Kansas City Chiefs: Grading each offensive position in 2019

While the Kansas City Chiefs basically revamped the entire defense this offseason, the team mostly kept last year’s offense intact.

Naturally, there were some additions and some subtractions, but beginning with starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes II, the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive core from the end of 2018 remains.

Taking into consideration the changes that were made, how does each offensive position grade ahead of the 2019 season? This article takes aim at answering just that, breaking it down by quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, interior offensive line, and offensive tackle.

Like most everything with the Chiefs these days, we begin with number 15–and his back-up.

Quarterback

Everything might begin with Mahomes when it comes to the Chiefs, but that’s certainly not where it ends. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to rehash Mahomes’ accomplishments during his first year as a starter in the NFL.

He became the second quarterback ever to pass for over 5,000 yards and throw for at least 50 touchdown passes in the same season, joining surefire future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, who did it in 2013. In the process, Mahomes led the Chiefs to yet another AFC West title as the team earned the AFC’s number one seed, going 12-4.

In the divisional round of the playoffs, the Chiefs hammered the Indianapolis Colts, 31-13, a game in which Mahomes didn’t even throw a touchdown pass, though he finished 27 for 41 for 278 yards. His four-yard rushing touchdown with under two minutes left in the second quarter put the Chiefs up 24-7, a comfortable lead that was never threatened.

The following week, the Chiefs fell to the New England Patriots 37-31 in overtime. In that game, Mahomes only completed 16 of 31 passes. Still, he threw for 295 yards and three touchdown passes as he led the Chiefs to 31 points in the second half, which included four different lead changes and one tie.

Mahomes capped the season by making not only the Pro Bowl, but being named All-Pro as he won the Associated Press’ Offensive Player of the Year award as well as the Most Valuable Player award.

But he’s not the only quarterback on the Kansas City Chiefs roster. Right now, there are another three, but the anticipation is that the backup will be, once again, Chad Henne. And that’s excellent.

Henne, a former second-round pick from way back in 2008, begins his second season in Kansas City. That means that the ten-year veteran is familiar with the offensive scheme.

An added bonus is Henne’s experience. In three different seasons–two with the Dolphins and one with the Jaguars–Henne started at least 13 games. In three other seasons, he started at least three games.

Grade: A+

While it is incredible to have the league’s best young quarterback leading the charge, it’s also quite invaluable to have a backup quarterback familiar with the team’s system who also has 53 career starts under his belt.