The future is bright in Kansas City following their 2019-2020 Super Bowl run. Here are the top young, rising stars set to lead the Chiefs for the next several years.
With football season right around the corner (hopefully), the Kansas City Chiefs look to run it back and be the first back to back Super Bowl Champions since the New England Patriots in 2004 and 2005. In order to keep the crown in the kingdom, Reid and company will look to their young, up-and-coming talent to lead the way.
Honorable Mention – RB – Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Coming in to this season Clyde Edwards-Helaire will look to repeat the same success he had last year as a champion at LSU. The rookie RB’s ability to bust through defender’s grip both as a rusher and receiver should be a perfect addition to the NFL’s most dangerous offense.
5. CB – Charvarius Ward
Racking up 74 tackles, 2 interceptions, and team best 65.2% passer rating allowed Ward has solidified himself as a worthy starter with a high upside moving into his third year. The upside is high with the young CB, expect to see Ward step-up in big moments moving forward.
4. DT – Derrick Nnadi
Derrick Nnadi, the 2018 3rd-round pick, continued to show he is more than a run-stopping brick wall and solo Christmas caroler as he racked up a team defensive line leading 48 tackles. With Chris Jones free-agency still looming, Nnadi may have an opportunity to slide in to a prominent role on the defensive front.
3. K – Harrison Butker
Imagine nailing a game winning field-goal your rookie season, less than three weeks after being cut in front of the loudest crowd in the NFL, daunting right? Well, that is exactly what Harrison Butker, the 24-year old kicker, did in his debut game at Arrowhead Stadium. That game foreshadowed the success that Butker has seen in his first three years, knocking down 89.7% of FG’s attempted and 95.7% of XP’s attempted. Could we be witnessing, in our own backyard, the start to an all-time great kicking career? Morten Anderson thinks so, and so do I.
2. WR – Mecole Hardman Jr.
Rookie WR, Mecole Hardman Jr., flashed, quite literally, on to the scene last season as he racked up 538 yds and 6 TDs in his first season. Hardman led the Chiefs in YPG with 20.2 and was on the receiving end of the team’s longest TD in 2019(83 yds). Hardman did lag behind Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Sammy Watkins in terms of targets but that didn’t stop the NFL’s fastest rookie from shining when the lights were on.
1. QB – Patrick Mahomes
Ah, yes, the prince who was promised himself. Without a doubt the leader who brought the Kingdom back its rightful crown, Patrick Mahomes, tops this list. Through two seasons a starter, Mahomes has amassed a resume that would garner HOF consideration for a 15 year veteran including a league MVP, Super Bowl MVP, Super Bowl Championship, and trick shot passes straight out of a Dude Perfect video. Going into this next season, all eyes are on the Chiefs and Mahomes as he looks to lead the Kingdom back to Florida for another Super Bowl.
