The Chiefs’ first bit of bad news since Patrick Mahomes’ kneecap went sideways came when starting cornerback Bashaud Breeland was arrested Tuesday outside a South Carolina convenience store.
The temptation is to gauge how much of a negative impact this will have on the Chiefs’ attempt to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
Short answer: none.
Longer answer: continue reading.
The news created some metaphorical shrapnel, with a subsequent report that Breeland was already facing a four-game suspension for a separate violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.
So the temptation is to wonder how the Chiefs could’ve passed on a defensive back in the first three rounds of last week’s NFL Draft with the knowledge that Breeland would be unavailable for a quarter of the season.
Short answer: C’mon, you guys. Don’t do this.
Longer answer: continue reading.
Look, I believe the Chiefs would’ve better maximized the value of their picks by selecting a defensive back first and a running back later.
That’s my stance even as it is easy to see why they believe LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a rare talent and rarer fit for their offense. Edwards-Helaire will be a stud running back, productive in fantasy leagues and popular with fans.
But, generally speaking, history and analytics show that exceptional running backs can be had in the middle of the draft.
I believe all of that with my mind and heart, and I still believe it’s foolish to say Breeland’s four-game suspension should’ve pushed the Chiefs to draft a defensive back higher.
Is that contradictory? Hopefully not.
The Chiefs are among the NFL’s most bankable commodities. Since Andy Reid was hired in 2013, only the Patriots have won more games or made more postseasons. The Chiefs are now better than ever, a Super Bowl team that brings back a roster almost entirely intact and still on the better side of the career arc.
In other words, they are the league’s safest bet to appear once again in the next postseason. They are supremely positioned to view things holistically now, and not be prisoners of the moment.
