Arguably there’s no bigger misnomer in the NFL than the “offseason.” Just 13 days after celebrating at Union Station, the Chiefs’ front office and coaching staff land in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine, meaning the 2023 season is already underway.
No better time to catch up on some of your questions — I challenged you all to ask me anything, and anything was indeed asked. Here we go!
What’s the Chiefs plan for Justyn Ross in the 2023 season?
— Ke’Sean Brown (@ChiefPriest_25) February 23, 2023
Which J.Ross will have a bigger impact at wr?
— ☢The Commie that saved the world ☢ (@AngryLephty) February 23, 2023
Two questions on an undrafted receiver who spent almost no time on a football field in the last nine months and served the entire season on injured reserve — yet I get it. Justyn Ross was ridiculously good in his freshman season at Clemson in 2018 (46 catches for 1,000 yards, nine touchdowns) and was still very good in his sophomore and junior seasons while dealing with injuries.
However, he sat out the 2020 season due to spinal surgery and a foot injury derailed his junior season in 2021, and he required a second surgery on the foot last summer. He’s played just 10 games of football over the past three seasons and, while speed was never his forte, it’s fair to wonder how much of a toll the injuries have taken. What he still has is a 6-foot-3 frame, a nearly 78-inch wingspan and a ridiculous catch radius. He’s never going to be a deep threat but serving as a possession receiver is well within his capabilities.
What’s the plan for Justyn Ross? Ease him onto the field and see what’s there. His rookie season was for learning purposes only but he still has much to learn about being an NFL receiver. The Chiefs have no reason to rush him, and if 2023 is a development year for him again, that’s OK.
As for which Ross — Justyn or former Cincinnati first-round receiver John Ross, who signed a reserve-future contract with the Chiefs last month — right now I’m putting my money on John. His blazing speed — he posted a record-setting 4.22-second time in the 40-yard dash at the 2017 NFL Combine — is tantalizing in Andy Reid’s offense. He caught seven touchdown passes in his second season with the Bengals but his breakout campaign in 2019 (28 catches for 506 yards and three scores in eight games) suffered an interruption due to a shoulder injury, which has been a recurring theme for him. If the Chiefs don’t bring back prospective free agent Justin Watson, it’s easy to see John Ross compete for that role.
Is there any chance of retaining Clark, and should they?
— Christian Defender (@jt_tiger) February 23, 2023
I think the odds are better than even for Frank Clark to remain in Kansas City, and that should be a good thing for the Chiefs. His restructured contract is messy but the club brought back Clark on a deal that paid him $8.275 million and he earned roughly $3.6 million in bonuses. He won’t be back on the current deal with a $20.5 million base salary but there seems genuine interest from both sides to stay together one more year.
Clark is unlikely to find a better home than Kansas City, and the Chiefs appreciate what he provides on and off the field. He was an excellent mentor for George Karlaftis last season, and the Chiefs are likely to further invest in youth along the defensive line. Turning 30 years old this year should lead to a more favorable market value so he can pursue the NFL record for postseason sacks (Clark had 2.5 playoff sacks this year, and he trails record-holder Willie McGinest by 2.5 sacks).
What’s your first thought when you look down at your hand and see JJ???
— Jesse Leimkuehler (@JesseLeimkuehl1) February 23, 2023
“Easy money,” that’s what I think. I’ll play them aggressively from any position … until an ace hits the board. No fear.
Is Taylor Lewan an option if we can’t hold both tackles?
— JetChipWasp in H-Town (@brcook99) February 24, 2023
Nothing that I’ve seen or heard since his release from Tennessee this week would make me feel comfortable about Lewan as an option. He turns 32 years old in July, two of his last three seasons have ended due to knee surgeries and he’s openly discussed retirement. If you put stock in Pro Football Focus grades, Orlando Brown Jr. was better in 2022 than Lewan was in his last full season in 2021. Andrew Wylie graded out as just as good a run blocker as Lewan last season. I could see Lewan as a placeholder if things fall apart with Brown but it’s a stopgap solution at best and not a long-term answer.
Would you swap out Chris Jones and Orlando Brown (in different deals) for Laramie Tunsil and draft picks plus the cap savings?
— SnoMan (@SNo_Man2168) February 23, 2023
This is bold thinking and risky but there are scenarios where if I’m Clark Hunt and Brett Veach brings this proposal to me, I would listen. Tunsil is arguably one of the premier left tackles in the league and one of the few alternatives worth considering. His $18.5 million base salary in 2023 would actually be cheaper than Brown’s under a second franchise tag.
The club would have to give a new contract to Tunsil, who turns 29 in August but has a relatively clean injury history. There’s certainly more comfort in paying a healthy left tackle into his 30s than a defensive tackle. Jones may be the rare risk worth taking though. What does the Chiefs’ defense look like without him? That’s a legitimate concern. The trade return for Jones and Brown probably wouldn’t reap net draft picks since Tunsil would cost in exchange. Then there’s the difficulty in timing what could be three separate trades in getting maximum value. I think it’s worth exploring, even if I have serious heartburn at watching Jones leave Kansas City.
Would Orlando Brown Jr play on the Franchise Tag again?
— HaoleRot (@maui_oi) February 24, 2023
I can’t see a compelling reason why Brown wouldn’t sign the franchise tender, which will come in at just under $20 million based on 120% of his 2022 salary of $16.662 million. Of course, Brown runs the risk of an injury that could diminish his future earnings but the history of players sitting out a season and still securing a long-term contract isn’t promising. Brown wants a long-term deal, naturally, but we’re a long way away from the July 17 deadline for getting an extension done with a franchise player. And that’s assuming the Chiefs do indeed place the franchise tag on Brown by March 7.
Best answer for what should happen realistically at the tackle position next year? Draft a future LT and play at RT this year while tagging brown one more time?
— Eric (@dt58hit) February 23, 2023
Realistically is the best way to frame the question. There are plenty of dream scenarios to propose over wings and drinks. What is the most likely result for the Chiefs at tackle this season? Brown playing under the tag at left tackle is the most plausible outcome. The possibilities of a long-term deal for Brown or the addition of a free agent or draft pick to take over the position are far less likely.
On the right side, I expect the Chiefs to take a hard, long look at both free agency and the draft for a solution at right tackle. Right now I would expect Lucas Niang to be the slight favorite opening the season. The expectation is that Wylie is going to get a long-term offer outside Kansas City’s price range but I’m not closing the door on him yet. The Chiefs are comfortable playing a younger, cheaper option at right tackle if they have a left tackle with whom they’re comfortable. Drafting a tackle early who can play on the right side this year and flip to the left in the future is a possibility. That formula usually looks better on paper than it does in reality — albeit Brown is such an example.
In a one on one, all in poker situation, who do you fear more, my chaos, @DBLesky @codybtapp or @SamMcDowell11 ?
— Fatty Scott (@TheFattyScott) February 24, 2023
All three are very good poker players. In an effort to stay humble, I’ll concede all three are my superior on the felt. Tapp and I have had great battles and greatly enjoy bluffing each other out of pots. McDowell is a shark, no doubt. But I Lesky has that Royals devil magic in him. He insists on playing me in hands blind (not looking at his cards at any point in the hand). Yet he somehow beats me no matter what I do. Playing Lesky is like Global Thermonuclear War — the only way to win is to not play the game
How far deep does Mizzou make it in the tournament, and why will we be sad no matter what?
— Fatty Scott (@TheFattyScott) February 24, 2023
Fatty asks about poker and Mizzou, so that’s a good way to get two questions in the Mailbag. Asking about “Star Wars” also works. No matter how far Missouri makes it we’ll be sad. If they get a seven or eight seed and lose in their first game it’s a disappointing upset. If they win their opener, we’ll get our hopes up and the inevitable loss will break our spirit. Of course, if Dennis Gates takes this team to the Sweet 16, I might streak naked through Power & Light, and that would be a disappointment for all of you.
Which current Chiefs player would you most like to watch a Lifetime movie marathon with? For the purposes of this question, let’s say a marathon is 18 hours.
— David Lesky (@DBLesky) February 23, 2023
I truly want to say Frank Clark because Frank is simply one of the more interesting and entertaining people on this team. I think Frank would order plenty of food and drinks and would invite others to the party as well. I’m just not sure if I could withstand the 18-hour rollercoaster of thrills and turns that ride would deliver. I can think of a slew of players that fit the bill. And who among us wouldn’t love sitting down for 18 hours watching Vivica A. Fox movies with Andy Reid? But let’s get real — I know that if I’m stuck watching Melissa Joan Hart struggling to find romance, Patrick Mahomes will get invested in the story and help me through it.
How many times will you watch Cocaine Bear
— Pat Strathman (@PatStrathman) February 23, 2023
Pat just assumes because I’m the self-appointed Kansas City regional ambassador for Fat Bear Week (be like Grazer), an aficionado of panda bears (Gao Gao for life) and a regular Kanas City Zoo polar bear cam viewer (RIP Berlin) that I will watch all things related to bears. But this movie sounds just crazy enough to be watchable. Probably just once but you never know.
