What’s Arrowhead Pleasure Premier? Arrowhead Pleasure Premier is our tri-weekly e-newsletter, one that gives evaluation and unique insights immediately from Arrowhead Stadium, delivered straight to your inbox. Beneath is a preview of the most recent version. Click on right here for the final preview.
By Pete Sweeney
Wednesday morning introduced breaking information: the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs despatched beginning left guard Joe Thuney in trade for a 2026 fourth-round draft decide.
The transfer is undoubtedly a shock to the system, contemplating Thuney’s significance to the Chiefs and their offensive line during the last 4 seasons. But it surely must be acknowledged that it has way more to do with wage cap shedding than dislike for his or her participant.
Buying and selling Thuney to Chicago saves the Chiefs $16 million of their 2025 wage cap, which they’ll now spend on understanding a long-term cope with proper guard Trey Smith (extra on that beneath).
Selecting to maneuver on from Thuney was solely the primary of a number of difficult selections forward of their redemption marketing campaign. With the NFL Scouting Mix now full, the subsequent date to look at is Monday, March 10 – the beginning of the ‘authorized tampering interval,” when representatives of gamers on account of turn out to be unrestricted free brokers can strike offers with new groups.
This era may cause anxiousness to followers, particularly if one among their favourite Chiefs gamers is lingering on the market to be snatched up by a rival. In our second article on this e-newsletter, our John Dixon recounts each “authorized tampering” Monday since Brett Veach grew to become the final supervisor.
Right here, I’ll share some ideas about Kansas Metropolis’s impending free brokers, characterizing them in three buckets: these I anticipate to be again, these I believe the membership want to carry again (however for the appropriate worth) and people I don’t anticipate to return.
Chiefs I anticipate to be again (9)
The gamers: RG Trey Smith, LT DJ Humphries, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, RB Kareem Hunt, DT Derrick Nnadi, DT Mike Pennel, WR Justin Watson, LS James Winchester, TE Jody Fortson
Final week, the Chiefs positioned the non-exclusive franchise tag on proper guard Trey Smith. With the commerce of Thuney, Veach now has the room to barter a long-term deal. With free company looming on March 12, the earlier each side attain an settlement, the higher for the membership’s wage cap outlook.
No one desires to listen to this, however there isn’t any fast repair for left sort out this offseason. The highest free brokers on the place have harm issues, and because the Tremendous Bowl runner-up, the Chiefs decide No. 31, leaving no assure {that a} surefire prospect might be there when it’s time for them to pick out.
As we now have seen the membership do in years previous, meaning they may merely “throw our bodies” on the place, and D.J. Humphries is one among them. Humphries loved his brief stint in Kansas Metropolis, and he could be retained for an inexpensive value. It’s price questioning what he might appear to be with a whole offseason to construct his power.
Extensive receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, operating again Kareem Hunt, defensive tackles Derrick Nnadi and Mike Pennel, large receiver Justin Watson, lengthy snapper James Winchester and tight finish Jody Fortson are all gamers extra helpful to the Chiefs than elsewhere.
Whereas I like Hunt to return, I doubt it might be in a beginning function. I anticipate Isiah Pacheco to look higher at coaching camp after absolutely recovering from his 2024 harm – and I see Kansas Metropolis choosing a participant on the place in a halfback-rich NFL Draft. This group has habitually saved two or three operating backs on the roster, and I imagine Hunt desires to finish his profession circle by successful a title with the Chiefs. As for tight finish Jody Fortson, his harm historical past could dictate restricted curiosity from different groups; it’s both Kansas Metropolis or a possible retirement.
What else is on this version?
Pete supplies particulars on two extra “buckets” — Chiefs the membership want to carry again for the appropriate worth and Chiefs he doesn’t anticipate to return.
John Dixon recounts what has occurred on Monday of the “authorized tampering” interval in years’ previous.
A hyperlink to the total hour-long episode of the “Editors Present” (preview beneath).
The Editors Present
Here’s a preview of this week’s Editors Present that includes Pete Sweeney and John Dixon.
What else is included in a subscription?
In the course of the offseason, we offer a weekly replace on Wednesday, with further protection on main occasions, reminiscent of free company and the NFL draft. In the course of the season, You’ll be able to anticipate 3 weekly newsletters, as outlined beneath:
In our sport preview e-newsletter on Thursdays, Pete shares his three ideas heading into the sport, Rocky Magaña highlights a pivotal matchup to look at — and John Dixon shares some background on one of many upcoming sport’s largest storylines.
In our post-game e-newsletter, Pete shares his three ideas stemming from every efficiency, Ron Kopp delivers his very first have a look at the movie — and Jared Sapp captures the whole lot being mentioned concerning the turning level of the sport.
Brandon Kiley is our in-season Arrowhead Pleasure Premier Tuesday columnist.
How to enroll in Arrowhead Pleasure Premier
Subscribe immediately via this hyperlink for much more Chiefs protection this season — and proper now, we now have a coupon code to provide you 25% off for your entire yr.
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