Arrowheadlines: Based on offseason, Chiefs’ AFC West streak to end — apparently

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Each NFL Division’s Biggest 2025 Offseason Loser | Bleacher Report

AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs should feel the walls closing in on their nine-year reign over the AFC West.

The Los Angeles Chargers added size and firepower to compete with the Chiefs, signing guard Mekhi Becton, reuniting with wideout Mike Williams and selecting running back Omarion Hampton and wide receiver Tre Harris in the first two rounds of the draft.

The Denver Broncos upgraded at the tight end position, signing Evan Engram. They also added running back RJ Harvey and wideout Pat Bryant on Day 2 of the draft. Quarterback Bo Nix can build on a strong rookie year with those additions.

The Las Vegas Raiders have battled the Chiefs in one-possession games in their last three meetings with Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew under center. This offseason, the Silver and Black acquired Geno Smith, and its 32nd-ranked rushing offense should be a lot better with 2024 Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty leading the backfield.

The Chiefs didn’t make any boneheaded offseason moves, but they’re no longer head and shoulders above their division rivals. The Chargers, Broncos and Raiders are equipped to knock them off their AFC West pedestal.

Chiefs WR Jalen Royals reveals the wideouts he watches most in the NFL | Chiefs Wire

“I try to watch everybody. (Rams WR) Davante Adams, (Eagles WR) A.J. Brown, the big receivers,” said Royals, “You try to piggyback off what they do and try to implement that into my game.”

During the 2024 season, Royals was named second-team All-Mountain West. He led Utah State with 55 receptions, 834 receiving yards, and tallied six touchdowns while starting seven games. He listed some of the top receivers in the game today, but understands the hard work ahead of him starting this weekend at Rookie camp.

“Just taking it one step at a time, taking it day-by-day,” said Royals, “I know it’s the first day, but just trying to come in and work and take it step-by-step.”

2025 NFL rookie minicamp takeaways: Seahawks’ Jalen Milroe showing promise early on; Eagles QB battle brewing? | CBS Sports

Simmons said that he would prioritize mental reps and studying the playbook during minicamp. Somewhat surprisingly, Simmons said that the Chiefs’ playbook was “not as complex” as he predicted. That might be because he spent his college years playing inside Ohio State head coach Ryan Day’s NFL-style offense.

Simmons didn’t take the bait when he was asked if he views himself as an immediate starter.

“[I want to] attack rehab as hard as I can,” Simmons said, via The Athletic. “That way, when training camp does come around, I can be the most help that I possibly can be. There’s nothing, really, I can do to kind of force — there are a lot of vets in here, and my thing is to stay out the way, work hard and be a helpful piece if I can.”

Patrick Mahomes was at the Miami Gran Prix once again

Around the NFL

2025 NFL Draft: Ten perfect player-team fits | NFL.com

Colston Loveland

Michigan · TE

Chicago Bears

Drafted: Round 1, No. 10 overall

The comparisons to Lions tight end Sam LaPorta might have convinced head coach Ben Johnson to take the Michigan standout as the first pick of his tenure. Loveland’s superb ball skills, route-running ability and positional flexibility make him an interesting chess piece for the Bears to utilize, creating mismatches when opponents are locked in on neutralizing other playmakers like DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet, Luther Burden III and D’Andre Swift. With Loveland poised to dominate between the hashes on various in-breaking routes at intermediate range, Chicago has surrounded former No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams with enough firepower to unlock his immense talent and potentially dominate in his second season.

How the Jaguars drafted to become more explosive on offense | ESPN

After signing a receiver, two tight ends, and four offensive linemen in free agency, the Jaguars drafted five more offensive players last week — including receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter, who was regarded as the best player available.

Coen believes he and Gladstone have the pieces in place to meet the goal of making Lawrence and the offense as “explosive and dynamic as we can be,” a goal Coen made during his introductory news conference.

“We’ve definitely addressed the ability to strike from a distance,” Coen said. “I think that that’s something that we just struggled to do a little bit in Tampa [last season when he was the offensive coordinator] where you ended up having to go 10-, 12-play drives a lot. It was efficient, right, but ultimately, you’re looking to be as explosive as you can in both the run and the pass.

“That was definitely addressed in both pro free agency and the college draft landscape. Don’t think we have to add any more at this point.”

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs Draft: Rookie CB Nohl Williams has been a fan for a while

As Williams explained to reporters on Saturday afternoon, he was a Chiefs fan long before Kansas City ever called his name.

“Early on it was the San Diego Chargers — and then Kansas City, believe it or not,” Williams said of his childhood NFL fandom, “because my favorite player is De’Anthony Thomas. He got drafted here — and that’s when I made the switch.”

Now 32, Thomas was a fourth-round pick by the Chiefs in 2014. And if you’re wondering whether Williams is just pandering to his new fanbase, he says other things you’d expect a true fan to say.

“That was my team,” he added. “I watched them ever since the Alex Smith days — like Dexter McCluster, Jamaal Charles and all those guys.”

In the weekend’s rookie minicamp, Williams is getting his first opportunity to showcase his skills, hoping to prove that the team made the right choice. His first order of business is diving into defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system.

“I’m hoping to show my willingness to learn the playbook [and its] verbiage,” he declared, “and just show great effort on the field — gelling with my teammates and with the coaching staff.”

Like most rookies, he’s willing to take any role he is given.

“Wherever they want me to be, I’m willing to learn,” he said. “[I’ll] contribute on special teams or wherever they need me.”

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