7 Chiefs players named to ESPN’s top 100 players for 2021

As the Kansas City Chiefs are set to complete their final round of roster cuts today, all eyes are on the team’s stars heading into the regular season. With plenty of high-end talent returning from last season’s Super Bowl appearance, the team is also buoyed by top-level players acquired via trade and free agency in the offseason.

When ESPN assembled their top 100 players list ahead of the 2021 kickoff, seven Chiefs were named among the league’s elite. Though Kansas City’s offense got more recognition than the defense, the list shows just how dominant the Chiefs are expected to be this season.

Here are the players ESPN ranked as the best of the best for this season:

QB Patrick Mahomes No. 1 (Previously No. 1)

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

No surprise here, as Patrick Mahomes has cemented himself as the future face of the league once Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers retire. The MVP quarterback is expected to put up career numbers this year, despite losing Sammy Watkins on offense, and could be in contention for a slew of awards at the end of the season. Mahomes is a bonafide winner at the NFL level with a 44-9 record in the regular season and postseason. He is seeking to avenge his Super Bowl loss last season with his second title in three years. The stellar work achieved in the preseason has proven he is ready to compete at the highest level in the regular season. Barring injury, Mahomes is a prohibitive MVP favorite this year.

WR Tyreek Hill No. 5 (Previously No. 11)

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The electrifying receiver put up some of the best numbers of his career in 2020, becoming a true superstar in the NFL's most explosive offense. Fans couldn't get enough of the weekly highlight packages Hill was able to assemble, including his 200-yard quarter against the Buccaneers last November. Now entering his athletic prime at age 27, he has a huge opportunity to see even more targets with the aforementioned move of Sammy Watkins to Baltimore. As with his quarterback, injury is the only thing that can slow Hill down. Given the extra game on the regular-season schedule, there is a very real possibility that records will be broken for yards or receptions in a season, and Hill is the most likely receiver to break the glass ceiling. His unique skillset and generational speed make him one of the most exciting players in football.

TE Travis Kelce No. 10 (Previously No. 17)

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With three members of the Chiefs' offense in the top ten, it's a wonder how any other teams plan on keeping up. Kelce is one of the most prolific tight ends ever, and his placement on this list is a testament to how he has revolutionized the position. His ability to move the chains and find the end zone for Kansas City makes him a menace to all opponents. Between Kelce and Hill, teams have the hardest catch 22 to defend in all of football, and the Chiefs have no intention of letting up. Expect Kelce to put up another monster season with Mahomes under center.

S Tyrann Mathieu No. 25 (Previously No. 36)

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Affectionately known as "The Honey Badger," Mathieu is a fan favorite around the league as one of the NFL's premier defenders. The emotional center of the Chiefs' defense, his contributions will be key for Kansas City's hopes of a third straight shot at a championship. No longer a young player, Mathieu has aged into a salty veteran with an eye toward leadership in the locker room. He hasn't lost the edge that made him such an exciting player in college, where his star was born, and with some help from the young blood on Kansas City's new-look defense, he could lead the Chiefs to new heights in 2021.

DL Chris Jones No. 41 (Previously No. 29)

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Chris Jones switched from tackle to end on Kansas City's defensive line, and looks primed for a big season as the Chiefs' primary pass rusher. Across from Frank Clark, who did not make this year's list, Jones will need to learn the nuance of his new position quickly in the regular season, but his versatility could prove to be an X factor on defense. Kansas City's defense has gotten exposed at times in previous seasons, and as the team teeters on the brink of becoming a dynasty, a culture shift was needed for 2021. Jones seems motivated as ever to become one of the league's premier pass rushers, and his placement on this list is proof that he is on the verge of something special.

OG Joe Thuney No. 97 (Previously NR)

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When Kansas City signed Joe Thuney in free agency it was clear they were committing fully to solving the problems on the offensive line. Thuney was a staple of Bill Belichick's front five in New England for five years, and is still on the right side of 30 on a five year contract. The most experienced starter on the Chiefs' rebuilt line, Thuney faces high expectations this season. He'll have a key role in developing the team's younger linemen for the future, and will be protecting the most valuable asset in all of football on every down. His placement on this list leaves some room for improvement next season, but as a player in his first year with a new team, it feels right.

OT Orlando Brown Jr. No. 100 (Previously NR)

AP Photo/Tony Avelar

The final piece to Kansas City's puzzle upfront is Orlando Brown Jr., who closed out the list in the triple digits. It's unclear why Brown fell this far down on the list. A two-time pro bowler and franchise left tackle for the most dynamic offense in football, Brown is set to truly become a star in Kansas City after years of being overshadowed in Baltimore. When the Chiefs traded their first-round pick for him in April, they made a huge gamble that Brown could be the solution they desperately needed at the line's most premium position. As the team prepares for week one against Cleveland, their new left tackle is sure to have a chip on his shoulder. He'll be ready to improve this ranking for next season.

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