Welcome back to the Arrowhead Pride Mailbag<\/strong>!<\/em> Each week, watch for your opportunity to submit your Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> questions in The Feed<\/strong>, which is found on AP\u2019s home page.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Ahead of Sunday\u2019s matchup between the Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens<\/a> \u2014 with both teams unexpectedly at 1-2 \u2014 let\u2019s see what is on our readers\u2019 minds.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The rookie running back Brashard Smith looked like the only weapon out of the backfield. Why aren\u2019t we seeing more touches for him?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n We\u2019ll consider these two players together, since they are more likely to have an immediate impact on the offense than any hypothetical trade addition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I actually like how the Chiefs have sprinkled Smith in over the first three weeks. We should also remember that he is a seventh-round selection who did not play running back until his final college season (and then after transferring). Concerns about the room should not dictate expectations for an individual rookie.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Presumably, Smith\u2019s role will gradually grow. On Sunday, Kansas City did give him an opportunity on an aggressive pass that he didn\u2019t reel in. Smith, however, did well on his two carries, so the Chiefs will likely build on that. Still, I don\u2019t expect him to carve out a full-time role on offense this season, simply because of his contributions in the return game. Smith is Kansas City\u2019s best candidate to score on the league\u2019s new kickoff formation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In this game, Royals may actually have a lower floor than the zero snaps he played in last Sunday\u2019s win over the New York Giants<\/a>. With Xavier Worthy presumably returning, the Chiefs could have seven wide receivers available for the first time this season. So a wideout will likely be made inactive against Baltimore \u2014 and Royals or Jason Brownlee would be the obvious candidates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Given Kansas City\u2019s obvious need for yards after the catch, I suspect Royals will play and have some designed plays against the Ravens \u2014 though I\u2019d caution against high expectations for a rookie coming off a month-long injury. Barring a fluke busted coverage or missed tackle, I think his ceiling would be something similar to Rashee Rice\u2019s debut in 2023: 20 offensive snaps, with three catches for 29 yards and a touchdown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Is there a running back out there who could raise the ceiling? How about a trade?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n If you look at the current list of available free agent running backs<\/a>, it\u2019s not inspiring. I rarely overreact, but after the mental lapses we saw in New York, I am very concerned about Isiah Pacheco. But I\u2019d bet on him rebounding before I\u2019d put money on Kansas City signing one of the available free agents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Chiefs should be tied to available running backs via trade, though recent injuries around the league may adversely affect the supply and demand at the position. It\u2019s also early to speculate on individual players, since the trade deadline is not until November 4. Every team is still hoping for a postseason berth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I do expect Kansas City to continue evaluating Smith before considering external additions. I would also like to see what Elijah Mitchell can do \u2014 but after being a healthy scratch in each game, there\u2019s no sign he is in the team\u2019s current plans.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A growing number of Chiefs fans are calling for Jawaan Taylor to be replaced at right tackle by Jaylon Moore. Does Reid\u2019s reluctance to make the change signal that the Chiefs are prioritizing Moore\u2019s availability to be a backup at left tackle and left guard?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n What do you do when a player is so penalized that NBC <\/em>made sure to have a graphic on hand illustrating his misalignment?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Amidst several questions about Taylor and Moore, I think Jake has nailed it. Right now, Kansas City is prioritizing Moore\u2019s value as a versatile substitute more than the possibility of fewer penalties at right tackle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Two weeks ago, I theorized that the team didn\u2019t want to commit prematurely to Kingsley Suamataia at left guard because his 2024 tenure at left tackle ended before two full games had been played. But now, I wonder if the reasoning is that Moore is the main backup to rookie left tackle Josh Simmons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Although Simmons has been everything the Chiefs could have wanted from a rookie coming off a major injury, the team appears to be concerned about his ability to withstand the typical 100% snap count figure for offensive linemen. Head coach Andy Reid said Simmons missed a series against the Philadelphia Eagles<\/a> because he was dehydrated \u2014 and last week, he was limited<\/em><\/strong> with an illness as the practice week began. Finally, Moore took the last six snaps at left tackle on Sunday \u2014 which included not only the three kneel-downs to end the game, but also the penultimate series where Kansas City failed to ice the game with a first down.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n But I do predict that by the Week 10 bye, Moore will have a chance to replace Taylor. Right now, though, the Chiefs seem to think he\u2019ll be needed elsewhere. Once Simmons is stacking full workloads in practice (and on game days), that could change.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Could Tyquan Thornton be the best WR3 the Chiefs have had since\u2026 forever? Should he be signed to an extension?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Thornton has certainly been a high point of Kansas City\u2019s offense. His postgame comments on Sunday further revealed<\/a> how he\u2019s worked to the most of his second NFL chance after the New England Patriots<\/a> waived him last season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n But three games isn\u2019t a large enough sample for making future plans; Thornton won\u2019t be getting a serious contract extension in September. And next spring, the Chiefs\u2019 wide receiver contract priority will probably be a new deal for Rashee Rice \u2014 assuming he comes back from suspension looking like the player we saw in training camp and the preseason.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Besides\u2026 no agent would advise Thornton to seek an extension at this point. He is currently on pace for 969 receiving yards over 17 games. Given the connection he and Patrick Mahomes are developing on deep passes \u2014 and even assuming his pace slows when Worthy and Rice return \u2014 Thornton is likely to gain at least 600 yards. Wide receiver is, after all, usually the position where teams reward potential over production during the spring\u2019s free agency cycle. Whether in Kansas City or elsewhere, Thornton stands to make significant money by continuing to do what he is doing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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What is the floor \/ ceiling on Jalen Royals Week 4 performance? I know he wasn\u2019t on the radar in Week 3, but we would expect to at least see him targeted against the Ravens\u2026 right?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n
@Jake_for_now asks (via X<\/a><\/em>):<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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