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Arrowheadlines: Can AFC West’s ‘all-star’ coaches finally top the Chiefs?

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Las Vegas Raiders Introduce Pete Carroll As Head Coach, John Spytek As General Manager
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Chiefs headlines for Saturday, April 5

The latest

Can the AFC West’s ‘all-star lineup’ of coaches finally top the Chiefs? | The Athletic

When Pete Carroll, 73, was hired to become the new head coach of Las Vegas Raiders in January, replacing the fired Antonio Pierce, he raised the average age of the coaches in the division to 65.5 years old. No other NFL division has an average age among its four coaches that even reaches 50. Every boss in the AFC West had already begun his respective coaching career before any head coach in the AFC South — the division with the youngest average age at 40.5 years old — had even reached middle school.

The West’s sideline leaders have combined to win 668 regular-season games, five Super Bowls and two college national championships (Carroll won one more but it was vacated for NCAA infractions). There has never been a division in which every coach has won at least one Super Bowl or national title.

“It’s outstanding,” Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said at the league meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., this week. “It’s an all-star lineup.”

The AFC West is now where some of the most experienced coaches in the sport have been invigorated by a new, heady challenge: loosening the iron grip 67-year-old Andy Reid and the Chiefs have held on the division for most of the last decade. Perhaps the most vibrant illustration of the dominance: Kansas City has collected more AFC West titles since 2016 (nine) than division game losses (eight).

Chiefs eligible for HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’ for the first time in a decade | Kansas City Star

The Chiefs have made the postseason in 10 straight seasons, so it’s little wonder they haven’t been on “Hard Knocks” since 2007 when Herm Edwards was the coach.

But Albert Breer reported the NFL has changed those eligibility rules, removing the playoff stipulation.

Here are the new rules for exemption for a team, via Breer, the Sports Illustrated writer:

· Has a first-year coach
· Is not on “Hard Knocks: In-Season”
· Was featured on “Hard Knocks: Training Camp” in the previous eight seasons
· Is not exempt from selection based on a team being in “Hard Knocks” or a similar access show prior to 2024 “pursuant to parameters that existed at the time of such club’s prior participation.”

That means the Chiefs could be picked for “Hard Knocks: Training Camp.” Or the NFL could choose the AFC West for “Hard Knocks: In Season.”

[But] It’s hardly a slam-dunk that the Chiefs would be on either show.

What Chris Simms thinks the Chiefs shouldn’t do in the draft | SI.com

The Chiefs have a strong running back room going into the 2025 campaign, possessing the likes of Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, and the newly signed Elijah Mitchell. Given not one Chief running back hit the 1,000 rushing yard mark, perhaps the 2025 campaign sees improvement in that department.

That being said, having three talented running backs on the roster to hold down the short game is a strength that many other NFL teams would love to say they have. With the draft approaching, analyst Chris Simms believes there are bigger areas that need the Chiefs attention before running back.

“I don’t think so. I think they’re going to be comfortable with that {area}. If there is somebody maybe later on in the draft or they go ‘let’s just get another young guy here to round out the room’, I can see that,” Simms said. “I don’t think the need is desperate, I would put it low, certainly. I think they’re going to be plenty happy with Pacheco and Elijah Mitchell alone.”

Five-round mock draft: Five trades shake up Round 1 | NFL.com

PROJECTED TRADE WITH MINNESOTA VIKINGS
24. Kansas City Chiefs: T Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota

The Chiefs signed tackle Jaylon Moore in free agency, but they must add another big body outside to ensure Patrick Mahomes is sufficiently protected. Ersery’s 6-6, 331-pound frame fits the team’s prototype at left tackle. They send third- and fourth-round picks to the Vikings, receiving this selection and a sixth-rounder in return.

NFL mock draft: Giants, Jaguars trade out of top 5 | CBS Sports

31. Kansas City Chiefs: EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

Prospect rank: 18th
Position rank: 4th

Pearce was considered a possible No. 1 pick in this draft a year ago, and his stock has done nothing but fall during the draft process. But there’s a reason he was considered a possible No. 1, and those reasons remain, so he’s not getting out of the first round.

Around the NFL

WR Julio Jones retires following 13 seasons | NFL.com

Jones’ decorated career concludes with 914 receptions for 13,703 yards and 66 touchdowns. His yardage stands as 16th in NFL history, while his 848 catches and 12,896 yards with the Falcons are franchise records, just ahead of former teammate Roddy White. Jones’ 60 Falcons TD grabs are second behind White’s 63 — though the latter played 36 more games with Atlanta than Jones did.

“I’m making this announcement today because of the city of Atlanta. Thank you, man, I appreciate y’all. It’s nothing but love. I’m doing this on 404 day,” Jones said, referencing the unofficial April 4 holiday in Atlanta. “It was a hell of a ride. I also want to thank the other ball clubs out there, as well, the organizations. Tennessee, thank you for the opportunity. Tampa Bay, thank you for the opportunity. Eagles, thank you for the opportunity. But this one’s for the city, man. I appreciate y’all.”

Trey Lance, Chargers reach one-year deal worth up to $6.2 million | ESPN

Lance and Taylor Heinicke are now the backups behind Chargers starter Justin Herbert.

Herbert has been one of the most durable quarterbacks in the NFL over his first five seasons. He started 62 consecutive games to begin his career, which was the second-longest active streak in the NFL, before a fractured right index finger in Week 14 of 2023 ended his season.

Still, Herbert has played through injuries, and although he didn’t miss a game in 2024, he was often hobbled and missed snaps or quarters. The injury bug began in training camp when a plantar fascia diagnosis kept him out for two weeks. Herbert suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2 that he aggravated the following week, and he navigated a thigh bruise and a separate ankle injury later in the year.

Trademark dispute between Lamar Jackson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. resolved | Pro Football Talk

The sudden and unexpected trademark battle between Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. has suddenly and unexpectedly ended.

Via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com, Earnhardt announced on Friday that he has secured the rights to a different No. 8, and that he’ll abandon the effort to secure trademark protection of the stylized No. 8 that drew an objection from Jackson.

It was a subtle surrender by Earnhardt, in the face of a challenge from Jackson that someone regarded as having enough merit to justify taking a different approach.

Jackson’s separate trademark battle with Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman is still pending.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs gain salary cap space by adjusting Nazeeh Johnson’s contract

Johnson officially re-signed with the Chiefs on March 27 — but as it turns out, he will not earn $3.3 million in 2025.

According to the salary cap website Spotrac, Johnson’s base salary is now listed at $1.2 million — with $800,000 of it guaranteed — on top of a $400,000 signing bonus. The cornerback can also receive a $150,000 workout bonus and up to $200,000 in per-game active-roster bonuses.

This will allow him to earn up to $1.9 million this season. (His cap hit is actually about $12,000 less because he played in only 16 games last season, meaning the 17th game-day bonus is considered not likely to be earned).

The revised contract for Johnson lowers his 2025 salary cap charge by about $1.4 million.

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