1. Mecole Hardman

Hardman’s rare speed and big-play ability push him up this list, but so does the increased opportunity he has with Sammy Watkins gone.

It’s his third NFL season; he’s had a rookie offseason and a shortened, interrupted one. We naturally compare Hardman to the other receivers on rookie contracts, but not every receiver breaks out as quickly as some of them.

The flaws in Hardman’s game show up in his route running when used as a traditional receiver. Over his two years, there have been too many incomplete passes targeting him that looked out of sync. He’s earned a lot of his production and highlights off pre-determined touches — and will continue to as long as Andy Reid is calling plays.

With any step forward in 2021, he’ll make it very hard to contain and account for him in a loaded Chiefs offense.

2. Frank Clark

Clark has been the most endowed with talents and most experienced hard defensive player ever in history. He contributed immensely to the defense position. In last years season, Clark played tirelessly and miraculously which made the team the best as well. Sadly, Clark had off-the-field issue.

When he does return to the field, he made a well feel of his talent to the world through the ability to play all three downs. Even though Clark can’t be the most prominent edge defender, he understands where to be in run defense and does whatever it takes to disrupt the play.

3. Juan Thornhill

A lot had happened and more will unfold again.  Last year was a regressive season for Juan because, caused him ‘injuries’ both progress or career and team. Before the injury, he was working assiduously to convert his talent into a best outcome for his career and the team.  Thornhill’s ball skills and range on the back-end of the defense will raise the unit’s ceiling. We’ll be talking about him and Tyrann Mathieu as the NFL’s top safety duos by the end of the year.

4. Jarran Reed

Beating out starters like Thornhill, Clark and Ward, I’m placing high expectations on the defense’s biggest offseason acquisition. Reed’s high level of play as both a pass-rusher and run-stuffer from the interior make him a huge boost to the defense.

Reed is the only interior defensive lineman on the team that inspires confidence as an every-down player; Chris Jones’ move to play more defensive end excludes him. Derrick Nnadi is strong against the run but not the pass, while Tershawn Wharton’s smaller frame was used exclusively on passing downs in 2020. Reed is stout enough to stonewall blockers while also explosive enough to be a playmaker against the pass.

Interior pressure has become the key to truly disrupting a quarterback in the modern NFL. Generally, edge pressure is easier to avoid than the player who is pushing the front of the pocket back into your lap and blocking your line of vision downfield. The Chiefs can deploy both Jones and Reed from the inside on pass-rush downs; that coupling could be one of the league’s best interior pass-rush duos.

5. Joe Thuney

The theme of the 2021 offseason has been how much the Chiefs improved the offensive line. That started with the signing of former New England Patriots left guard Joe Thuney — a second-team All-Pro in 2019 and a player who is widely regarded as one of the best at his position.

It’s true: guards may be the least important of the three types of offensive linemen. The Chiefs have historically used late-round draft picks or cheap veterans to fill these roles. It was clear that quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn’t trust his interior linemen to build a wall in front of him last season. Bringing an elite guard into the mix helps solve that problem.

Thuney’s presence can also help young interior linemen — like rookies Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith — progress. As he starts next to Humphrey, he can help the rookie with any communication or recognition issues.

No matter how you slice it, Thuney will play a significant role in the success of the Chiefs’ offense — especially when he’s playing alongside the next player on my list:

6. Orlando Brown Jr.

 

The drastic improvement of the offensive line was solidified when the Chiefs traded for former Baltimore Ravens tackle Orlando Brown Jr. Kansas City’s newest left tackle may not have the same level of top-end experience that Thuney has, but his position makes him the more important player.

The Chiefs have long understood how critical it is to have dependable, top-level offensive tackles as the bookends of their line. In 2013, they spent the first overall selection on Eric Fisher — and in 2016, signed former right tackle Mitchell Schwartz to a big free-agent deal. Now that their runs have come to an end, the Chiefs quickly addressed the position with a 25-year-old Pro Bowl player (who has a high ceiling) as the long-term solution at left tackle.

As good as Fisher was in his position, Brown’s bigger frame and superior strength give him a chance to take it a step further. This season, he’s clearly the team’s most important offensive lineman

7. Joe Thuney

The theme of the 2021 offseason has been how much the Chiefs improved the offensive line. That started with the signing of former New England Patriots left guard Joe Thuney — a second-team All-Pro in 2019 and a player who is widely regarded as one of the best at his position.

It’s true: guards may be the least important of the three types of offensive linemen. The Chiefs have historically used late-round draft picks or cheap veterans to fill these roles. It was clear that quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn’t trust his interior linemen to build a wall in front of him last season. Bringing an elite guard into the mix helps solve that problem.

8. L’Jarius Sneed

After as impressive a rookie season as we’ve ever seen from a fourth-round pick, Sneed has suddenly become one of the most important players on the team. His ability as a coverage defender, blitzer, tackler and slot defender make him the third-highest defensive player on my list.

Once Sneed returned from his early-season collarbone injury, he was the team’s primary slot defender — and he excelled in a role that is undeniably one of the NFL’s most challenging positions. Nowadays, offenses attack the slot with their best weapons, forcing defenses to put one of the best defensive backs in that spot.

9. Anthony Hitchens

The Chiefs’ defensive play-caller cracks the top 10 as he enters his fourth season in Kansas City. He’s been the starting MIKE linebacker for the entirety of the Steve Spagnuolo era.

Spagnuolo has often expressed Hitchens’ value as an on-field extension of the coaching staff. You can see it before every play: based on the offensive formation, he’s adjusting defensive line alignments and pointing at off-ball players to communicate responsibilities. From one play to another, Hitchens’ intelligence plays a big part in the success of the Chiefs’ defense.

This has been apparent when Hitchens has had to miss time — when backup MIKE linebacker Ben Niemann has stepped in. The defense has been less likely to be in the right position.

For some of his flaws, Hitchens plays a vital role in the team’s defense.

10. Clyde Edwards-Helaire

The second-year running back has a chance to elevate into a much more significant role in 2021. He had a promising rookie season — earning 1,100 yards from scrimmage — but there’s reason to believe a big breakout is coming.

Statistically, the Chiefs relied upon Edwards-Helaire in the passing game in 2020, giving him 54 targets — but as I pointed out in my film review of his receiving abilities, many of those targets were dump-offs or check-downs instead of plays designed for him. In 2021, I believe we’ll see more emphasis on getting him the ball in the passing game, which will put him in space and let him use his elusiveness.