KC Chiefs: Questions concerning special teams in 2020 offseason

The KC Chiefs had their ups and down on special teams this past season. What could this offseason consist of when it comes to special teams?

For years, the Kansas City Chiefs boasted one of the best special teams units in the league and special teams coach Dave Toub was consistently linked with vacant head coaching jobs. That wasn’t the case this past season with the open head coach jobs, as the Chiefs’ special teams didn’t experience as much success as years past.

Chiefs fans weren’t used to seeing special teams cost them games, but that was something that happened in 2019. Most remember the complete meltdown by special teams against the Titans in week ten in which the Chiefs blew their chance at winning that game. There were more miscues than normal throughout the season, but will much change this offseason?

Let’s go through each spot on special teams and dive deeper.

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Harrison Butker will most definitely be back and kicking for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020 and beyond, as he’s under contract through 2024. The Chiefs gave Butker a five-year deal worth $20 million and he deserves every penny of that deal for the work he’s put in during his young career. He’s been great for the Chiefs since taking over their kicking duties just four games into the 2017 season.

The punter position is where things could get more interesting and that’s one of the main questions that needs addressing this offseason.

Dustin Colquitt – the team’s punter since he was drafted in the third round in the 2005 NFL Draft – is under contract for the 2020 season, but he had his fair share of struggles in 2019, including a botched hold against the Titans and also having two punts blocked (once against the Patriots in week 14 and another against the Texans in the AFC Divisional Round).

While Colquitt is on the hook for just shy of $2 million in 2020, he’s 37 years old and 2020 would be his 15th season in the league. Now that he has a Super Bowl ring and has spent his entire career in Kansas City, could he opt to call it a career? If so, the Chiefs would be in the hunt for another punter.

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Kansas City brought Jack Fox in last summer to compete with Colquitt, but no one was surprised to see Colquitt win the job. Still – Don’t be surprised to see the team either bring Fox back in again this summer or another punter to compete with him once again for the punting duties in KC.

The other major aspects of special teams are at long snapper and in the kick return and punt return units. James Winchester has been the Chiefs long snapper since 2017 and is under contract through the end of 2021. While he has his miscues, don’t expect the team to replace Winchester unless he has a bad summer.

Mecole Hardman was a rising star on special teams this past season, but it’s possible if Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson depart that Hardman could be utilized more in the offense and less on special teams. He did well in returning kicks, taking one to the house in week 17 against the Chargers and also notching a big return against Houston in the Divisional Round after it looked like the Chiefs were dead in the water.

With how deep the wide receiver class is in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Chiefs could spend a pick on a receiver and that could pave way for Hardman to still be a big part of special teams.

What do you think, Chiefs fans? Will Colquitt be back in 2020 and what will Hardman’s role be next season?