Kansas City Chiefs training camp storylines: The pressure’s on Patrick Mahomes

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs open 2022 coaching camp Wednesday at Missouri Western State College. Here is a more in-depth have a look at a number of storylines:

The participant with essentially the most to show: No person is suggesting gloom and doom for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, however there is not any denying his soccer world has modified because the Chiefs ended their 2021 season with a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals within the AFC Championship Sport. The Chiefs traded his high extensive receiver, Tyreek Hill, and misplaced two of their different high pass-catchers from latest seasons, Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson, to free company. Mahomes will throw to a brand new solid of gamers with out a clear candidate to exchange Hill because the go-to extensive receiving goal. Throw in Mahomes’ dismal second half and extra time in opposition to Cincinnati and he is underneath extra strain than regular for a longtime beginning quarterback, even one together with his appreciable accomplishments.

Fiercest fantasy-relevant battle: Free agent additions Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster and rookie Skyy Moore be a part of the returning Mecole Hardman to type the principle group of extensive receivers. However the Chiefs nonetheless must type out who’s going to exchange Hill because the No. 1 receiver and which different wideouts make the most important statistical contributions. Hardman, as the one one who performed with Mahomes earlier than this season, would appear to have a bonus however his contributions in three seasons with the Chiefs have been inconsistent. Smith-Schuster is essentially the most achieved of the bunch, however his just one,000-plus-yard season was again in 2018. Mahomes had an excellent factor going with Valdes-Scantling throughout offseason apply, however there is not any assure that continues throughout camp or when the common season begins.

Most impactful offseason addition: The Chiefs haven’t any scarcity of candidates on this class, together with Smith-Schuster, Valdes-Scantling and Moore, rookie cornerback Trent McDuffie and veteran security Justin Reid. However the brand new participant they most must play properly is defensive finish George Karlaftis, the second of the Chiefs’ two first-round draft picks. The Chiefs’ move rush, which slumped to twenty ninth final season in sacks, is determined for a refresh, they usually’re almost certainly to get assist from Karlaftis. Chris Jones and Frank Clark once more ought to lead the move rush for the Chiefs, however that tandem proved incapable of offering sufficient strain on opposing quarterbacks final season. Karlaftis must be an element immediately.

Coaching camp is a hit if: The protection comes collectively earlier than the beginning of the common season. The Chiefs parted methods with a number of longtime defensive regulars, most notably security Tyrann Mathieu. They’ve loads of new items and plenty of, together with first-round draft picks in McDuffie and Karlaftis, must play main roles proper from the beginning. The Chiefs have a lot to drag collectively in a restricted time that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo steered throughout the offseason they’d be racing the clock this summer season to verify all the things is prepared by the Sept. 11 opener. Spagnuolo may be tough on rookies, making them repeatedly show they’ll deal with their obligations earlier than he is comfy giving them important enjoying time. He could must compromise his requirements this season within the circumstances of McDuffie, Karlaftis and maybe others.

Camp prediction: McDuffie will depart coaching camp because the Chiefs’ rising star within the secondary. The Chiefs requested loads of McDuffie in offseason apply as he labored at each outdoors cornerback and in slot protection. He dealt with all of it properly, leaving the Chiefs inspired that he may have an enormous rookie season. McDuffie seemed extra like a veteran as he was hardly ever caught out of place. The Chiefs want an enormous season from McDuffie after dropping long-time starter Charvarius Ward in free company. One other sturdy candidate for enjoying time at cornerback, Rashad Fenton, missed all of offseason apply whereas rehabbing from a shoulder process.