Kansas City Chiefs

The Chicago Bears fired head coach Matt Nagy after the 2021 season, but he is still going to be in Soldier Field for the start of the 2022 campaign.

Nagy is a senior offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, who travel to Chicago as the opponent for the Bears' preseason opener on Saturday. He said he isn't sure how he will feel as a visitor, per Pete Sweeney of SB Nation:

"No. 1, what I have to do: it's my professional job to make sure I step back and make sure it's about we and not me. I mean that when I say that. But that's hard sometimes. And so when you get there, I'm so used to being on the home side, right? On the home sideline in the home locker room coming out, it's different.

"I don't know how I'll feel when I get out there. But I'm here for this team and these guys. I built great relationships with everyone there—but it's the preseason, too, so we're going to go out there and have some fun."

Nagy is in a familiar place considering he was a quarterbacks coach and then the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs from 2013 through 2017 before Chicago hired him as a head coach.

He also gets to work with arguably the biggest what-if in Bears' franchise history in Patrick Mahomes, whom Chicago passed on to select Mitchell Trubisky with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft. In an alternate history, Nagy's tenure in the Windy City likely would have gone much better if Mahomes were under center.

Things started off swimmingly for Nagy and the Bears, as he won the AP Coach of the Year award while leading a 12-4 NFC North champion team in his first season. However, a stunning loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round that ended with Cody Parkey's infamous "double doink" field goal kick-started a downward trend.

Chicago went 22-27 without a winning record during the next three seasons and fired Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace after the 2021 campaign.

It certainly didn't help Nagy's standing that he was hired with an offensive background and was on the sidelines as Trubisky failed to live up to the expectations that came with his draft positioning.

Poor quarterback play has historically been an issue for the Bears, and that was no different during the Nagy era.

Chicago is in something of a transition period with first-year general manager Ryan Poles and first-year head coach Matt Eberflus, and their ability to get the most out of quarterback Justin Fields and surround him with capable weapons in the coming years will surely determine their overall success level as well.

Things didn't work out for Nagy, and he will have a first-person view of the early stages of the next attempt to build a winner in Chicago on Saturday.

When the Kansas City Chiefs made Clyde Edwards-Helaire the No. 32 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, the expectation was that he would become the top option in the backfield.

And while he's had his moments, injuries have made him an unreliable feature back. So according to ESPN's Adam Teicher, the Chiefs will likely go into the 2022 season with contingency plans in place:

Edwards-Helaire is RB1, but he missed significant time with injuries in each of the past two seasons, so identifying the top reserves is high on the Chiefs' to-do list. Ronald Jones has been the No. 2 back for much of camp, but the Chiefs are also giving long looks to Jerick McKinnon, Derrick Gore and rookie Isiah Pacheco. Don't be surprised if the Chiefs keep four running backs as this is the deepest group they've had in years.

In his first two seasons, Edwards-Helaire rushed for 1,320 yards and eight touchdowns in 23 games, adding 55 catches for 426 yards and three scores. It's safe to say he hasn't been the game-changer many fans were perhaps expecting, though his career is young.

The Chiefs will need him to offer more of a threat in 2022 after playmaking wideout Tyreek Hill was traded to the Miami Dolphins in the offseason. But the Chiefs will have other options in place in the event CEH can't provide them with that spark or can't stay healthy enough to do so.

If the Kansas City Chiefs ever need an emergency kicker, they may not have to look far.

Fifth-year safety Justin Reid connected on a 65-yard field goal during practice Sunday:

Chiefs safety Justin Reid hit a 65-YARD FG in practice today... unreal 🤯

(via @JustinqReid) https://t.co/cRYTZlgk25

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) August 7, 2022

I need @EAMaddenNFL to boost my kick power and accuracy

— Justin Reid (@JustinqReid) August 7, 2022

Reid is approaching his first season with Kansas City after signing a three-year, $31.5 million contract. He spent his first four years with the Houston Texans.

The 25-year-old has big shoes to fill since he's assuming the role once occupied by Tyrann Mathieu. Maybe the Chiefs added him to eventually replace Harrison Butker, too.

Reid already got the chance to live out his kicking dreams in the NFL with the Texans when he replaced Ka'imi Fairbairn for their 2021 preseason finale.

Tyreek Hill may no longer be walking through the door to help the Kansas City Chiefs offense, but Skyy Moore is.

Early returns from training camp are promising for the 54th overall draft pick. So much so, the idea of him emerging as a premium target in the Chiefs' high-flying offense is more plausible with each day. Moore feels like the perfect talent to be considered a preseason favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Interestingly, the Chiefs organization took the opposite approach compared to many other franchises this offseason. While the "Year of the Wide Receiver" (trademark pending) has been rich with market-setting contracts and lavish acquisitions, Kansas City moved its star target.

The team then used some of the draft capital acquired in the Hill trade to select first-round cornerback Trent McDuffie, albeit through a trade-up, while still landing one of the class' most exciting young wide receivers in Moore.

The latter addition is vital to the success of the team.

To be clear, the Chiefs can't outright replace Hill. He's one of the game's fastest players and a dynamic target opposing defenses can't fully handle. He tilted the field in Chiefs' favor and led them last season with 111 receptions, which ranked third overall.

The organization understood changes were coming to the offense.

General manager Brett Veach explained on the Rich Eisen Show in May (via Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star on MSN.com):

“It would be a little crazy to think that as you mentioned, when you take away one of the most dynamic players over the last decade ... from the offense, some of our play style will certainly look a little different. [...]

"But I think the cool thing about this is you know when you have someone like (quarterback) Pat Mahomes and you have the creativity of an Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy, I think it's exciting. New challenges are always exciting. So will we look exactly the same? No, but we said this many times, there are multiple ways to score points and move the ball down the field.

"So I think the approach this offseason is we're gonna have some core fundamental principles that we always have and we'll look to execute them. But I think it's an exciting new challenge to get this new core of receivers ... and you may see a bit more running but you may see a little bit more short game stuff, but I think it’s exciting. I think the chess game is always exciting."

Hill wasn't the team's only loss. Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson both left in free agency. The duo combined for 67 receptions last season. So Kansas City needed to replace three of its top four wide receivers from 2021. There are now 268 targets missing from last year's offense.

Mecole Hardman is expected to take on a bigger role as the speedster of the group. The Chiefs also signed JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency. Kansas City wasn't pressed to add one in the draft, though Reid liked what he saw of the wide receivers at this year's NFL Scouting Combine.

"I'd like to just put a couple on the plane and take them back," Reid said during an NFL Network appearance (h/t Charles Goldman of Chiefs Wire). "They can really scoot, and it looks like they have a good attitude. We were able to interview a few of them, and the ones that we had in our room were tremendous. I'd anticipate that it's a pretty good group from what I’ve heard from other teams."

Amazingly, 12 wide receivers heard their names called before Moore despite the Western Michigan product's 95/1,292/10 slash line last season with the Broncos and 4.41-second 40-yard-dash speed.

The first-year target has three goals to work on. First, he must understand his playbook.

"It's starting to click," Moore told reporters Thursday. "I feel like everything in this offense is counters—like, we run this play—and this play's a counter to that play. So once you get the basics of everything, it starts to click a whole lot faster."

Second, he must build a rapport with his starting quarterback. Mahomes and Moore have already worked out together. In fact, Moore sits directly behind Mahomes during team film sessions.

"Whenever I've got a question, I just go tap him real quick," Moore said. "And he's always able to whisper the answer to me or how he wants things done. I try to stay close to him."

Finally, everything must translate to the field. The second-round pick has reportedly been lighting up the first two weeks of training camp. Moore is making plays deep and even lining up in the backfield to run the ball.

"He's going to help us out a lot inside, outside, I could see him playing running back too," Smith-Schuster told reporters. "Just cuz he's got that in him."

The fact that Moore will play in the K.C. offense certainly helps his Offensive Rookie of the Year cause. Not only does he have the game's most creative quarterback under center, but Reid also is one of the game's best offensive minds. Oh, and Travis Kelce is the game's best receiving tight end, which takes pressure off the wide receivers. If Moore consistently creates separation and gets open, the Chiefs will get him the ball.

"He's a tough player," Mahomes told reporters. "You can tell he knows what he's doing. ... He has great routes and releases."

The incoming wide receiver crop is loaded, though. Multiple targets are already pushing for extensive playing time.

The Atlanta Falcons chose Drake London with the eighth overall pick. His draft standing gives him a slight edge based on expectations. The massive target (6'4", 213 lbs) is an instant mismatch on the field. However, the Falcons' quarterback situation is suspect, with Marcus Mariota and third-round rookie Desmond Ridder as their options.

Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jameson Williams, Jahan Dotson and Treylon Burks also all came off the board in the first round.

Wilson is playing with a second-year quarterback (Zach Wilson) on the New York Jets. The offense in New Orleans is a work-in-progress without Sean Payton leading the way as head coach. Williams is continuing to recover from a torn ACL suffered during the national championship game in January. Dotson and Burks don't have the best setups. Dotson will be catching passes from Carson Wentz in Washington, while the Tennessee Titans have a Derrick Henry-dominated scheme.

A few juicy options came off the board in the second round. A run on wide receivers began at No. 50 and ended with Moore at 54.

The New England Patriots traded up to the 50th selection and chose the class' fastest wide receiver, Tyquan Thornton, who ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the combine. Speed is a wonderful thing, but Thornton is a limited option at this point.

From there, George Pickens, Alec Pierce and Moore came off the board in three consecutive picks. Pickens has first-round traits, but the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't settled at quarterback. Pierce continues to run with the Colts' first-team offense opposite Michael Pittman Jr., and he could become a favorite target for Matt Ryan.

Even options beyond the second round present some intrigue.

David Bell appears to be earmarked for the role Jarvis Landry left with the Cleveland Browns. Romeo Doubs is already earning the trust of four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers, which is no small feat. Kyle Philips is working with the first-team Titans offense as a slot receiver.

No shortage of talent exists among these players in a pass-first league.

Moore can steal the spotlight simply by providing Mahomes with someone somewhat resembling Hill as a playmaker in an offense that still serves as the NFL's standard-bearer. He's capable of running away with the 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

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Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.

Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Brown will reportedly play the 2022 season on the franchise tag with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Per former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, the 25-year-old will sign his one-year tender Monday and report to training camp after missing all of OTAs and the first few days of camp.

The Chiefs ensured Brown would play for them in 2022 by using their franchise tag on him before the March 8 deadline. He will earn $16.6 million after the two sides failed to reach a long-term contract.

Speaking to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, former NFL player Jammal Brown, a mentor to Orlando Brown, said the Baltimore product would wait to sign the franchise tender until he decided whether to represent himself or hire an agent.

"He wants to be in Kansas City and wants to sign a long-term deal there," Jammal said. "He wants Kansas City to understand he's the type of player who can be there for the rest of his career. He's a cornerstone left tackle."

Brown was a key acquisition for the Chiefs last offseason as they rebuilt their offensive line. He spent the first three seasons of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, who selected him in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft.

After playing sparingly through the first six games of his rookie season, he moved into the starting lineup in Week 7 and never looked back. He has started 58 out of 59 regular-season games since that time.

Brown originally played right tackle for the Ravens, but he moved to left tackle in 2020 after Ronnie Stanley suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 8.

Speaking to reporters at the time, Brown explained why he preferred to play on the left side of the offensive line.

"Growing up in my household, if you were going to play O-line, my dad didn't want you being on the right side," he said. "It was one of those deals where he felt as though the right tackle—and especially at the time when he played—he felt the right tackle was not considered the best tackle on the offensive line and in the offensive line room."

Brown is the son of the late former Cleveland Browns and Ravens left tackle Orlando Brown.

Since the Ravens had Stanley entrenched on the left side, they dealt Brown to the Chiefs along with two draft picks in exchange for four draft picks, including Kansas City's first-rounder in 2021 (No. 31 overall).

He started 16 of 17 games for the Chiefs in the regular season and was named to the Pro Bowl for the third consecutive season.

Based on the price Kansas City paid to get Brown from the Ravens, it seemed unlikely the team would let him leave as a free agent.

Even though Brown didn't get the security of a long-term deal, he will still make a large salary in 2022 with the potential to cash in big next year if he plays well.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid disagrees with recent anonymous criticisms from an unnamed NFL defensive coordinator that quarterback Patrick Mahomes resorts to playing "streetball" when defenses take away his first read.

Aaron Ladd of KSHB 41 News provided Reid's remarks from Chiefs' training camp on Friday. Of note, Reid called the 2018 NFL MVP "tremendous" among other compliments:

#Chiefs Andy Reid on Mahomes 'streetball' comparisons: "Just take a peek at [the film], see how many times he hits the second receiver." pic.twitter.com/zWRauWeAT8

— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) July 29, 2022

The remarks in question were part of The Athletic's annual quarterback tier rankings, which were compiled by Mike Sando. Many coaches were interviewed for the piece, and one DC provided some blunt criticism:

"We love Mahomes because of his unorthodox throws, not because of his natural pocket presence. And when that disappears, that is when they lose games. I don’t think that is a 1. I think that is a 2. Nothing against the guy. I love the kid. But take his first read away and what does he do? He runs, he scrambles and he plays streetball."

Mahomes still ranked highly on this year's list, finishing second to the Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers.

Mahomes had a bit of a down year in 2021 by his tremendous standards, but he still accounted for 37 touchdowns (13 interceptions) and 284.6 passing yards per game. He also finished fifth in the league in ESPN's QBR metric.

The difference between 2021 and previous years was the defense's ability to take away some of the Chiefs' explosive pass game. Sando provided more information on that front.

"Last season, defenses for the first time curtailed Mahomes' ability to strike for explosive plays," Sando wrote. "The Chiefs gained more than 15 yards on 14.6% of Mahomes' pass attempts where gains that long were possible. That ranked 19th among qualifying quarterbacks. Mahomes ranked first during the previous three seasons at 20.3%."

Despite all that, Mahomes was able to lead the Chiefs to a 12-5 record and an AFC Championship Game appearance.

Like Reid, Mahomes addressed the recent criticisms about his game, noting that he, Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray have all had to weather negative comments of late.

#Chiefs Patrick Mahomes says it’s “funny” he, Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray have to continually prove themselves pic.twitter.com/BG0VbBlJ0F

— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) July 29, 2022

In the same article, Jackson was harshly criticized by a defensive coordinator, who said:

"If he has to pass to win the game, they ain't winning the game. He's so unique as an athlete and he's really a good football player, but I don't [care] if he wins the league MVP 12 times, I don’t think he'll ever be a 1 as a quarterback. He'll be a 1 as a football player, but not as a quarterback..."

Murray recently received flak after it was revealed the Cardinals input a four-hour independent study clause for game weeks in his recently signed five-year, $230.5 million extension.

As for Mahomes, he truly doesn't have much to prove. He's led Kansas City to the AFC Championship Game in all four of his seasons, the AFC title twice and the Lombardi Trophy once. Perhaps last year showed some things that Mahomes has to work on, but he's still one of the game's all-time great talents.

His 2022 campaign will begin on Sept. 11 with a matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Kansas City Chiefs and two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Carlos Dunlap reached an agreement Thursday on a one-year contract worth up to $8 million ahead of the 2022 NFL season.

Drew Rosenhaus, Dunlap's agent, confirmed the signing with ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Dunlap spent the past season and a half with the Seattle Seahawks after beginning his career with a decade-plus stint as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, who selected him in the second round of the 2010 draft.

The 33-year-old South Carolina native has recorded 539 total tackles, 96 sacks, 69 passes defended, 21 forced fumbles and two interceptions across 180 regular-season appearances.

His all-around production has dipped in recent years, but he's remained a productive edge-rusher with 13.5 sacks in 25 games after joining the Seahawks midway through the 2020 campaign.

Dunlap is coming off an 8.5-sack season in 2021 that saw him receive a middling 72.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

In December, the University of Florida product discussed becoming more of a situational pass-rusher at this stage of his career. He played 38 percent of the defensive snaps for Seattle in 2021 after regularly checking in over 70 percent during his time in Cincinnati.

"This is new for me in my career," Dunlap told reporters. "But the coaches have communicated this is the role they want for me and would like for me, so I just took advantage and I focused in on seizing those opportunities."

He added it's easier to make a more consistent impact with a heavier workload, though.

"I'm used to playing over 60 percent of the snaps my whole career and I have a consecutive streak of being healthy, so I'd like to keep doing that because I feel like as a rhythm rusher it's easiest to get going when you have more opportunities," Dunlap said.

He's likely ticketed for a role where he'll split playing time with rookie George Karlaftis after his free-agent move to the Chiefs. He joins an edge-rushing group led by Chris Jones and Frank Clark.

Dunlap should provide a boost to the Kansas City pass rush in 2022 as he attempts to reach the 100-sack career milestone and the 2019 champions chase another Super Bowl title.