Construction: A Championship Offense

Edition #328

Good morning! ☀️

The popular statement is that the NFL is a copy-cat league and to an extent that’s true. When a concept works, it’s incorporated into the game plan of other teams. Certain formations become more popular and then sink back into the abyss from which they came.

Today we’re going to take a look at the construction of the Kansas City Chiefs offense. Not so much their style and schematic capability, although Andy Reid has done a fine job. More their roster construction and how they build their 2nd championship team in four years.

Remember, up until 2019 the Chiefs had only ever won one Super Bowl, which was all the way back at Super Bowl IV in 1969, the year after the Jets secured their own championship. If they can do it, why can’t we.

💼 The Jets announced the hiring of Todd Downing as their passing game coordinator. Derek Carr is a big fan of Downing having worked with him Oakland as both Quarterbacks coach and Offensive Coordinator. We’ll get into Downing in tomorrow’s newsletter.

🚨 The reason that's interesting is because Albert Breer confirmed that the Jets were the only other team to contact the Las Vegas Raiders about Carr and he expects than when Carr is cut today, the Jets and Saints will be the first two teams to contact him.

👔 Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon interviewed with the Cardinals yesterday. I can’t imagine it’s easy interviewing for a position less than 24 hours after the most devastating sporting loss of your career.

🦅 He wasn’t alone though. Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen is set to become the new Indianapolis Colts head coach. Look for Brian Johnson to be promoted to OC, he was my favourite candidate for the Jets job.

🚨 Kansas City Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy is set to interview for the job in Washington. It can only be a matter of time before he’s given a head role somewhere. I know that Kansas offense is Andy Reid’s baby, but at some point you need to give the guy a chance to show what he’s learned from one of the best.

✍️ The Giants have signed former Jets receiver and tight end Lawrence Cager.

I sat watching the Super Bowl with envious eyes. Despite facing two tough defenses, the Eagles and Chiefs combined for 73 points. And while Patrick Mahomes will get the plaudits and deservedly so, it really was a team effort by Kansas City.

7 different players caught a pass, 4 different players registered a rushing attempt and the offensive line allowed 0 sacks. It was almost a perfect performance considering the Chiefs didn’t turn the ball over.

Just one year removed from trading away one of their biggest offensive weapons (Tyreek Hill), the Chiefs were putting 38 points on the board in the Super Bowl.

So how did they construct that offense? How much of it came through the draft, how much came through free agency? Where were the cap dollars attributed? What about their coaching staff? We take a look at all of those questions today as we get ready for a key off-season for the Jets.

All of the positional spending breakdowns are based on the full roster and not just the starters. So while I don’t list everyone, the cap figure includes everyone to give a better sense of where the cap dollars are being spent.

I’ve also included the cap dollars committed to each position for 2023 as things stand. Obviously that’s not counting the players who are about to hit free agency like Orlando Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman and Andrew Wylie.