With a fresh group of faces making their way to Chiefs training camp, here are four veterans who could be facing some pressure.
AFC Wild Card Playoffs – Miami Dolphins v Kansas City Chiefs / Kara Durrette/GettyImages
It may be June, but training camp is coming, and soon we’ll be getting our first look at the 2024/25 edition of the Kansas City Chiefs. We’ll see old faces, and we’ll see new faces. The Chiefs only drafted a handful of players this year, but if it’s anything like previous years, these rookies will be hungry.
As any NFL veteran knows, “NFL” stands for “Not For Long”, and the smart ones know that on any given Sunday, a rookie could be coming for their jobs. The questions is, which veterans should be concerned about those hungry rookies this year?
Below are four Chiefs players I think could be looking over their shoulder at some point this year.
Mecole Hardman, Wide Receiver
Think back about five years ago and ask yourself who would end up with three Super Bowl rings, Tyreek Hill or Mecole Hardman? I wouldn’t have picked Hardman either. But here we are, and here Hardman is, back for another year.
Hardman was a last ditch attempt for the Kansas City Chiefs to get some wide receiver help last season when they trade him back from the oblivion that is the New York Jets. It kind of paid off, at least in the Super Bowl. He made the game-winning catch, but I don’t think anyone was particularly excited to have him back.
But the Chiefs like him, and now he’s back for one more go around. At least until he’s resigned to another one-year contract next year. That is unless rookie Xavier Worthy pans out.
The rookie wide receiver brings lots of excitement to Chiefs Kingdom. You might even start to drool day dreaming of Hollywood Brown, Xavier Worthy, and Rashee Rice all on the field at the same time. Well, hopefully we see that at some point (thanks Rice). But if we do, that leaves Hardman as the odd man out.
Now, just because Mecole might lose snaps to Worthy, doesn’t mean he won’t have a spot returning kicks under the new kickoff rules. Oh wait, we have another rookie that can do that, too. Thanks for the memories Mecole, but it’s time.
Jawaan Taylor, Offensive Tackle
Taylor was going to be the first entry on this list but he got called back for a false start. Too, soon?
Look, Taylor got picked on too much last year because of his quick start off the line. But he was a liability because of it. I actually liked his play and thought he book ended the offensive line very well.
But there’s a new kid in town. Andy Reid’s homer pick out of BYU, Kingsley Suamataia is here, and I think he’s eventually going to take Taylor’s job. Kingsley is a second round pick which means he’s definitely going to make this roster.
Previous tackles drafted by Andy Reid haven’t exactly panned out. Looking at you Lucas Niang. But something tells me that the Chiefs are tired of cycling through tackles. They haven’t had true bookends since the days of Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz.
Taylor will probably start at tackle, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s supplanted by Suamataia eventually. Who knows, a really great camp from Kingsley may fast track that.
Jaylen Watson/Joshua Williams, Defensive Backs
I’m cheating here because I couldn’t pick just one. That’s not a bad thing. I actually love both of these dudes. They were both part of the epic 2022 draft class where Brett Veach went scorched earth on defense and pretty much nailed it.
Still, both players have been mostly backups. That may sound like a slight, but it’s really not. The Chiefs have just been stacked at DB for a couple of years now. The departure of L’jarius Sneed does finally open up a spot for a new competition, and I expect these two guys to fight for it.
But they’ll have some rookie competition. Specifically, Jaden Hicks, one of the Chiefs fourth round picks this year. Heck, you could actually add in sixth round pick Kamal Hadden, too. At any rate, if these two rookies manage to steal snaps from these two veterans I don’t think it will be an indictment on the vets.
It will just tell us that Brett Veach has once again nailed his defensive back picks. I’m here for it.
Travis Kelce, Tight End
I know, I know, the pitchforks are going to come out on this one. But here me out.
Travis Kelce will be 35 years old this year. He may be the GOAT, but even goats start to turn gray. On top of that, the Chiefs drafted a spunky new tight end out of TCU named Jared Wiley.
I’m not saying Travis will lose his job to this rookie. But he is already giving the rookie high praise. If Travis thinks that Wiley is already farther than he was as a rookie, will it be any surprise if Reid starts giving Wiley some snaps, especially if it means resting Kelce?
I’ve been (embarrassingly) high on Chiefs rookie tight ends before. Just check out the final line of this story I wrote a few years ago. Noah Gray wasn’t it, I’m willing to admit it. But maybe this Wiley kid can be a step in the right direction for replacing Kelce, eventually.
The Chiefs have strung together great tight end play like the Green Bay Packers have strung together great quarterback play. If Wiley shows even a modicum of greatness this year, I don’t think too many people are going to complain about him taking some of Travis’ reps.