As NFL groups start opening their coaching camps this week, the soccer analytics web site Professional Soccer Focus is releasing Sam Monson’s annual checklist of the league’s prime 50 gamers.
On Monday, PFF introduced the gamers ranked forty first by means of fiftieth. No Kansas Metropolis Chiefs had been amongst them. However on Tuesday, two had been included with gamers ranked thirty first by means of fortieth:
39. G Joe Thuney, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Probably the greatest pass-blocking guards within the recreation, Joe Thuney posted his third consecutive season with a PFF pass-blocking grade of at the least 83.0, even when it was a step down from the earlier two years. He allowed two sacks from 740 pass-blocking snaps, and his run blocking was above common for the season.
Ranked because the league’s second-best guard by PFF’s Thomas Valentine in June, Thuney didn’t make Monson’s 2023 checklist. The longtime veteran enters the fourth (and maybe last) season of his five-year contract because the offensive line’s veteran chief.
36. CB Trent McDuffie, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Constantly underrated, Trent McDuffie has been the most effective within the recreation in his temporary NFL profession. Given troublesome assignments by the Chiefs from the outset, McDuffie has performed within the slot in addition to out vast, permitting 10.7 yards per catch final season and posting an 82.9 PFF total grade. The lack of L’Jarius Sneed will drive him into an excellent better function throughout the Chiefs protection in 2024, the place he would possibly get the popularity he deserves.
In June, PFF’s John Kosko ranked McDuffie (who additionally didn’t seem on Monson’s 2023 checklist) because the NFL’s second-best cornerback. The previous first-round decide is headed for the third 12 months of his rookie deal. Subsequent spring, the group should determine if it desires to choose up the nook’s fifth-year choice for the 2026 season.
Takeaway
In 2023, Monson named three Kansas Metropolis gamers to his prime 10 — and selected heart Creed Humphrey because the league’s Thirty third-best participant. Since PFF’s Valentine has already named Humphrey because the league’s prime heart, we’d anticipate Humphrey will seem amongst Monson’s 21-30 group on Tuesday. Monson, nonetheless, named Detroit Lions’ heart Frank Rangow at 47, so it’s additionally doable Humphrey may not make the 2024 rating.
However whereas tight finish Travis Kelce would possibly fall out of Monson’s prime 10 for this season, it’s onerous to think about he gained’t make the highest 30. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and defensive deal with Chris Jones will nearly actually be ranked among the many league’s prime gamers once more. So, at the least 5 Chiefs are more likely to make Monson’s 2024 rating — and there could possibly be extra.
