KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs kept their roster almost entirely intact from Super Bowl LIV.
It’s a smart move, given the shutdowns related to COVID-19 eliminating most in-person offseason workouts and all preseason games.
Kansas City’s continuity should allow coach Andy Reid’s crew to hit the ground running and get off to a strong start in the quest to #RunItBack and repeat as Super Bowl champs.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t players primed for a potential breakout on the Chiefs’ roster.
Absence in the NFL creates opportunity, whether those holes were created by roster attrition, COVID-19 opt-outs or suspensions.
Here are some candidates primed to make a name for themselves on Kansas City’s 2020 roster:
WR Mecole Hardman Jr.
A relatively inexperienced and raw 2019 second-round pick, Mecole Hardman Jr. entered his rookie season with two years of experience at wide receiver in college. He was widely expected to need a full season to tap into his full NFL potential.
That should be a scary thought after he scored six touchdowns on 26 receptions last season. Hardman’s 20.7-yard average per reception would have led the NFL, though he needed four more catches to qualify for the league leaders.
But he may have as much value as a return specialist.
Hardman, who earned All-Pro honors for his return prowess, has elite instincts and skills on special teams. He returned one kickoff for a touchdown last season and finished in the top six in the NFL in average kickoff return (26.1 yards) and punt return (9.3 yards).
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
It’s no secret the expectations for rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire are through the roof, even though he’s never taken an NFL snap.
NFL.com’s analysts pegged him as the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Edwards-Helaire — a first-round pick out of LSU, who coach Andy Reid compared to Brian Westbrook — will be featured prominently in Andy Reid’s offense with Damien Williams opting out of the season.
A stout, hard-nosed runner with impeccable hands and route-running skills, Edwards-Helaire seems tailor-made to flourish under Reid and alongside Mahomes.
As long as running backs can pass protect, the learning curve upon entering the NFL isn’t nearly as steep for other positions, so don’t be surprised if Edwards-Helaire has monster numbers — maybe not quite as gaudy 2013 when Jamaal Charles had 70 catches in Reid’s first Chiefs season, but maybe not far off either.
CB Rashad Fenton
As a rookie, 2019 sixth-round pick Rashad Fenton saw the field on defense primarily as a slot corner, but he’s going to get the first crack at replacing Bashaud Breeland during the first four games of the 2020 season.
Fenton, 23, appeared in 12 games last season, finishing with an interception, a forced fumble and four passes defended. He plays with a competitive edge, which allowed him to succeed in the slot. He still could see some time there, especially after Breeland returns from his four-game suspension, but Fenton has a chance to establish himself as a starting NFL corner in the coming weeks.
CB Antonio Hamilton
The idea that NFL teams only rely on only two starting cornerbacks is antiquated in a league increasingly driven by quarterback play and the passing game.
Veteran cornerback Antonio Hamilton, 27, a fifth-year pro who played two seasons apiece with the Oakland Raiders and New York Giants, is a proven special teams asset at the NFL level, but he’ll get his chance to prove he’s a defensive asset as well.
The Chiefs believe Hamilton, who started two games and had four pass deflections in 2019 with the Giants, can bounce inside and outside along with Fenton. The first month represents a huge opportunity for both players, but rookies L’Jarius Sneed and Bopete Keyes are waiting in the wings if either struggle.
DT Khalen Saunders
There will be plenty of rotational reps available behind starting defensive tackles Chris Jones and Derrick Nnadi with veteran backup Mike Pennel suspended the first four weeks.
Khalen Saunders, a second-year defensive tackle from Western Illinois, is athletically gifted, but he needed time to adjust coming from the Football Championship Series level with the Fighting Leathernecks.
Saunders, a St. Louis native, appeared in 12 games, including four starts as a rookie, and was credited with 22 tackles and a sack, but the Chiefs should expect a nice bump in production after a full year of learning under defensive line coach Brendan Daly.
LB Willie Gay Jr.
The Chiefs’ second-round pick last spring, Mississippi State linebacker Willie Gay Jr., presumably slid down most NFL draft boards after he missed eight games for academic fraud. But he’s got elite athletic traits, especially his uncommon speed, for the linebacker position.
Gay will make an instant impact on special teams, but he also is poised to make a big impact on defense if he can pick up the detailed coverage responsibilities Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme demands.
Dorian O’Daniel was thought to be in line for a sort of hybrid linebacker/safety role last season in sub-packages, but that never materialized. Perhaps Gay can emerge as the Swiss Army knife linebacker the defense needs.
