It may be June, but training camp is coming, and soon we'll be getting our first look at the 2024/25 edition of the Kansas City Chiefs. We'll see old faces, and we'll see new faces. The Chiefs only drafted a handful of players this year, but if it's anything like previous years, these rookies will be hungry.
As any NFL veteran knows, "NFL" stands for "Not For Long", and the smart ones know that on any given Sunday, a rookie could be coming for their jobs. The questions is, which veterans should be concerned about those hungry rookies this year?
Below are four Chiefs players I think could be looking over their shoulder at some point this year.
Mecole Hardman, Wide Receiver
Think back about five years ago and ask yourself who would end up with three Super Bowl rings, Tyreek Hill or Mecole Hardman? I wouldn't have picked Hardman either. But here we are, and here Hardman is back for another year.
Hardman was a last ditch attempt for the Kansas City Chiefs to get some wide receiver help last season when they traded him back from the oblivion that is the New York Jets. It kind of paid off, at least in the Super Bowl. He made the game-winning catch, but I don't think anyone was particularly excited to have him back.
But the Chiefs like him, and now he's back for one more go around. At least until he's resigned to another one-year contract next year. That is unless rookie Xavier Worthy pans out.
The rookie wide receiver brings lots of excitement to Chiefs Kingdom. You might even start to drool day dreaming of Hollywood Brown, Xavier Worthy, and Rashee Rice all on the field at the same time. Well, hopefully, we see that at some point (thanks Rice). But if we do, that leaves Hardman as the odd man out.
Now, just because Mecole might lose snaps to Worthy, doesn't mean he won't have a spot returning kicks under the new kickoff rules. Oh wait, we have another rookie that can do that, too. Thanks for the memories Mecole, but it's time.