The Kansas City Chiefs completed organized team activities on Friday. They’ll soon turn their attention toward their three-day mandatory minicamp, which begins on Tuesday, June 13.
Before we completely turn our attention to the first practices that all 90 players on the offseason roster will be required to attend, we’re providing a few quick takeaways from voluntary practices over the past three weeks:
Offensive tackle battle far from settled
There’s no doubt in my mind that the front office would like Donovan Smith to return to form and Jawaan Taylor to stay on the right side, but I think it’s far from finalized. OTAs are an opportunity for experimentation when it comes to personnel, with players coming and going through the 10 voluntary practice sessions. They did a lot of experimenting in terms of the first-team offensive line.
There were several practices where Donovan Smith was absent during OTAs. On those occasions, the team went with Jawaan Taylor at left tackle and Lucas Niang at right tackle or Wanya Morris at left tackle and Jawaan Taylor at right tackle. When Donovan Smith was around, he played left tackle with Jawaan Taylor on the right side.
From here on out, practices are mandatory. That means the experimentation will cease unless the team is dealing with injuries.
Second-year DBs taking a step forward
Two players who weren’t particularly productive as rookies have stood out during OTAs — Bryan Cook and Nazeeh Johnson.
Cook came on later in the season, but he’s expected to take on a larger role in 2023 with Juan Thornhill now in Cleveland. He’s been praised by his coaches and teammates as an outspoken leader, but I’m told he’s also looking a tick quicker to the ball than he was a season ago. That’s to be expected now that he’s had a year with the playbook and that he’s seeing the field as a first-stringer.
Johnson is taking a larger role on special teams with Dave Toub announcing him as the team’s top gunner on coverage units. At the same time, he’s taken a noticeable step forward on defense, making plays working with the second-team unit. With the secondary as competitive as ever in Kansas City, this is a needed step forward for a player like Johnson to make the 53-man roster.
Pacheco, McKinnon absences opening opportunity for Prince
OTAs, of course, are voluntary workouts. Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon have been absent during the course of OTAs (Pacheco’s absence being injury-related). That has opened an opportunity for UDFA RB Deneric Prince to get work with the first-team offense that he might not have otherwise received. He’s also standing out during that work — most recently making a head-turning catch in the red zone in 7-on-7 team drills.
Those snaps in practice during OTAs could prove important down the line for Prince. It’s reminiscent of Pacheco getting snaps last offseason when McKinnon was recovering from an injury. At the very least, it’ll have Prince better prepared should injury strike, but it could turn into a bigger role on offense down the line.
