The Kansas City Chiefs were seventh in the league in passing with 4,383 yards. All but 200 of them were thrown by Patrick Mahomes. They’re looking for more in 2024.
More specifically, they’re ready to sling the rock further down the field. Last season, Kansas City was last in the league in completed air yards per completion (4.1). It was worse than teams like the New England Patriots, New York Jets, and Denver Broncos. Yet, they still won the Super Bowl. Ridiculous.
But, after rejuvenating their wide receiving room, they’re ready to escape from the cellar and sling that rock down the field.
Deep Plays Are Coming
Kansas City led the league with 2,677 yards after the catch from their wide receivers. Though it isn’t a bad thing, it shows how dependent they were on short/medium pass plays.
Now, the Chiefs saw this along with their terrible statistic of being last in CAY/Cmp and said “No. Not again”.
This offseason, the Chiefs signed speedster Marquise Brown to a one-year deal worth $11 million. The last time they had a speedster like Brown, it was Tyreek Hill (and we know how that went).
*for those who forget, Hill helped the Chiefs win a Super Bowl in 2019. His 479 catches, 6,630 yards, and 56 touchdowns are among the best in Chiefs history*
Though Hill ran a 4.29 40-yard time, Brown has a 40 time of 4.27. Though it isn’t that much of a difference, it’s safe to assume they have found their Hill “clone”.
Mahomes airing it out to Marquise Brown đź‘€
— Caesars Sportsbook & Casino (@CaesarsSports) May 22, 2024
pic.twitter.com/15SWNQFE0w
They weren’t done. In the NFL Draft, the Chiefs traded up to get Xavier Worthy from the University of Texas. The 5’11” wideout ran an insane 4.21 40-yard dash at the combine, which is now the record at the yearly event.
OFFICIAL: 4.21
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024
XAVIER WORTHY HOLDS THE NEW 40-YARD DASH RECORD pic.twitter.com/IrXf3WyemB
Speed, speed, and more speed.
With Brown and Worthy, it’s clear the Chiefs are ready to sling the rock deep down the field. With other benefits including less pressure on Travis Kelce, those two will do wonders for this offense.
For Patrick Mahomes, having those two weapons along with Kelce and Rashee Rice will no doubt allow him to improve from a “down” 2023 that saw him throw for “just” 4,183 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
Ready To Three-Peat
“If I don’t, he throws little jabs at me like, ‘Oh, you want to throw the checkdown here?’ I’m like, ‘I got you, Coach; we’re going to push it.’ It has been fun.”
Patrick Mahomes on coach Andy Reid and the want to push the ball down the field
If the Kansas City Chiefs want to be the first team in history to win three straight Super Bowls, it’s critical that they get back to pushing the ball down the field. With the new acquisitions of Brown and Worthy, Mahomes and Co. are going to do just that.
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Featured Image: Ryan Kang/Getty Images
