Chiefs headlines for Tuesday, June 11
The latest
Jamaal Charles shares his struggles with mental health
Former star RB Jamaal Charles opens up about life after the league, says he battles with depression and suicidal thoughts.
“I went to work with investment people and it didn’t go well. I started to lose money so I started to get really depressive and suicidal.” pic.twitter.com/C1RMBKk56s— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) June 9, 2024
Best new QB-WR combos for 2024 NFL season: C.J. Stroud-Stefon Diggs among most promising duos | NFL.com
3 - Kansas City Chiefs
QB Patrick Mahomes · WR Marquise Brown
I went back and forth on whether to highlight this duo or Patrick Mahomes/Xavier Worthy. For this exercise, I went with the veteran combo, but I do think Mahomes/Worthy could produce at a similar level as Mahomes and Marquise Brown.
Last season, Mahomes guided a patchwork receiver group to another Super Bowl title, with a big helping hand from tight end Travis Kelce and the Chiefs’ shutdown defense. Imagine what he can do with actual weapons.
Brown has his flaws. The 2019 first-round pick has cleared the 1,000-yard mark in just one season so far, and he posted a career-low 574 yards in 14 games with Arizona last season. He spent his first three campaigns in the run-first Greg Roman offense alongside Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. Then, after a trade to the Cardinals, he shared the field with Kyler Murray in just 10 full games over two seasons. Not exactly ideal situations for maximizing production.
Health is a concern for the 27-year-old wideout coming off another season-ending injury, but if anyone can help him reach new heights, it’s Mahomes.
Brown is anecdotally thought of as a field-stretcher, which can be an accurate description. He owns the speed to win deep and perhaps will show that off more with Mahomes. But where he’s won more consistently in his career is in the intermediate 10-19-yard range. For his career, Brown boasts a 61.1 reception EPA on targeted air yards on intermediate passes, per Next Gen Stats. On throws of all other distances, he’s in the negative EPA. Luckily for Brown, Mahomes does his best work on intermediate throws.
It’s easy to envision an offensive setup in K.C. where Worthy plays the role of blow-the-top-off speed receiver while Brown patrols the intermediate level. This would give the Chiefs the ability to pester defenses consistently at every level.
Reason for optimism for all 32 NFL teams in 2024: Jayden Daniels is teeming with potential, Mike Macdonald kicks off new era in Seattle | PFF
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
They attacked their biggest weaknesses
Wide receiver and offensive tackle are two of the premier positions in the modern NFL. The Chiefs found a way to win another championship despite their wide receivers ranking 26th in receiving grade and their tackles ranking 29th in overall grade. We know they can win consistently as long as Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Steve Spagnuolo exist, but there’s no reason for the Chiefs to rest on their laurels.
They certainly didn’t do that this offseason, especially at wide receiver, where they added speedsters Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy in an attempt to reignite the deep passing game. They didn’t make a volume of moves at offensive tackle, but second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia is the big name to watch as he competes with Wanya Morris for the starting left tackle job. If Kansas City significantly improved at wide receiver and offensive tackle, a three-peat is very much on the table.
One thing to watch for every NFL team hosting 2024 mandatory minicamp: Browns, Steelers QB reps are key | CBS Sports
Kansas City Chiefs
The entire offensive pecking order. We know Travis Kelce is locked in as Patrick Mahomes’ most trusted outlet. Isiah Pacheco is secure in the backfield. But there are a lot of names to sort through out wide, from Marquise Brown to Rashee Rice to Kadarius Toney.
Chiefs news: Former cornerback Steven Nelson announces retirement from NFL | Arrowhead Addict
Nelson was a former third-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Nelson first entered the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs as the team’s third-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. The class itself was a very good one for former Chiefs general manager John Dorsey, which also included first-round pick Marcus Peters at corner, Mitch Morse at center, Chris Conley at wideout, and Rakeem Nunez-Roches at defensive tackle as a late-round find.
Nelson remained with the Chiefs for the entirety of his rookie deal and became a full-time starter in his second season. He finished his tenure in K.C. with 182 total tackles, 4 interceptions, 35 batted passes, and 1 forced fumble.
One under-the-radar player from each AFC team who could shine in 2024: Tyjae Spears, Nick Bolton make cut | CBS Sports
Kansas City Chiefs
This would have been my answer for the Chiefs last year as well, but Nick Bolton missed more than half the 2023 season with a dislocated wrist. So, he will continue to fly under the radar for football fans outside of Kansas City, but I’m expecting a huge campaign with Bolton in a contract year.
In 2022, Bolton racked up 180 combined tackles (second among all players), two sacks and three passes defensed to go along with two interceptions. He could have won Super Bowl MVP in the win over the Eagles, as he recorded nine combined tackles and a fumble recovery he took back for a touchdown.
Around the NFL
Bears announce return of Marcedes Lewis | NBC Sports
The Bears announced today that Lewis has re-signed with the team. He played in all 17 games in Chicago last season and has spent the last three months weighing his future options in free agency.
One option would have been retiring. Lewis will be the oldest tight end in NFL history at the age of 40.
Steelers give coach Mike Tomlin extension through 2027 | ESPN
Tomlin, entering his 18th season at the helm of the Steelers, signed a three-year extension, the team announced Monday. Before the new agreement, Tomlin was entering the final year of a three-year extension signed in 2021.
“Mike Tomlin’s leadership and commitment to the Steelers have been pivotal to our success during his first 17 years as head coach,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement. “Extending his contract for three more years reflects our confidence in his ability to guide the team back to winning playoff games and championships, while continuing our tradition of success.”
In case you missed it on Chiefs Studios
Chiefs News: Carson Wentz wants to help Patrick Mahomes any way he can
In this role, Wentz emphasized the importance of supporting Mahomes and committing to being a valuable team player, both on and off the field.
“Pat and I already have a great relationship that’ll keep growing, and we’ll keep finding ways that I can help,” Wentz noted. “The dude has been playing at an extremely high level for a while, so I’ll try to find a way to help in whatever way I can, whether that’s off the field, on the field, or whatever. I’m just here to help and support.”
Wentz joined the Chiefs this past offseason on a one-year deal, making this his fourth new team since being traded by the Eagles in 2021. Wentz has played varying roles since his time in Philadelphia and is no stranger to the backup role, either — having done so for the Los Angeles Rams last season.
While he admits that the transition still feels different, he continues to approach the change with a positive and professional mindset.
Social media to make you think
Patrick Mahomes will throw for ___ yards this season. pic.twitter.com/jUGPRExGfv— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 10, 2024
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