Training camp must be around the corner, because it's starting to feel like a new NFL roster ranking pops up every day now. The latest comes from ESPN's Ben Linsey, who took a comprehensive look at the roster strength of all 32 teams -- broken down into three categories ("biggest strength," "biggest weakness," and "2021 X-Factor") -- and then ranked them best to worst. Unsurprisingly, the Chiefs came in 2nd overall, only behind the Buccaneers. Chiefs fans will probably agree with Linsey's assessment of what's holding Kansas City back, too:
"Defensive tackle Chris Jones is elite," he writes. "He has earned pass-rushing grades of at least 90.0 in each of the past three seasons. Aaron Donald is the only other interior defensive lineman who can say the same. However, the rest of the defensive line doesn't bring nearly as much juice. Frank Clark's pass-rushing grade is 20 points lower over the past two seasons in Kansas City than it was across his final two seasons in Seattle. Clark profiling more as a below-average starter than the top-flight edge the Chiefs expected only accentuates the lack of difference-makers on the defensive line beyond Jones."
The good news, as you're surely used to hearing by now, is that the minds at ESPN are still pretty bullish on Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce and Andy Reid and Tyreek Hill and like 10 other offensive players; they're even optimistic about rookie center Creed Humphrey. Still a good time to be a Chiefs fan, turns out.
Listen to Kansas City sports talk now on Audacy and shop the latest Chiefs team gear
