Kansas City Chiefs Rumors: A trade to replace Chris Jones...sort of
There is no replacing Chris Jones. I'll just start there. The Kansas City Chiefs know this, which is why there is a mad dash by Brett Veach and the front office to sign Jones to an extension before Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. It's worth mentioning that Veach views that as a possibility.
"We're going to continue to press on," Veach said. "We're just going to keep working on this thing. They have a good chance to be where they need to be Week 1."
That's an idealistic view from Veach, but he doesn't have much choice but to portray that publicly. Jones wants Aaron Donald money, and Kansas City hopes not to break the bank on an extension that could very well determine the status of their dynasty. Yes, Patrick Mahomes is the most important player on the roster, but what Jones does is not easily replaced.
Jones is coming off one of his best seasons as a pro. The timing of this extension is not lost upon us in the media. He had a lot of leverage, but the Chiefs called Jones's bluff.
A possible short-term replacement resides in Detroit. Kansas City was mentioned as a possible trade suitor for James Houston IV, who is an EDGE rusher. Jones does far more than rush the passer, but replacing him by committee and increasing their defensive line depth isn't a bad idea for Kansas City.
"It appears Houston may be the odd man out in Detroit, but the Lions definitely shouldn't release a player with three years of cheap control remaining who showed a knack for getting after the quarterback on limited snaps last season," Pro Football Focus's Brad Spielberger wrote on August 28. "Many teams would be happy to take a flier on a developmental pass-rush specialist coming off a season with an 88.2 pass-rush grade."
Houston has played just one year in Detroit, and surely they could use some defensive line depth as well. It's worth a phone call from Veach, especially if matters with Jones are as bad as they seem.
Kansas City Chiefs Rumors: Who made the practice squad?
Just because Kansas City cut some promising players to make way for their 53-man roster does not mean those same players won't make an impact with the Chiefs this season. Practice squads are important, not just because they help the team prepare on a weekly basis. Players on the practice squad can receive a call up of sorts to the 53-man roster if needed. Kansas City, like most teams, will store depth and promising young players on the practice squad for a reason.
So far, the following players have been added to the Chiefs practice squad: Center/guard Austin Reiter, DT Danny Shelton, Chukwuebuka "Jason" Godrick, RBs La'Mical Perine and Deneric Prince, TE Matt Bushman, WR Cornell Powell, LB Cole Christiansen, QB Chris Oladokun, G Jerome Carvin, LB Olakunle Fatukasi and WR Nikko Remigio.
Oladokun is a familiar face, as he battled for a spot on the Chiefs depth chart behind Shane Buechele and Blaine Gabbert. However, Oladokun was overwhelmed at times in the preseason, and Kansas City rightly cut him from the 53-man, especially considering how Buechele played this preseason.
Oladokun offers plenty of talent as a practice squad QB. He'll learn the KC system in case of emergency, but he's a solid mobile QB who can mimic some of the Chiefs opponents during the season.
Kansas City Chiefs Rumors: Why trade with the Raiders?
The Chiefs took a risk acquiring defensive line depth in a trade with the division rival Raiders, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Kansas City's interior defensive line is lacking some pretty serious depth, and Neil Farrell was an available option. As Arrowhead Addict noted, Brett Veach didn't have a ton of options, and liked the potential that Farrell brings to the defensive line.
"After finishing his career at LSU, the 330 lb. lineman who stands 6'4" entered the NFL as a run-stuffing lineman with a pro-ready frame with great strength. While he was forced to wait until Day 3 of the draft due to being one-dimensional as a force, the truth is that the Chiefs needed a significant boost among nose tackles even if they didn't have concerns."
Despite Veach's optimism, a deal with Jones likely is not on the horizon, meaning Kansas City will have to start the season without their best defensive player. While the Chiefs offense has the talent to outscore the best teams in football, eventually they will need to rush the passer. Jones offers that talent in abundance. Without him, KC cannot win in the trenches on a regular basis.
The Chiefs are in survival mode without Jones.
