Andy Reid’s tenure with the Chiefs enters new era of challenges

The Andy Reid era enters a new phase without John Dorsey around, and the Kansas City Chiefs head coach has a considerable amount of challenges ahead.

This offseason has been anything but typical for the Kansas City Chiefs. It may have actually become the most important offseason for this franchise in recent memory.

The Chiefs have made moves you typically don’t see teams make—releasing their top wide receiver and firing a talented general manager—in June. The wildest (and possibly most brilliant) part of it all is how little the media really knows.

Welcome to phase two of the Andy Reid era. After four years of feeling like the franchise had finally grounded itself into a steady winner, that notion is at least up in the air now. This seems to be a play at securing the franchise’s long-term future, because not much this offseason—from the draft, to Jeremy Maclin, to John Dorsey—improved the team for 2017. So what is important moving forward?

The 2017 Season

Just because the offseason has not benefitted the current season does not mean it’s lost. How this season goes will have great influence over the rest of Reid’s tenure.

The Chiefs are trying to smoothly transition to a younger core. Alex Smith, Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson and Dustin Colquitt are long-tenured veterans nearing the end of their respective deals. After seeing Jamaal Charles and Maclin released, the odds don’t seem to be in favor of these vets holding the torch much longer.

Not that those players are concerned with anything but winning this season, but they will play a role in showing the players behind them—some of them rookies—how to succeed.

The Quarterbacks

Speaking of setting an example, Alex Smith needs to have a good season. We’ve been led to believe Patrick Mahomes needs at least one year before he’s ready, and his development is as important to the team’s long-term future than any others. In a perfect world, Smith will play healthy for 16 games (some blowouts), lead the Chiefs to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl.

It’s curious to wonder who will back Smith up as the season begins. You have to believe Mahomes should be the favorite, but Tyler Bray is the current No. 2. We know Mahomes is the future, but how does Bray figure into the Chiefs long-term plans?

Brett Veach

Only time will tell how well the new Chiefs GM handles his role, but at this point in time he was the best choice. He was talented enough to garner interest for the recent Buffalo Bills GM opening, but can he maintain the level of talent Dorsey has brought into the organization? Will he be able to handle the salary cap and contract signings better?

I find it hard to disagree with Matt Conner‘s thoughts on why the Chiefs should wait to hire a new GM, but if this is a permanent move, Veach will have a lot to prove.

Future Cornerstone Players

Marcus Peters, Dee Ford, Chris Jones, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Eric Fisher will lead a group of young talent into this next Chiefs era. There’s potential within many position groups. Who will step up?

PATs

There are a lot of questions regarding what the next five years hold for this franchise. A lot of those answers will come on the field – directed by Reid and controlled by Hunt. At this point, you can only trust the man at the top knows what he’s doing.