Five reasons for Chiefs Kingdom to keep the faith for 2021

Youth, Youth, Youth

Sometimes it’s easy to forget just how young the Chiefs roster really is.

Earlier this month, we learned that only three NFL teams had given more snaps to first year players than the Chiefs, and after the season’s first two weeks, it was calculated that the Chiefs fielded the youngest overall starting lineups in the National Football League in 2021.

While the Chiefs have proven veterans here and there, what’s also important to note is that they also have a lot of players who are still learning and growing from week to week. That’s a heavy load for a coaching staff to have so many players trying to reach their potential at the same time. That’s a lot of chemistry to build, a lot of recognition to grow, a lot of experience to glean.

A young player can look radically different from Week 1 to Week 17 of an NFL season. Just remember what Juan Thornhill looked like before he was injured in his rookie year. It looked like the Chiefs might have a young Pro Bowler playing next to Tyrann Mathieu for years to come. That’s happening at multiple positions for the Chiefs where, week after week, guys are going to learn some tough lessons, apply that knowledge, and get better the next week.

This is happening with entire positional groups. Every cornerback on this roster making any difference is 25 or under. The entire offensive line was brand new to the team this year with three rookies earning Week 1 starts and even the veterans were growing accustomed to a new environment. The team’s best two linebackers are both considerably green, with Willie Gay Jr. making up for a bit of lost time due to injuries in the postseason last year and the first month of this season as well.

Give them time. Let them play. They will grow. These Chiefs will get better because that’s what happens for young players with experience.