Saturday’s preseason matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers actually had a few plays with the excitement of a regular-season game: a record-breaking field goal, some real pass rush, and a run game.
The ending was a letdown, but there were plenty of standout players to discuss:
6 Winners
Defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah: The biggest play of the game was FAU crushing the Tampa Bay QB for his (and the Chiefs defense’s) first sack of the preseason. Perhaps the former first-round pick is developing
after all? If he can be a part of the rotation and play like he consistently did on Saturday, Felix can change the trajectory of his career.
Defensive end R Mason Thomas and Cornerback Mansoor Delane: Do the Chiefs finally have speed on defense? From what we saw out of Delane in his NFL debut, he’s got the acceleration, instincts, and lack of fear to be a factor in the run game. Given his ability in coverage, he looks like a complete corner. The R Mason Thomas hype just keeps building as he showed his explosive ability on the edge and nearly had a pick-six against the Bucs. Adding these two to the young defense feels like it has sped up the entire unit– which was sorely needed.
Wide receiver Jalen Royals: He needed to make himself visible. Jalen Royals certainly did that, leading the Chiefs with 51 yards receiving. Known as a run-after-the-catch guy, it’s critical for Royals to be a reliable pass catcher to see the field on offense. On Saturday, he caught all six of his targets. It was a promising performance to build upon.
Wide receiver Cyrus Allen and running back Brashard Smith: The new-look Chiefs offense is going to need some role players to throw as a change-up. Allen and Smith appear to be the most likely candidates, especially after watching them on Saturday. Allen got some of the gadget plays previously belonging to the Mecole Hardmans of the world. Smith saw plenty of use as a runner and receiver, as coaches recently praised his improvement in pass protection. Both guys got reps returning punts, which could signal the team is looking for ways to save a roster spot and let these guys serve a variety of roles.
5 Losers
Note: Applying the labels “losers” is not intended to be a judgment on the talent or character of any of these players. It’s just a simple way to grade their performance in a single game. No disrespect should be inferred.
Offensive Lineman Kahlil Benson: The Chiefs were without two of their best offensive linemen on Saturday, while Josh Simmons and Trey Smith rehabbed (hopefully minor) injuries. The results weren’t exactly confidence-inspiring. The rookie took a step back in his quest to win a starting job. He struggled in pass protection, bullied by NFL Draft darling Rueben Bain Jr. Some experts commented that Benson might just be a guard — though I’d argue it’s too early to give up on the kid.
Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub: When your kicker nails a 69-yard field goal, it should be a day to praise the special teams units. But there were penalties on nearly every return (and not much yardage on the plus side). Then, Harrison Butker missed an extra point and a field goal that would change the outcome of the game. Toub appears to be trying out a number of returners, likely looking at roster cuts. But the execution is lacking across the board, indicating a broader coaching issue.
Cornerback Kristian Fulton: The once promising defensive back has become the most discussed potential cap casualty on the team. The pattern of developing young cornerbacks from the draft continues as the rookies seem to be outplaying the veteran.
Defensive end Ethan Hurkett: The Iowa Hawkeye product stood out in the wrong ways late in Saturday’s game. I don’t really have stats or deep analysis to back this up; he just didn’t look like he belonged on an NFL roster. I hope he proves me wrong.
Quarterback Justin Fields: I really hope the Chiefs use Fields in designed running situations.
