell you that Wilson could easily be upgraded. Conley could slide to a third wide receiver and still get some good looks from the offense. The real issue lies at the number two wide receiver. Hill is built for for the slot and has his best opportunities when he gets the ball in space. A compliment to Maclin would take pressure off and allow the offense to spread the field.