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Another Chiefs O-line overhaul? Kansas City vows to be better after Super Bowl trampling | The Athletic
Looking back, first-team All-Pro center Creed Humphrey called it “a bad day at the office.” And it was, in the same way that the Season 2 finale of “Severance” depicted a bad day at Lumon Industries.
There was no way to expunge the experience from anyone’s memory, or to ignore the obvious: In lieu of a do-over, the line needed a makeover.
To Chiefs coach Andy Reid, a former BYU tackle, the unit’s failure was especially jarring. As Reid told me Thursday after an OTA session, “It caught up to us. (Rushing the passer) was their strength; (stopping it) was not our strength. They took advantage. But look, I take full responsibility. It’s on me to fix it, to get it where it should be. I think we’re getting there.”
For Mahomes’ sake, they’d better be. As he approaches his 30th birthday in September, the transcendent quarterback has already established himself as one of the sport’s all-time greats. However, the three-time Super Bowl champion has also been haunted by what might have been.
NFL draft history proves Chiefs took the right risk on Omarr Norman-Lott | Arrowhead Addict
What does recent history say about the hit rate of late 2nd round defensive tackles?
Obviously, every draft pick is different, but I thought it would be interesting to see what the hit rate is for defensive tackles taken in this same area of the draft to understand what history suggests about Norman-Lott’s chances of making it in the NFL. I did a similar study earlier this week with late first-round tackles and the Chiefs’ first pick, Josh Simmons.
Just like I did with Simmons, I examined the ten draft classes from 2014 to 2023. That’s the ten most recent drafts, excluding 2024 because I think it’s too soon to evaluate whether those players are hits or busts. I then looked specifically at defensive tackles taken within ten picks before and after pick 63 (where Norman-Lott was selected). That range of picks, 53–73, gave me a 21-pick span stretching from the mid-second round to the early third round.
In those ten drafts, I found 18 defensive tackles taken in that pick range. I will state, for transparency’s sake, that I had to make a few judgment calls on what qualifies as a defensive tackle. Some players were listed as defensive ends in the draft because the team selected them to play as 3-4 defensive ends in their system, which most consider to be more of a defensive tackle than an edge player.
Ex-Chiefs OL D.J. Humphries inks new deal with L.A. Rams | Chiefs Wire
Humphries, who joined Kansas City last season after an eight-year stint with the Arizona Cardinals, is an experienced blocker with a Pro Bowl selection on his resume, but he failed to gain traction with the Chiefs in 2024.
Now set to join the Rams, Humphries could find himself in a position to compete for a starting role in Los Angeles if external factors force the franchise’s front-five into chaos early next season.
A former first-round pick, Humphries has all the tools scouts look for in elite offensive linemen, but a series of unfortunate injuries have limited his availability in recent seasons.
Fans should expect to see Humphries in action with the Rams next season, even if only as a temporary replacement on Los Angeles’ offensive line.
One NFL Free Agent That Could Sign Soon | Last Word on Sports
Kansas City Chiefs
However, like the Ravens, quarterback Patrick Mahomes could revive Chark’s career. Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice are two long-term starters for this unit, but they lack a true depth structure behind Marquise Brown after bringing back JuJu Smith-Schuster. Since Justin Watson was able to turn his career around and earn opportunities elsewhere, they could do the same with Chark, bolstering the offense as a reliable WR4 at best.
Around the NFL
Cowboys’ Dak Prescott wants a Super Bowl title, legacy ‘be damned’ | ESPN
“Yeah, I want to win a championship,” Prescott said when the Cowboys concluded their offseason program Thursday. “The legacy, the things, whatever comes after I finish playing will take care of itself. I want to win a championship. Be damned if it’s just for my legacy, or if it’s for this team, for my personal being, for my sanity. Yeah, the legacy will take care of itself. I have to stay where my feet are.”
Prescott has delivered the Cowboys to the playoffs five times. The Cowboys have had the best record in the conference one time — his rookie year in 2016 — and played on wild-card weekend the other four times but have not gotten to the NFC Championship Game.
Prescott has a 2-5 playoff record.
For the Cowboys to have that chance, Prescott, who was the runner-up in the MVP voting in 2023 when Dallas finished 12-5 for the third straight season, has to remain healthy. He has missed games due to injury in four of the past five seasons, including nine last year after needing surgery to repair a hamstring avulsion as the Cowboys finished 7-10.
NFL minicamp overreactions: Bengals in the wrong with first-rounder? Steelers 10-win team with Aaron Rodgers? | CBS Sports
Steelers are a 10-win team with Aaron Rodgers
Overreaction or reality: Reality
Aaron Rodgers took part in the Steelers’ minicamp this week, signing just in time to take place in the most vital portion of the team’s spring workouts. While Rodgers finally put pen to paper last week, it appeared he has been in the Steelers’ plans for a while.
Whether Rodgers is still elite or not is irrelevant; he’s better than any quarterback Pittsburgh had on the roster. The Steelers also have a some playmakers on offense in Jaylen Warren, DK Metcalf and Robert Woods — along with an improving offensive line. Their defense also should be a top-10 unit (and likely will get the T.J. Watt holdout resolved sooner rather than later).
Pittsburgh isn’t elite, but this team is good enough to make the playoffs (the Steelers did make it last year with the Russell Wilson-Justin Fields combination). They should win 10 games with Rodgers at quarterback (if he stays healthy).
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs Roster: Gardner Minshew is the kind of backup QB Andy Reid wants
Reid doesn’t want sprinkles or hot fudge on his backup. He wants someone dependable — a veteran who can step in when he’s needed, work within the offense, make all the throws and steady the ship.
“He’s been there,” Reid said of Minshew after Thursday’s OTA practice. “He’s started. He’s got the confidence of the guys around him. Patrick knows he’s been in there and done it, so they can bounce things off each other.
“It’s always good to have peers that have played. I think on game day, he’ll be great with Patrick, just with what he’s seeing from the sideline and what Pat’s seeing when he’s in there.”
As for Minshew, he’s just grateful for the opportunity.
“I love it, man,” he declared. “[I’m] so happy to be a part of this — [and] super grateful for Coach Reid bringing me in and giving me an opportunity.”
