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00:00Work out. Yeah. Well, Alex, Trent McDuffie traded.
00:03That's probably the headliner as we wait on Patrick Mahomes injury updates.
00:08I mean, there's Justin Fields. How would you sum up the Chiefs offseason to date?
00:13So I think it's been effective in terms of how I wanted them to proceed,
00:19which is something that has been tough for, I think, fans to recognize, which is, look,
00:23they are not going to enter next year with the first or second or third best roster in the AFC.
00:30And after going to three straight Super Bowls and then last year happening, you know,
00:35they were they were certainly all in and they made some moves that put them up against the cap.
00:40And now it's time to pay the price a little bit, which is a bit of a retooling.
00:45And with that said, it doesn't mean that I think they're going to be bad next year.
00:49I think they're more of a wildcard team, though, and more than pushing towards one of the top AFC spots.
00:55And I think their moves they have made, including the McDuffie trade, set themselves up to where by 2027
01:02they could be back to entering a year as one of the AFC favorites.
01:05And again, people don't want to hear that here. You have Patrick Mahomes.
01:08And I get it. I don't think they're tanking or punting on the year.
01:11And if you get in the dance, who knows what can happen with Patrick Mahomes.
01:14But I think McDuffie was a move that they had to make now that we know what the dollar amount
01:19was for that contract
01:20to make him the highest paid corner in NFL history.
01:23That was what it was going to take.
01:24They could have dragged it out another year or so and played it out and tagged him and all that.
01:29But I think with the holes on this roster that they still have even today, they needed extra draft capital
01:35in a bad way.
01:36They got nine picks now. It's the most picks they've had in many, many years.
01:40And the last time Brett Veach had a bunch of picks was that 2022 draft after the Bucs Super Bowl
01:46and ultimately after the Tyreek Hill trade where they got McDuffie and they were able to get George Karloftis.
01:53And so I think they're playing this pretty smart.
01:55I also think, you know, Kenneth Walker going out and getting the best available running back.
02:01They've realized that running back is valuable again in the NFL.
02:03They were late to the party.
02:05And while Isaiah Pacheco was very effective in his first two years as a seventh-round pick,
02:10they got everything possible out of him, but they needed to invest in running back.
02:15And especially with their quarterback coming off an ACL and LCL injury, I love the signing.
02:20It's a ton of money, but I would rather them spend money on Kenneth Walker, frankly,
02:23than hope and wait that Jeremiah Love is there at nine and spend the ninth overall pick on a running
02:28back.
02:28You know, it's interesting to me, you got to the last time we all thought that the Chiefs were backing
02:36up
02:36or at least just, you know, treading water was with that offseason with the Hill trade.
02:42And we know what happened from there, right?
02:44I mean, they didn't back up at all.
02:46They went charging forward and I think won two Super Bowls in a row from there and then lost a
02:52third.
02:52Is that the...
02:53So, like, I'm a little leery of, like, the Kansas City radio guy.
02:57No offense, Alex, like, oh, the Chiefs are, you know, they're a wildcard team.
03:00Like, I don't know, man.
03:01Like, they seem to defy some of that in the past, and I wonder if they can't do the same
03:08thing again.
03:09Well, I mean, look, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes together, you know,
03:12anything's possible if Mahomes returns to form post-ACL.
03:15I mean, I never would count him out.
03:16And I don't think I am the majority opinion in Kansas City, I would say.
03:22Certainly amongst fans, they think that they can jump right back
03:25and be, you know, the top team in the AFC again.
03:28I just think, guys, the roster construction right now, they still, even throughout this offseason,
03:34the draft is still ahead, but their defensive line was a problem last year.
03:39And other than signing a nose tackle, they haven't done anything yet there.
03:43You know, Chris Jones is a year older.
03:45The secondary, we know they just traded Trent McGuffey, which I like to move long-term,
03:49but in the short term, right now your corners are Noel Williams, a second-year player,
03:53and then Christian Fulton, who was a veteran signing last year, who barely could get on the field.
03:58And so, you know, the wide receiver spot right now, they brought back Tyquan Thornton.
04:02That's all they've done.
04:03Rasheed Rice, more and more people now are thinking he may not get suspended,
04:06but maybe he's missing time next year.
04:09You know, Xavier Worthy in year two was disappointing.
04:12He was hurt most of the year.
04:13It's a big year three for him.
04:15You know, we can keep going.
04:16When Travis Kelsey is coming back, I'm fine with it, but, you know,
04:19I don't think the offense can run through him.
04:21I'm a little more skeptical than others.
04:23And, again, it's not that I don't think they can win 11 games.
04:26I think they could.
04:27I just don't believe they should be considered one of the top three teams or so in the AFC.
04:33And the way they're playing this offseason so far,
04:36I think they're probably trying to do a little bit of both with signing Walker
04:40but also trading McGuffey.
04:42So let's see what they do in the draft, and maybe I'll come on in the summertime,
04:45and I'll tell you that I think they're going to win the division and everything,
04:48but right now that's not where I'm at.
04:49With Alex Gold, 96.5 the fan in Kansas City,
04:52Mike Shope and the Bulldog here on WGR.
04:55Top three team in the AFC maybe in the past.
04:59Top two in the division is a question with what the Chargers and Broncos,
05:03maybe I should have put the Broncos first.
05:05They did win it last year.
05:08And the Bills have New England,
05:09but then it's a big gap to the Jets and Dolphins, I would say.
05:13I think you'd agree.
05:13So how do you consider Denver and L.A. as competition for the Chiefs?
05:19So I think Denver is still really well positioned to win the division.
05:22I know the odds markets will tell you that all three almost have the identical odds.
05:27And that was prior to the Jalen Waddell trade.
05:29And by the way, I love that.
05:30I would have loved Kansas City to have made that move.
05:32It was a name that I was watching this offseason,
05:36especially once the Chiefs ended up getting picked 29 from the Rams in that trade.
05:39So I know the Broncos had not done anything really to this point,
05:43but I think it's a really smart move to build on what they did a year ago
05:47with Waddell to go with Sutton.
05:48And we all know that they don't have the Russell Wilson money on the books anymore.
05:51Bo Nix has still had a rookie contract.
05:54I believe while they won't be a 14-win team again, the Broncos,
05:57I think they should be the team to beat in this division.
05:59I'm way more skeptical on the Chargers just because every single year we play this game with them.
06:05Justin Herbert, he should be better, and the injuries happen,
06:09and the roster looks great heading into week one.
06:12And I just don't trust them whatsoever.
06:14I do like the Mike McDaniels hire,
06:16and I think it's actually pretty impressive with Harbaugh to put together the staff he has
06:20after losing Jesse Minner to the Ravens.
06:24Maybe this is 10 years of watching the Chargers, and one year I'll be wrong,
06:29but I'm not sold that the Chargers will figure it all out.
06:32And Justin Herbert, at some point in time, while I'm not a QB win-loss record guy,
06:36at some point he's got to elevate the roster even more,
06:39and I don't think there should be any more excuses for him.
06:42And so I would say the Broncos are the team to beat,
06:45but I'm not willing to say that the Chargers are definitively above Kansas City
06:50heading into the season based off of what we've known with that roster.
06:54How much longer do you think for Andy Reid, Alex?
06:58So I think this year we'll say a lot in terms of his own feeling about has the game passed
07:06him by or not.
07:07That's a conversation that people have had here in Kansas City.
07:09I don't think it has, but this year is everything.
07:13He will be able to step away on his own terms within reason.
07:16I mean, the only guy above him is the owner.
07:18Brett Veach is not his boss.
07:19It's Clark Hunt, the owner, and that's it.
07:22I think from an age perspective and all that, like if they get this thing back on track this year,
07:27then I could see him coaching another four years.
07:29I really could.
07:29I think everybody assumes he's way older, but let's remember where Pete Carroll was coaching,
07:35Bill Belichick, the age that he was coaching at.
07:37I mean, Andy Reid for years, everybody has been trying to run him out as far as nationally.
07:41I feel like Mike Florio is of the world that he should retire.
07:44I think it'll be more about the performance more than the age.
07:47If they go out and only win eight games this year in the offense that he brought back Eric
07:52the enemy as his OC, if it looks similar and it's stagnant and it starts to look like he
07:57hasn't caught up to the game that usually he's ahead of, then I think there will be people
08:01in Kansas City and probably us on our show having a conversation whether it's time to pivot,
08:06but I'm not banking on that actually being the case.
08:09How comfortable are you?
08:12How comfortable do you think the Chiefs are with the Mahomes timeline on recovery?
08:16If you had to bet right now, is he playing the opener or do you think it'll take a little
08:22while?
08:23I would never bet against Mahomes given just everything we know about him and his work ethic
08:29and the rehab and where he is right now is right on track if you listen to everybody around the
08:37organization.
08:38But I think at the same time, in March, anybody definitively telling you that he's playing week one,
08:45they're like, they can't say that. Nobody can tell you that. And so if I go on the air and
08:49all the time,
08:50I'm like, we'll see there, you know, there's a chance he can miss a couple of games.
08:52Everybody jumps down your throat and freaks out and acts like you're an idiot for saying that.
08:56I'm like, look, I understand Patrick Mahomes wants to play week one.
09:00I understand the Chiefs want him to play week one. That's not how this works, though.
09:04It's an ACL and LCL injury. I don't think the Justin Fields trade should change anybody's feeling about his timeline.
09:12Like, to me, that doesn't mean that they think he's not going to be ready.
09:15They needed a backup quarterback. And Minshew is in Arizona.
09:19Mariota is resigning with, you know, the commanders.
09:23I like that move, frankly, because I wanted someone with experience.
09:27I didn't want them going after a guy that, you know, Anthony Richardson, frankly,
09:31that only played in, you know, I don't know, 10 games or whatever it is at this point,
09:35whereas Seals has started 53 of them.
09:37So I think it was smart just in case Mahomes has to miss a couple of games.
09:42But, you know, if I had to put out $100 on a bet, Mahomes week one or not,
09:46yeah, I'd probably put that he's playing week one.
09:49But I don't think it's a sure thing by any means.
09:51But Kansas City is, again, on the Bills' home schedule in 2026.
09:56And whenever we talk about that, it's, of course, the new stadium, too.
10:00Who opens it?
10:02Kansas City, Mahomes' injury status.
10:05Bulldog, I'm not sure I'm speaking for you here, but I think I am for Sal.
10:08We're like, maybe they wouldn't put the Chiefs.
10:10I wouldn't expect them.
10:12Okay.
10:12I wouldn't expect them here, you know, in a primetime game week one anyway.
10:16Right.
10:16But, yeah, maybe.
10:18Like, what was my joke yesterday?
10:19Watch out if the Chiefs' schedule starts Raiders, Raiders.
10:23Yeah, yeah.
10:24Yeah, Jets are on their schedule as well.
10:26They'll just go Raiders, Jets, right out of the gate.
10:29Soft landing.
10:30No, I think you're on to something, though, honestly, in all seriousness,
10:33about certainly the primetime games.
10:35I mean, this is why, you know, Seattle opens up the season.
10:38I'm like, they're not putting Kansas City in Seattle that Wednesday night to open up the year
10:41because Mahomes may not play.
10:43Now, I'll tell you, on the flip side, even though May is still early, when the schedule comes out,
10:48if you tell me the Chiefs are in primetime the first week or two of the season,
10:51it does tell me that somehow the league and the Chiefs, everybody thinks he is playing week one.
10:55Yeah.
10:56The Bills were the last team to play in that old Chiefs stadium we were talking about,
10:59or in the regular season.
11:01Oh, wow.
11:01Okay.
11:01They were the last regular season game there.
11:04Then the next game was that epic double overtime Christmas Day game with Miami that Miami won.
11:11Oh, wow.
11:11Okay.
11:11And that was the end of Municipal Stadium.
11:14Well, I'm curious, Alex, and I'll bet our audience is as well,
11:18about how you feel about the changes here in Buffalo.
11:21Hearing you talk about the Chiefs the way you did here,
11:24it feels like it mirrors a lot of how I'm feeling about the Bills.
11:28I mean, we don't have uncertainty about Josh Allen recovering from an ACL injury,
11:32but there's a lot of change here.
11:34A new head coach means a whole new defense, new defensive system,
11:38which means a lot of new players, and, you know, a new voice in front of that room.
11:42And McDermott certainly had his flaws, but having command of that locker room was not among them.
11:49I mean, he was, I think, aces in that area, and we don't know about Joe Brady.
11:54So I'm sort of, like, I don't think the Bills are about to fall into a sinkhole or anything,
11:58but I'm not assuming that they're just going to go win their 13 games either because of the turnover.
12:04How are you viewing them from where you are?
12:08Yeah, and the feeling in Kansas City from fans here as well is a big question mark around the change
12:13from McDermott.
12:14I don't think I've talked to you guys since that went down.
12:16I know we had Bulldog on the show, or no, we had Mike on the show, I guess it would
12:20have been,
12:21talking about the hiring at the time.
12:25But I think it was a mistake, personally, to move on from Sean McDermott.
12:29If you weren't going to also move on from Brandon Bean.
12:31And thank your station for the Brandon Bean drop that we now use all the time.
12:35It's phenomenal from one of your callers.
12:37Brandon Bean, it's great.
12:38I love it.
12:40But, look, I think the offseason, I thought the DJ Moore trade was a bit of desperation.
12:45By the way, desperation doesn't mean it doesn't work out, but I thought it was desperation from Brandon Bean,
12:52given the wide receiver room and the misses there and the whole Keyon Coleman situation.
12:57I think DJ Moore will be a very nice piece.
12:59I will say, as of the Jalen Waddell trade, it made me not hate the compensation the Bills gave up
13:06as much,
13:07now seeing the Waddell trade.
13:09So I'll give you that.
13:11I love the Bradley Chubb signing.
13:13I wanted him in Kansas City.
13:14He was one of the top names that I thought the Chiefs should have been interested in.
13:17So those are the two moves, at least, that have stood out to us in Kansas City,
13:21was the Moore trade, where people here thought it was a bit of a desperation move.
13:25And then in terms of just the Bills and kind of where they stack up,
13:29yeah, I think a lot of people here believe that there's a feeling that the Bills are trying to hold
13:35open a window
13:35that maybe needs to close for a half a second or at least be near shut for a little bit
13:42and that they're pushing it too much, that it doesn't exist,
13:45and that last year and the year before were their best shots,
13:48and that it's, quote-unquote, too late in that regard, at least for that current group.
13:53So we'll see.
13:54I mean, you have Josh Allen, so I refuse to believe that it's fully ever-closed,
13:58just like I refuse to say that with Mahomes or Lamar Jackson.
14:01Let's do it.
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