Whether they want to admit it or not, the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense won’t be the same in 2022.
Kansas City made a major move by trading Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins in March. It won’t be easy replacing a three-time All-Pro wide receiver who recorded 111 catches for 1,239 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
How will the Patrick Mahomes-led offense look without Hill? When asked that question, per The Athletic’s Nate Taylor, head coach Andy Reid offered a surprising response.
“I don’t think it’ll be significantly different,” Reid said.
Andy Reid on how the Chiefs’ offense might look without Tyreek Hill: “I don’t think it’ll be significantly different.”
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 18, 2022
The offense will almost certainly be different. The real question is whether it will be notably worse.
Reid has high hopes for Mecole Hardman, who recorded a career-high 693 receiving yards in his third season with the Chiefs.
“We know what Mecole can do and we have a lot of confidence in what he can do,” Reid said. “Mecole has the speed like a Tyreek had. A different player, but he gives you a nice skill set.”
Andy Reid on Mecole Hardman: “We know what Mecole can do and we have a lot of confidence in what he can do. Mecole has the speed like a Tyreek had. A different player, but he gives you a nice skill set.”
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 18, 2022
Reid can’t (or shouldn’t) expect one player to replace Hill’s production. However, he can reasonably hope Hardman collectively fills the void alongside free-agent signings JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valding-Scantling. All three are high-upside players with contrasting strengths.
Perhaps Kansas City can snag a future pass-catching partner for Mahomes in the NFL Draft. Yet as of now, the long-running AFC West champions lost a superstar and haven’t found a new one.
While Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce could overcome Hill’s departure, the NFL’s most explosive offense lost one of its three primary cornerstones. Nobody should expect them to effortlessly maintain the status quo this season.
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