🏀 KuBuckets Archive

So the Chiefs D appears to be getting better with a new coordinator and the recent signing of the Honey Badger.

Chiefs fans, what other moves would you like to see? One I am 90% sure won’t happen is trading Dee Ford to clear cap space to sign Earl Thomas pairing him with Berry and moving Mathieu to CB and Fuller to slot CB. Salty, but unlikely.

You’d have to shore up the line and linebackers thru that trade and draft.

What move would I like to see? I'd like to see them get Justin Houston back.

@nuleafjhawk I’d love the pre-big contract healthy version of Justin Houston.

@dylans The poverty-stricken, broke down version wasn't bad either.

Looooove the Honey Badger signing. Can't rely on Berry.

Anyone know what the Chiefs got from the 49ers for Dee Ford?

dylans said:

Anyone know what the Chiefs got from the 49ers for Dee Ford?

2020 second round pick

@Woodrow hmm, I wonder what they’ll do with that cap space? Probably extend Hill.

dylans said:

@Woodrow hmm, I wonder what they’ll do with that cap space? Probably extend Hill.

Hill and Jones. I’m sure they will add one more higher profile signing.

I expect us to sign a CB with the cap savings.

@Kcmatt7 Darby? Would be nice. I can’t think of another very good CB on the market. (Hope I’m missing it)

The safeties on the market rate higher than the other CBs left (I think). Depending on the amount you can spend, Earl Thomas or HaHa Clinton Dix might be nice, but that would swing Mathieu into the CB spot.

@dylans I honestly don't know who they'd go for. But we do need to find a starter quality CB now that Nelson is gone. If we don't, we are almost forced to draft one at 29.

I'd rather be able to take BPA at 29.

And as deep as the safety market is, it also has been very expensive this offseason. Surprisingly expensive.

I heard someone say ,”Don’t get in a bidding war with Veach on ebay.”

Texans wanted him too evidently.

Ok. I’m getting more confused as to what the goal is by the minute. Berry was cut. Houston released. Dee Ford was traded with no immediate return. Mathieu is a nice signing, but that’s really it other than depth so far. 🤔

The time is now to capitalize on Mahones cheap contract window, so wtf?!?

dylans said:

Ok. I’m getting more confused as to what the goal is by the minute. Berry was cut. Houston released. Dee Ford was traded with no immediate return. Mathieu is a nice signing, but that’s really it other than depth so far. 🤔

The time is now to capitalize on Mahones cheap contract window, so wtf?!?

Well keeping them basically was saying we were fine with a 31st ranked defense. Because their salaries were the largest, it was time to go and revamp the defense to fit the new scheme. Had we kept them, there wasn’t really any salary left to make moves.

@Kcmatt7 Right, but what moves? That’s what I’m confused about. I don’t see upgrades on the market currently. Maybe a trade? Also the Berry contract was a turd - lots of dead money for a couple of years yet. They must think he’s done to eat so much $$$

Also not thrilled about the Spagnuolo hiring. One good year, otherwise the 19th ranked D on average. The 19th ranked D would probably win a SB with that offense, but 8-12 would make me feel a lot better. Lol

@dylans The Athletic had a piece that was pretty high on the chiefs moves. They said Ford didn't fit Spagnuolos scheme as they thought he was too small to play defensive end. I know nothing of these things. But it also freed up a lot of salary.

A bad fit and a couple well paid unhealthy guys cut - I understand, but now I’m as curious as a kid before Christmas. But I don’t know when Christmas Day will be.

@Kcmatt7 I'm not an NFL expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't see Houston and Ford as part of the defensive liabilities. They were about the only bright spots on that dismal defense.

@dylans Darby is visiting... That's a move.

I personally think they're trying to make sure that the secondary is able to cover. Spags defense relies a lot on pressure coming from random places and a lot of blitzing. Meaning that Ford and Houston, besides not being great scheme fits in general, were also not positions as highly valued in our scheme.

Because it's a pretty blitz heavy scheme, it also means we need to upgrade the secondary (with guys who can play).

@nuleafjhawk Yeah, but it’s the $$$ tied up in contracts. Houston had the richest contract signed by a defensive player at the time and failed to produce up to that level. Same for Berry and the safety market. The contracts and unwillingness to negotiate them are why they had to go.

Sammy Watkins will probably get the ax after next season based on his contract structure. Likely a needed move to make way for Mahones huge deal.

@Kcmatt7 The secondary last year killed me. Too bad none of the Berry cap savings is realized until June 2. Can’t play with that money yet, so it’s probably part of the Jones/Hill or even Mahomes future cap space planning.

Darby would be a huge upgrade, but more work needs to be done. Probably in the draft.

As much as we all like Eric Berry, he has been a complete waste of money the last few years. Houston has had health issues the past few years aswell. Ford is a guy I dont understand why they got rid of, hes Young enough he may not played his best ball yet. The only thing I can think of, us they both rush well but have trouble in coverage.

nuleafjhawk said:

@Kcmatt7 I'm not an NFL expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't see Houston and Ford as part of the defensive liabilities. They were about the only bright spots on that dismal defense.

Are we better with two high end DBs and average DEs? Or are we better with two high end DEs and scraps at DB?

In Spags blitz heavy scheme, I think probably the former than the latter.

@Kcmatt7 Great back end coverage makes average DE’s look good. More time to work is huge.

dylans said:

@Kcmatt7 The secondary last year killed me. Too bad none of the Berry cap savings is realized until June 2. Can’t play with that money yet, so it’s probably part of the Jones/Hill or even Mahomes future cap space planning.

Darby would be a huge upgrade, but more work needs to be done. Probably in the draft.

I sort of expect that the current Mock Drafts are right and we end up taking a CB in the first round. That would, if the pick isn't a complete bust, (and the Darby signing happens) give you 4 quality DBs. From there, all you have to do is drum up pressure between the 4 lineman and the LBs. Send 5 from all different places and hope that can create enough pressure.

@Kcmatt7 2 second round picks too, in a draft deep on the defensive side. I’m hoping they pick up some ground.

You sort of have to assume that the staff thinks Speaks and KPass are capable of playing at least average football. We haven't sniffed a DE yet in FA. Not even a DT. The focus is to clearly improve the secondary significantly.

@dylans I'd like to see us find an undervalued box safety in the second. A more nimble DOD.

I really think their goal is to find as many versatile players as they can, disguise the coverage, and blitz like hell while leaving the two outside CBs on an island.

@Kcmatt7 I’m hoping they can execute their plan, because right now the defense has a ton of holes.

@Kcmatt7 I had hoped Fuller would just cover the slot (his most effective position), so they need to hit on another CB in the draft. IMHO of course. Lol

dylans said:

@Kcmatt7 I had hoped Fuller would just cover the slot (his most effective position), so they need to hit on another CB in the draft. IMHO of course. Lol

I agree with this for sure. I think they feel good about Ward, but not great. If they don't draft a CB in the first few picks, we will know. Ultimately, I think we see Fuller in the slot regardless.

4 picks in the first 100 selections. They need to find at least 2 impact guys out of that.

Then there is the wildcard guys that exist. DOD and Watts come to mind. Both guys could probably end up having big roles.

I'd just implore patience right now. It does feel like they had a plan going into this whole thing that they are still following.

I do really like our options at the end of round 1. There are 3 of the top CBs mocking near us, two quality DEs and the top SS. I just hope Veach doesn't trade up for our first pick this year. Pick any of those 6 that end up in our lap. Then move up in the 2nd to get one of the others.

https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2019/3/13/18264570/the-state-of-the-chiefs-defense-after-eric-berrys-release ↗

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Received this last night. 😂

Hey they could be like the packers or the cowboys, not doing shit and expecting different results.

Alex Okafor just signed with the Chiefs. Replacing some of the edge pressure. Hopefully he can be more productive than he has been getting sacks, but he seems well rounded.

Added Breshaud Breeland at CB. Ehhhh.

BShark said:

Added Breshaud Breeland at CB. Ehhhh.

Was needed so we weren’t desperate in the draft.

@BShark went cheap. Lateral move from Nelson I guess for less than the $8 million he brought. I still would like to see the Chiefs pick up another good cb. Doesn’t look too likely now though.

Sort of have to go cheap. Those contracts coming up aren't going to be cheap.

@Kcmatt7 I’m still hopeful of a one year deal maybe in a trade for some more secondary help. Maybe they’ve identified their future CB in the draft, but they still need o-line, d-line, and linebacker help as well as receiver depth after losing Conley. There’s a bit of ground left to cover. I’m curious how Veach gets it done.

I’m also curious how he’s going to handle Tyreek Hill. OBJ, Hill, Hunt would make he Browns pretty damn good. I’m hopeful the kids broken arm was an accident, but with Hill’s past you can’t just give him a pass. It has to be thoroughly investigated and if he is responsible send him packing. At least this is before his $100 million contract had been signed - that would be a ton of dead cap space.

@dylans You just have to trust Andy at this point. The dude knows how to coach football and succeed in this league. He will get guys to step up no matter how everything ends up shaking out.

@Kcmatt7 Likely only one more year of cheap Mahomes. I hope Veach takes advantage of that soon to disappear cap advantage.

Wanna shed a tear with me @kcmatt7? Earl Thomas nearly joined The honey badger in the Chiefs backfield. Wish he would’ve leveraged the Baltimore deal into more years from the Chiefs. https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article229133544.html?cid=DM14024&bid=162646685 ↗

@dylans Oh I saw.... I'm just happy Veach didn't freak out and spend big money somewhere else. It would have been a dynamic duo.

@Kcmatt7 come on down Greedy Williams.

dylans said:

@Kcmatt7 come on down Greedy Williams.

I would rather see us trade back for a 2nd and a 3rd. There is a reason those CBS are falling into the 20s.

Kcmatt7 said:

@dylans Oh I saw.... I'm just happy Veach didn't freak out and spend big money somewhere else. It would have been a dynamic duo.

Like on Clark? Lolz need to find a WR now. I hope Veach left himself enough cap space to maneuver. Might need another fa

Kcmatt7 said:

dylans said:

@Kcmatt7 come on down Greedy Williams.

I would rather see us trade back for a 2nd and a 3rd. There is a reason those CBS are falling into the 20s.

Or second round as it turns out!

@dylans Draft has been strange... Just hoping someone falls to us. Hakeem Butler is the guy I'm hoping makes it to 61. Whatever CB is there at 63 is what it is. Might be someone good. Might not be.

Lord knows Veach trades both 2nds to move up though. Guy doesn't have a patient bone in his body. If he had waited until yesterday to make the Clark trade (like he should have) we probably don't make the trade or at least don't end up giving up our 2019 1st.

I blame Andy for Veach getting his job too early. I think Veach is smart. I just don't think he has been around long enough to learn patience. This job should have been Ballard's...

@Kcmatt7 Time will tell. I’m with you, but maybe he thinks the SB window is only 1 year. And maybe it is or worse yet was.

Patience is a virtue Veach is definitely short on. As predicted a draft day trade. He’d be bad at poker.

Sometimes I think Veach has too many different plans going at once. It seems like he wanted to improve the defense through free agency (which he did), at which point the focus of the draft should have been offense. But Veach seemed to try and split his picks between offense and defense, without having a high pick to grab an impact guy. He made some good picks I think, but I am not sure how all of it will fit together in the end.

@justanotherfan I think he has a plan. I think his plan is simple. Fill needs in the order he thinks of importance.

Because of this, I'm afraid he devalues the draft and over values Free Agents though. Was Hardman really worth losing a 5th for? To think we could have traded back and landed Jace Sternberger AND Hakeem Butler chaps my ass. Or David Long or Jaylon Ferguson. Or Justin Layne. Or DK Metcalf.

But he felt he NEEDED to replace HIll as close as he possibly could. So we get just Hardman instead. This is the killer for me. If Hardman doesn't turn into Percy Harvin, this is not a great pick.

Kcmatt7 said:

@justanotherfan I think he has a plan. I think his plan is simple. Fill needs in the order he thinks of importance.

Because of this, I'm afraid he devalues the draft and over values Free Agents though.

You make a great point about this. I think that is why I evaluate him differently. He is looking at need and prioritizing that individual need if it is first on his list. At times, that may cause him to overvalue a specific need without looking at the whole picture.

He zeroes in on a Tyreek Hill clone, rather than looking at the entire draft and seeing that he can trade down in the second and land a corner, a receiver and another piece without trying to directly replace Hill.

@justanotherfan Exactly. Veach's job is to acquire talent. Andy's job is to make it work. I'm not sure that's what is happening here though.

When Veach was hired the one thing I was worried about was that Andy would have too much of a say in personnel. It was his downfall in Philly. Andy wanted a yes man at the GM spot. I think he has one... And I think that explains quite a few of the decisions that have been made.