Could there be a kickback comeback battle for the Kansas City Chiefs?

The Kansas City Chiefs roster has evolved a lot with opt-outs, an 80-man roster and the lack of a normal preseason. With the whole team officially at camp and training, information has started to flow as we wait for the final cuts.

During this time, we of AP Nerd Squad keep churning positional insights for the 2020 season. We take a look at the stars and up-and-coming contributors – and make a dormant pick for each group.

Today’s group doesn’t get the same kind of cover or appreciation as some of the others, but it’s incredibly important in 2020. A familiar face, an all-time rookie replacing a leader, and new gunners and returns enter the fray for the specialist group.

Specialists

The specialist pool tends to be pretty stable for chefs at this point in the year, and 2020 is no different. Harrison Butker returns as Kansas City field goal and kickoff specialist. After leaving Dustin Colquitt this offseason, rookie Tommy Townsend takes over from the Chiefs. James Winchester returns in his sixth year as the Chiefs long snapper.

The punt return and punt options are a bit more diverse in Kansas City. Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle and Darwin Thompson all got their cracks when returning to duty in 2019, and new addition, Judge Shelton-Mosley has a chance to break through that list.

Players like Anthony Sherman, Rashad Fenton, Antonio Hamilton, Dan Sorensen, Armani Watts, L’Jarius Sneed and Dorian O’Daniel are all expected to make the Chiefs’ special teams squad in 2020 as well.

“The guy”

Butker has been a superstar for the Chiefs’ special teams unit since being debauched from the Carolina Panthers practice team in 2017. During that season, he set the franchise record for the Chiefs for field goals and broke the NFL record for field goals by a rookie. Butker has not slowed down since this season and currently ranks second in NFL history in percentage of career field goals – with a minimum of 100 attempts – behind only Justin Tucker.

He has spent most of this offseason working at his stand, drilling that 77 yard attempt in April. He understands that attempting such a long basket is unrealistic due to the situation and position on the pitch, but the improved leg strength has helped him make tough goals through the Arrowhead winds in the past.

Even with a new incumbent, Butker is set to continue his career as one of the best kickers in Chiefs’ history – and possibly the NFL.

New kid in the neighborhood

After the Chiefs freed Colquitt at the end of April, I gave Townsend the first nod to replace him. When they released Tyler Newsome as part of their 80-player cut, Townsend’s place became almost assured.

Townsend is a fantastic directional bettor and consistently dropped his kicks in the 20s while in Florida. His suspension time is also excellent and gives his cover team plenty of time to get to the pitch. Finally, he has a big leg that can unclog platforms over 80 yards, as shown above.

The only thing that could prevent Townsend from being an immediate impact bettor is his release time. He tends to hold the ball a bit longer than some others, which may require an adjustment at the NFL level. If he can adjust and further develop a “quick-kick” version, Townsend should be a special weapon for teams quickly for Dave Toub.

Sleeper candidate

When the Chiefs drafted Hill and Hardman, their contributions to the second leg were immediately evident. As Hill became a bigger role in the offense, the Chiefs drafted Hardman to replace some of his impact in the rematch. This offseason, they may have been trying to find a similar replacement for Hardman in Justice Shelton-Mosley.

Shelton-Mosley is a dynamic returning man who was an All American first team for Harvard in 2017. His vision for return lanes and the breakout help him squeeze through the gaps that Chiefs fans have become accustomed to with. Hill and Hardman on homework. After an injury sidelined from Shelton-Mosely in 2018, he graduated from Harvard with an economics degree and transferred to Vanderbilt and the SEC.

Shelton-Mosley had the opportunity to work for Goldman Sachs this year, but took the unique opportunity to play in the NFL and signed the Chiefs to a free agent contract. While he might be a bit long to make the roster, his ability in the rematch could carve out a niche for him and make him a fixture on the Chiefs’ 53-player roster over the next several years.

Best battle

Quietly, the Chiefs’ returner position is becoming a bit more contested than originally thought. Mecole Hardman assumed his primary duties at the end of 2019, but an increased role in the offense could make him limited in his special teams responsibilities. We know Dave Toub will bring Tyreek Hill back to fire punts in critical cases, but these are rare.

The turner job has surprisingly opened up a bit for Byron Pringle and Shelton-Mosley. Pringle was a great punt returner at the college level and found himself back to return a few kicks for the Chiefs in 2019. However, he was limited as a punt returner at Kansas State and didn’t. never returned one for the Chiefs in the regular season. .

Meanwhile, Shelton-Mosley was a great kicker and punt returner throughout his college career. During his time at Harvard, he was a three-time All-Ivy League returner and wide receiver, culminating in his 2017 All American season. His comfort level as a punt returner puts him a bit ahead of the competition. , because it is a difficult task to master.

Pringle is decidedly the best suited for the wide receiver, as he is currently the only receiver with “X” experience behind Sammy Watkins. Shelton-Mosley is not in this mold. However, if the pressure is on, Shelton-Mosley could well find a place in the 53-player list.

That is, if the Chiefs are ready to remove Mecole Hardman from office in 2020 for a bigger role in the offense.