The New England Patriots must retool their offensive line within the offseason. If Tremendous Bowl LIX is any indication, so do the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
KC acquired run out of the Superdome on Sunday evening. The Chiefs’ lopsided 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles didn’t simply imply the top of a two-year title run. It additionally uncovered a significant flaw within the Chiefs’ roster that must be precedence No. 1 this spring.
The imaginative and prescient of Patrick Mahomes must be performed on loop within the Chiefs’ constructing beginning Monday. And if that’s the highest precedence for Kansas Metropolis, it’s dangerous information for the Patriots.
How the Chiefs’ failure impacts the Patriots:
The market simply acquired harder: The Chiefs had been in all probability at all times going to be available in the market for offensive line assist; Mahomes’ 36 sacks this season had been probably the most of his profession. Watching the Eagles strain Mahomes on almost half of his dropbacks (it was 52.4% earlier than rubbish time) with out blitzing ought to reinforce that notion. If the Chiefs are available in the market for an O-lineman (or a number of), that makes the market much more aggressive. With an opportunity to play with Mahomes and beneath Andy Reid, that might imply groups just like the Patriots must spend much more at a premium place.
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A lot for Trey Smith? NESN.com pointed to Smith as a possible Chiefs free agent the Patriots may pursue within the offseason. Now, there’s much more motive to re-sign the 6-foot-6, 322-pound behemoth. Right here’s the opposite factor: If the Chiefs can’t re-sign him, it will increase Kansas Metropolis’s personal must play within the free agent pool.
Draft competitors, too: The Chiefs received’t decide till No. 31, however that’s nothing new for them. Basic supervisor Brett Veach is making it a precedence, calling it their free company. As they proved final 12 months, although, they’re keen to maneuver up in the event that they see a man they like, they usually may achieve this once more with 4 picks within the first three rounds. Whereas the Patriots personal the No. 4 decide, there’s a relative lack of offensive line depth on the prime of the draft. Which means they may very well be in a spot the place one other group — KC being a prime candidate — may scoop up a high-ceiling lineman on the finish of the primary spherical, only a few picks forward of New England.
What all of it means
The large-picture takeaway right here is that it received’t simply be the Chiefs available in the market for the road. The copycat league factor is for actual, and everyone seems to be now chasing an Eagles group that simply confirmed the true potential of getting a group that may utterly dominate the trenches.
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