Kansas City Chiefs
Last season: 10-6, 1st place
Key offseason additions:
WR Sammy Watkins, CB Kendall Fuller, LB Anthony Hitchens
Key offseason losses:
QB Alex Smith, CB Marcus Peters, OLB Tamba Hali
The Kansas City Chiefs are going to have to surprise a lot of people to be better than they were a season ago, especially considering they traded away quarterback Alex Smith and cornerback Marcus Peters.
The Chiefs believe strongly in Patrick Mahomes as their quarterback of the future, but it would be irresponsible to expect a flawless season from a young guy who started one game last season, what essentially amounted to a preseason game.
The Chiefs are banking on Mahomes’ big right arm and a whole lot of talent at the skill positions to hopefully be able to win some shootouts this season.
A defense that ranked 15th last season in points allowed is getting what could be considered a major upgrade in the secondary despite the loss of Peters with Eric Berry returning to the lineup coupled with the addition of Kendall Fuller in the trade with the Redskins.
Kansas City is going to need its defense to step up big time to overcome what could be a high ceiling, low floor offense in 2018.
The Chiefs’ biggest offseason movement included the aforementioned trade of Alex Smith for Kendall Fuller, along with big free agent signings on both sides of the football.
Offensively the Chiefs brought in Sammy Watkins from the Los Angeles Rams at around $14 million per season, and defensively they signed Anthony Hitchens from the Dallas Cowboys.