Let’s Argue: Left tackle is the only position where we’re uncomfortable
Let’s Argue: Left tackle is the only position where we’re uncomfortable
Welcome to this week’s edition of Let’s Argue — a recurring series that looks at hot takes, unpopular opinions, wacky predictions and more from Kansas City Chiefs fans.
With Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs will never pay a top-tier wide receiver
I disagree with this take for several reasons.
First, depending on which report you believe, it sounds like the Chiefs offered a fair deal to their All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill — but the Miami Dolphins offered more. Plus, there’s no state income tax in Florida.
Secondly, the Chiefs probably haven’t felt the need to sign a big-name receiver because they have the greatest tight end in NFL history: Travis Kelce. But since Kelce will turn 35 this fall, I think the front office will change its philosophy.
As much as you may love rookie tight end Jared Wiley, the chance he will become the next Kelce is somewhere between slim to none.
Xavier Worthy might be injury-prone
I think we’re getting some recency bias here.
Suffering from a hamstring strain, Kansas City’s first-round pick sat out the team’s mandatory minicamp as a precaution. But during his three-year tenure at the University of Texas, Worthy didn’t miss a single game.
That isn’t to say the speedster didn’t have a couple of bruises here and there. During the 2022 season, Worthy played half the season with a broken hand. In 2023, he battled through an ankle sprain.
Despite his small stature, I think it’s safe to say Worthy is tough — and is willing to play through some pain.
The Chiefs should have done more at running back
At running back, the Chiefs are in a unique spot. While the position continues to lose value each year, it still carries some weight.
For some teams, it carries more than others. Kansas City is not one of those.
But I also think the front office is comfortable with Isiah Pacheco as the team’s bell cow. The 25-year-old is entering Year 3. Even with his vicious running style, he’s far from slowing down.
Last season, Pacheco had just 202 carries. That ranked 22nd. He did miss a couple of games — but as a rookie, he had only 170.
The team also re-signed Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who is familiar with the system.
Who will be the third running back? It might be that Jerick McKinnon’s days with the Chiefs (and maybe even the NFL) are over. So it could be second-year player Deneric Prince or veteran Keaontay Ingram.
The only position that should give us discomfort is left tackle
Carrington Harrison clearly disagrees — but generally, this is where I am. If the Chiefs didn’t have head coach Andy Reid (and Mahomes and Kelce), I would be more concerned about the running back group.
You could bring up the middle of the defensive line (outside of Chris Jones) and a lack of coverage linebackers (outside of Drue Tranquill). While these are legitimate gripes, I don’t think they’re big enough to make us uncomfortable.
But left tackle? That’s a different story.
You don’t want to be playing musical chairs on Mahomes’ blind side. How this battle will play out will be very interesting — and important.
Still, no NFL team has a perfect roster. Since Mahomes became Kansas City’s starter, I would argue that this roster has the fewest holes.