Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid arrived Sunday on the campus of Missouri Western State University to start his 20th season as an NFL head coach James Burgess Jersey , yet finds himself energized by what's new on his football team for 2018.

"There's more new I would say on both sides of the ball," Reid said. "Some of the old guys that have been here aren't here."

The team lost several veterans during the offseason, trading quarterback Alex Smith to Washington and parting ways with longtime linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali among other moves.

The offseason changes result in a team navigating through its most significant turnover since Reid's 2013 arrival in Kansas City.

"Whether it's the quarterback position, inside linebacker position, outside linebacker position, you're missing a few of those guys and you have new guys coming in that you have an opportunity to see perform," Reid said. "That's exciting to me, I'm looking forward to that."

The biggest change comes at quarterback with Smith giving way to Patrick Mahomes, the No. 10 overall selection in last year's draft. Smith won 50 regular-season games as the team's starter since 2013.

"Alex was phenomenal, he's going to continue to be phenomenal for the Redskins and we feel very lucky to have Pat, to be able to step up and watch him grow here," Reid said. "Let's see how he does. He can't be in any better place Derek Newton Jersey , man, than with the Kansas City Chiefs and I know he's fired up about that."

Mahomes arrived in camp Sunday along with the team's other quarterbacks and with coaches, rookies and select veterans. A three-day minicamp starts on Monday before the full squad checks in on July 25. The first full team practice kicks off July 26.

The 22-year-old faces no competition for the starting quarterback job. The team acquired veteran Chad Henne as his understudy and to serve as a sounding board for Mahomes as he navigates his first full season as a starter. Mahomes hopes to use his time in camp to become a more efficient quarterback.

"I want to make sure I can get in and out of the huddle fast, we can make the right checks and just really have a lot of positive plays," Mahomes said.

"Not necessarily the huge plays but just have positive plays and move the chains. That's how you have success in the NFL. You keep taking those yards, taking those yards and then when you have guys that can stretch the field you make those plays and those come within the flow of the game."

With new faces arriving in camp this week, Reid had good news about some of the team's key players returning from injury.

The coach said he expects only wide receiver De'Anthony Thomas and cornerback Ashton Lampkin possibly starting camp on the sidelines. That means center Mitch Morse, linebacker Dee Ford and running back Spencer Ware, all returning from season-ending injuries a year ago, expect to practice with the team.

"All those guys, everybody else is good," Reid said. "Again I just want to see on the field and we'll kind of monitor as it goes but Dion Sims Jersey , yeah, they all should be ready to go."

The quarterback change and other roster turnover create an array of differing expectations for this Chiefs' team. Many preseason prognosticators have the Los Angeles Chargers replacing Kansas City atop the AFC West after back-to-back divisional titles.

Reid, however, doesn't see it that way.

"But the important thing is there is high expectations within the building, within the team," Reid said. "They demand that from themselves. You felt that in the OTAs and I expect that to continue. I expect guys to challenge each other, that's the way you get better. We've got great competition that we're going to play this year starting with the Chargers."

Yet with many viewing the 2018 season as a transition, if not rebuilding, year for the Chiefs, even Reid acknowledges that this season paves the way for a brighter future under Mahomes.

"We're striving to win a championship and then to consistently be in a position where we can win a championship as the years go on," Reid said. "And it starts again today."

Add LSU’s Danny Etling to the list of quarterbacks drafted by the New England Patriots since they took Tom Brady 18 years ago.

As a seventh-round pick, odds favor him joining the previous eight who didn’t replace the franchise icon set to turn 41 this summer.

Still Jake Rudock Jersey , director of player personnel Nick Caserio figured there was a decent chance the Patriots would add someone to Brady’s room during a busy draft that featured nine picks and 10 trades over three days a year after New England made just four selections.

”We knew we were going to add to a quarterback to our team at some point,” Caserio said after the draft ended Saturday. ”We think Danny has some decent traits and decent qualities to work with.”

New England used the draft’s final day to fill a handful of needs on both sides of the ball and gained three picks for next season, including a third-rounder from Detroit. As of the draft’s conclusion, New England holds 12 picks for 2019.

”Busy weekend and a lot of effort from a lot of people,” Caserio said. ”This is not a one-man show. This is a team effort and embodies what this program is about … putting the team first and doing your job.”

After making six trades during the first four rounds, the Patriots addressed the linebacker spot with their first two picks Saturday. New England took Purdue’s Ja’Whaun Bentley with the 143rd overall pick in the fifth round and Arizona State’s Christian Sam in the sixth (No. 178).

The Patriots then shifted to offense, taking Miami slot wide receiver Braxton Berrios at No. 210 in the sixth following by Etling with the 219th choice. New England also took Western Carolina defensive back Keion Crossen (No. 243) and Florida State tight end Ryan Izzo (No. 250) in the seventh round.

Etling will join Brady and backup Brian Hoyer on the depth chart after throwing for 2,463 yards, 16 touchdowns and two interceptions last season.

”I don’t have any expectations other than going in and learning as much information as you can and preparing for your chance when it comes,” Etling said. ”You just want to watch a guy who’s so great and know how he does it.”

Etling spent his freshman and sophomore years at Purdue and was a teammate and close friend of Bentley.

Here are some other things to know about the Patriots’ draft:

ANOTHER BOILERMAKER: A three-time captain at Purdue, Bentley follows a line of Purdue linebackers under coach Bill Belichick. Rosevelt Colvin played in New England for six seasons (2003-08) and Rob Ninkovich retired before the start of training camp last year after eight seasons.

REPUTATION DEFENDER: Sam tried to discount an NFL.com profile that suggested he doesn’t like to practice.

”Everyone has their own opinion and it’s something I can’t control, but I felt that wasn’t true Antonio Morrison Jersey ,” Sam said. ”I’m a guy who takes pride in practice because I know how big it is to prepare so you can play at a high level.”

The Texas native played cornerback until his junior year of high school and was a special teams player for the Sun Devils.

IN THE SLOT: The loss of receiver Danny Amendola to AFC East-rival Miami goes beyond the departure of one of Brady’s most-trusted targets. It also created the need for a punt returner that was addressed with the drafting of Berrios. In four years at Miami, Berrios averaged 10.4 yards on punt returns.

”I absolutely love it. There’s something about it that gives you an adrenaline rush,” the 5-9, 183-pound Berrios said.

STILL NEED: Etling will compete for a roster spot, yet it would appear the Patriots are comfortable with the idea of finding Brady’s potential replacement next year, especially with two second-round picks and three third-rounders. Even with the additions of Bentley and Sam, New England figures to remain active for linebacker help.

—

Troy Brown Jr. Jersey ,