Carry-over from the mess that was 2020 is here already. The NFL will not be holding the annual Combine in Indianapolis in 2021. Players will be evaluated during private workouts and localized Pro-Day drills, tests and interviews. Game tape is king for 2021, and even that tried-n-true scouting method has some Covid kinks as a fair amount of draft-eligible collegiate footballers either opted-out of playing last season, played a truncated schedule or saw their colleges just shut the season down completely. Yes, this will be a wide-open draft where those manning the war rooms around the NFL are guessing as much as the general football public in some cases, Kansas City’s crew included.

There are holes that will need plugging for the 2020 Super Bowl runners up. Here’s a look at the current unrestricted free agents (UFA) of the Chiefs.

On Offense we have:

RB LeVeon Bell, Anthony Sherman (FB)

WR Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson

C Dan Kilgore, Austin Reiter

OG Kelechi Osemele

OT Mike Remmers

Defense UFAs include:

DE Alex Okafor, TanohKpassagnon, Taco Charlton

DT Mike Pennel

LB Damien Wilson

CB BashaudBreeland, Antonio Hamilton

SAF Daniel Sorensen

Restricted free agents that need to be addressed are:

RB Darrel Williams

OT Andrew Wylie

LB Ben Nieman

CB Charvarius Ward

Exclusive rights free agent of note:

WR Byron Pringle

I think it is pretty safe to say the LeVeon Bell "era" is over in KC after a half-season. Bell is one of those rare RB birds that did not want the football. It was quite evident that his fire is doused as Bell ran tentatively, failed to break tackles or attack a defender with the intent to do so. Frankly, this was a complete flop of a move by Coach Reid and GM Veach. Unless he wishes to play for the veteran minimum, it’s bye-bye Bell. Sammy Watkins days may be numbered as well, though he is popular in the locker room with the players and the coaching staff. Demarcus Robinson> C’mon, we can do better than D-Rob at WR3! Byron Pringle may be the answer and a better cap value anyway. The O-line is sure to see a big re-working this off-season. With four linemen in full free agent mode Mr. Veach and Big Red will be burning up the game tape of those collegiate big uglies.

On the flip side of the ball, several key 2020 defensive performers are free to go to the highest bidder or the locale of their choosing. Safety Daniel Sorensen had a career year at just the right time as he is UFA, but Darin’ Dan is now 31 and that isn’t an age NFL franchises are keen to throw big money at, especially at safety. Sorensen may be headed back to Kansas City. DEs Alex Okafor and TanohKpassagnon had their moments and now have a chance to cash in. Kpassagnon is 3 years younger than Okafor and has such impressive size that he is going to be difficult to keep in-house. LB Damien Wilson was darn good in 2020 and at 28 should have 4-more solid campaigns ahead. Again, he popped at the right time and will surely attract free agent attention on the market. CB BashaudBreeland was hot n cold throughout the season but is a talent outside, often facing the top wideouts’ of the opposition. CBs are always in demand and Breelandis good enough to be a "want" for other clubs. He’s already on his 4^th NFL team (Washington, Green Bay, Seattle, Kansas City) so packing up and moving is not new for this DB.

Looking ahead to the draft, actually just glancing at it for now, it seems the Chiefs needs are:

C-OG, WR, OT, LB, DT-NT.

Some In-Housekeeping News:

Patrick Mahomes and fiancée Brittany Matthews announced the birth of their first child on their Instagram pages.Sterling Skye Mahomes was born Saturday, and weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces.

Speaking of the superb QB, back on February 10Dr. Robert Anderson, a renowned foot and ankle surgeon who serves as a Packers’ team physician, operated on Mahomes‘ foot with no complications. Rehab probablyshelfs Mahomesthis offseason, but the expectation is Mahomes will be ready in plenty of time for the start of the 2021 season.

Wednesdays must be surgery day for surgeons. Mahomes had his foot repair on a Wednesday and RT Mitchell Schwartz had successful back surgery Wednesday, 2/24. He expects to be healthy for the 2021 season as well.

Well, other than the QB and his RT getting medical work done, the Chiefs organization has been a tad too quiet. Ah, the guys are probably locked away in their film rooms busting out as much game tape of these college kids as possible before the draft.

I’ll have a deep dig into the Chiefs upcoming draft, and updated look at the roster needs and throw out my first Kansas City mock draft of the off-season.

Stay tuned… good things are coming!!!

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