Chiefs headlines for Tuesday, February 25
The latest
Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs gunning to snatch key Ravens star away from Lamar Jackson | Marca
A major part of the loss was the defeat to the terrible offensive line on the night, that left Patrick Mahomes regularly exposed and shut down whilst is targets were also locked up further down the Caesars Superdome field.
So now Andy Reid and Matt Nagy have to go back to the drawing board, and one potential move is the possible acquisition of Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle, Ronnie Stanley.
According to Jacob Camenker of USA Today, Kansas City is among the leading contenders to sign the veteran lineman in free agency.
2025 NFL free agency: Best players available on offense | ESPN
Tier 2: Pro Bowl-caliber starters
Free agents: G Trey Smith, Chiefs
Finally, a Pro Bowler hitting the market in Smith, who just finished his best season with the Chiefs. The 25-year-old has always been an excellent run blocker, and he allowed just 1.5 sacks in 2024, per NFL Next Gen Stats, with only one of those coming on a quick pressure. Nobody on the Chiefs’ line looked great in Super Bowl LIX, but Smith might have had the best game of the front five.
The top of the guard market rocketed up last offseason, with the Panthers paying Robert Hunt $20 million per season and the Eagles extending Landon Dickerson to a deal worth $21 million per year. Interior offensive linemen are getting paid a higher percentage of the cap than they were in previous years, money that has come (at least in part) from teams cutting back on their running back spending. If what we saw in 2024 leads to teams investing more in running backs, that could come at the expense of the newfound riches being directed toward guards and centers.
Re-Ranking Every Team’s 2024 NFL Draft Class After Rookie Seasons | Bleacher Report
28. Kansas City Chiefs5 of 32
Everyone outside of Kansas City collectively groaned when the Chiefs traded up in the first round to draft the fastest man in NFL combine history, Xavier Worthy, to join an already dangerous offense. Something unexpected happened along the way, though.
In the Chiefs’ quest to become the NFL’s first-ever back-to-back-to-back Super Bowl champions, the offense’s main issue didn’t revolve around finding weapons for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Instead, whiffing on second-round offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia is what prevented them from the first-ever Super Bowl three-peat.
It’s unfair to place that solely on the 63rd overall pick. But the 22-year-old clearly wasn’t ready to handle Mahomes’ blind side. He could be one day, but he wasn’t as a rookie.
Veteran left guard Joe Thuney eventually moved to left tackle, which essentially created two holes along the offensive line that the Philadelphia Eagles regularly exploited during Super Bowl LIX. Brandon Coleman was still available and could have been a better draft choice based on Kansas City’s circumstances.
One pick shouldn’t define an entire class. Worthy served as the biggest positive, and Jaden Hicks looks like future starter at safety. However, the rest of the group offered little in Year 1.
KSHB 41, Kansas City Chiefs extend local broadcast partnership through 2030 | KSHB 41
“It is such an exciting and historic time for Chiefs Kingdom; for the fans, the team and the entire region,” said Kathleen Choal, regional vice president for The E.W. Scripps Company and general manager of KSHB and KMCI. “The Chiefs are one of the premier sporting brands in the country, if not the world, and to continue to build on our strong partnership for several years to come speaks to KSHB 41’s commitment to be the best home for local sports in Kansas City.”
The new partnership agreement will include Kansas City Chiefs preseason football games, unique content and programming assets throughout the season, exclusive marketing opportunities, and other features yet to be announced.
2025 NFL free agency: One player each team should want to sign | Chiefs Wire
Kansas City Chiefs: S/LB Isaiah Simmons
East Rutherford, NJ August 26, 2023 — New Giants linebacker Isaiah Simmons during warm ups. The NY Jets against the NY Giants on August 26, 2023 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, as the rivals play their final preseason game before the start of the NFL season.
The Chiefs’ biggest need is at the left tackle position, but the addition of a player like Isaiah Simmons could prove to be a game-changer for Kansas City’s defense next season. Steve Spagnuolo’s linebackers only came away with one interception this season and consistently failed to disrupt the intermediate passing game in key situations. By signing Simmons, the Chiefs gain a playmaker with elite ball skills and range to compensate for the potential loss of standout linebacker Nick Bolton in free agency. – John Dillon, Chiefs Wire
31. Kansas City Chiefs: DI Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
The Chiefs miss out on the top-tier offensive tackles, so they add an elite run-stopper to their defensive line. Williams finished 2024 with the eighth-best PFF run-defense grade in the FBS (88.6) and would immediately complement Chris Jones‘ pass-rushing prowess.
Round 1 – Pick 31
Oregon • Jr • 6’4” / 315 lbs
The Philadelphia Eagles exposed the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive tackles in Super Bowl LIX. The 2024 first-team All-Big Ten left tackle allowed the lowest quarterback pressure rate (1.6%) in the conference in 2024, minimum 400 snaps, and he surrendered just two sacks on 1,032 career pass block snaps. Kansas City takes care of Patrick Mahomes here.
Around the NFL
ROSTER CUTS
S Juan Thornhill is being released, NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported, per sources. The Browns and Thornhill’s camp spoke in recent days and the decision was made to part ways weeks ahead of free agency. Thornhill, 29, had one year at $7 million left on his deal. The defensive back started 11 games in 2024, recording 49 tackles and three passes defensed.
One NFL team has proposed banning the tush push | NBC Sports
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent told reporters on Monday that one team has proposed a ban on the play that the Eagles have perfected over the last few seasons. Vincent did not name the team or share any other details about the proposal.
It’s not the first time that there have been calls to eliminate the play, which features two players pushing the quarterback from behind to pick up first downs or touchdowns, but there has been no proposal from the NFL Competition Committee to address it. Committee chairman Rich McKay said it did not come up in Sunday’s meeting either.
If this proposal does proceed to a vote of league owners, there would need to be 24 votes in favor of it for any rule change to be adopted.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs Draft: A defensive tackle prospect for each round they’ll pick
Round 1: DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
Height: 6 foot 3
Weight: 305 pounds
Consensus ranking: 22
Nolen is one of the few defensive tackles in this draft class who might be worth a modest first-round trade-up. He has a quick first step off the snap and is a relentless pass rusher. He possesses elite lateral quickness and agility, along with violent hands he can use in a rip technique to disengage himself from blockers. He also has a nice inside spin move.
Ole Miss boasted one of the best defensive lines in 2024. Four of their guys are likely to be selected in April — and three of those guys (Nolen, Princely Umanmielen and Jared Ivey) will probably go in the top 100. Nolen might be the best of the bunch.
It’s rare to see a guy of his size move as fast and violently as he does. If the Chiefs select Nolen at 31 — or get him without selling the farm — he’ll be a steal.
Notable mentions: Kenneth Grant, Derrick Harmon
Social media to make you think
Come a long way since our Combine days.@TKelce x @PatrickMahomes pic.twitter.com/ypfQV3vrSu
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 24, 2025
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