So far so good and it is looking like all-systems-go for the Chiefs, QB Patrick Mahomes and the offense.

Mahomes continues to show no ill-effects from his off-season foot surgery. He has not gone full tilt in camps yet but appears to be moving without limitations.

A couple of wideouts have made quite favorable impressions on the flame-throwing QB during camp drills. Rookie Cornell Powell has consistently won in tight spaces, making tough catches in traffic while presenting a powerful style of play for a wide receiver. Mahomes commented that Powell is "big out there, running across the field and making some big catches in some tough, contested spots," As I blurbed last month I'll give the 5^th rounder out of Clemson three weeks before he is forcing his way near a starting gig. I've seen enough of Demarcus Robinson to confirm my pre-draft impressions of D-Rob back in 2016. He is what he is, a very average spare receiver with fair route skills, no breakaway gear and unspectacular hands. Drops are not an issue for Robinson but separation and the ability to make the contested catch with any regularity are lacking.

Head-to-head, Cornell Powell should be able to make Demarcus Robinson expendable, given that opportunity to compete on an even pitch.

The other receiver Patrick Mahomes has seriously dialed in on in OTAs and mini-camp is Byron Pringle. Mahomes likes what Pringle is bringing, Coach Andy Reid has a good idea what Pringle is capable of going forward and GM Brett Veach noted he and the coaches are "high" on Pringle's 2021 prospects. If there is one negative regarding Pringle long-term it is his age. He is currently 27 and turns 28 later this season (November). Pringle also has proven to be a valuable special teams cog as a cover man and kick returner just as he was in his 2 years at Kansas State. At K-State Pringle returned 39 total kickoffs at a hefty 27.6 yards a return, taking 2 back for TDs. On offense the 6'1-203 athlete was a big-play wideout, catching 69 passes over 25 games, burning defenses for 19.6 YPR and 10 TDs. As much as Pringle and Mahomes are hooking up through the air in mini camp I can't see Coach Reid committing big chunks of snaps to an 'older' receiver with little pro production since coming into the league and sacrificing continuity and quality on special teams. Take the Byron Pringle glowing reports in these early sessions with a big hunk of salty skepticism.

Again, Cornell Powell seems to come into play regarding Byron Pringle's potential for breakout in 2021. Powell over Pringle, in my early estimations.

Ah, the proverbial "looking strong, faster and more confident" line comes flying out of the latest camp sessions, this time directed in the direction of third-year receiver Mecole Hardman. Hardman must be feeling the heat after two rather uninspiring seasons with the Chiefs. He has performed as I anticipated, breaking free for the occasional big gainer with his well-documented speed but also playing as small as his slight frame is constructed. Hardman has been knocked off his routes quite easily over this two years as a pro and he rarely breaks a tackle after the catch. Ah, the catch, another area of concern for the swift ex-Georgia Bulldog. Hardman suffered 8 confirmed drops last season, unacceptable for a guy getting intermittent chances to make plays. Mecole Hardman has hardly played to the level of his 2^nd-round draft pedigree, but than again it's not his fault he was selected so high (right Coach Andy, Mr. Veach?). Byron Pringle and rookie Cornell Powell (there's that man again) are sure to either inspire Hardman to reach new performance heights and quality in 2021 or bump him to a punt returner role/situational gadget play guy.

While we are on the subject of Mecole Hardman's 2021 prospects, it behooves me to comment on how the offense appears to be evolving this off-season. The Chiefs bosses did a bang-up job prior to the draft in restructuring the offensive line, a unit that crumbled little-by-little as the 2020 season rolled on. This is no doubt the result of Patrick Mahomes getting slammed every-other play in the Super Bowl. The draft produced two pass-catchers that make a living through the short-to-intermediate zones of a secondary. Cornell Powell (yep, again) thrives between the numbers and 8-15 yards downfield. TE Noah Gray is a skilled receiving type who, like Powell, can win consistently slashing through seams on mid-level stems inside. Both Powell and Gray were chosen in the 5^th round of this year's draft. The year prior the KC war room used the 32^nd overall pick on RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who proved quite capable of being a frequently targeted back while at LSU. Coach Reid's offense has historically gotten RBs heavily involved in the passing attack but seemed to get away from that feature with the coming of power-passing Patrick Mahomes. Edwards-Helaire caught 55 passes his final year at LSU (2019) but was targeted just 54 times last season with the Chiefs. Where is this going? It is pretty obvious Coach Reid is kinda getting back to his offensive roots in 2021. Edwards-Helaire will be much more involved in the pass game this season and the route trees of the receivers and tight ends are likely to be shorter, quicker and show a lot more 2-tight end formations with Travis Kelce and Noah Gray lined up at the same time. The hoped-for results are dominating control of the clock and possession of the football and the preservation of franchise foundation Mahomes.

None of this works in Mecole Hardman's favor. So there's that!

This does clearly boost the fantasy value of RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire. I mentioned Coach Reid getting back to his offensive roots and involving his RBs more as receivers, specifically Edwards-Helaire. Big Red's handling of young RBs over the years shows a careful, gradual breaking in pattern. Back with the Eagles in 2002, Coach Reid nursed rookie Brian Westbrook along, giving him just 55 touches over 15 games played. 2009 Coach Reid drafted LeSean McCoy and upped the usage of the rookie RB compared to Westbrook's first season but still kept his young charge to a well-managed 195 touches. McCoy handled the football almost 100 times more the following season. Kareem Hunt was the exception. Drafted in the 3^rd round (2017) Hunt became an instant feature back for Coach Reid, bagging a whopping 325 touches. Last year Edward-Helaire fit more of the LeSean McCoy usage format, netting 217 touches but often alternating weeks from a heavy load to a lighter one. Brace for a Kareem Hunt circa 2017 workload for the superb sophomore tailback in 2021.

There was a little bummer news recently involving DE Frank Clark. Clark was arrested last weekend in Los Angeles during a traffic stop when the officer found an Uzi in Clark's duffle bag. Let's wait to see how this plays out. Frank Clark has had his share of off-field drama in the past.

July is just about here and players will be gearing up for training camps. For now, we are in that quiet time of the off-season and there's not a lot going on until then. I'm back next month for another Eye in the Sky Report.

End.