5 Unheralded Kansas City Chiefs Who Must Step Up In 2014

By Aaron Charles

5 Unheralded Kansas City Chiefs Who Must Step Up In 2014

A.J. Jenkins Kansas City Chiefs — The Kansas City Chiefs are going to need some of their young players to step up this season. The team lost a lot of contributors in free agency, and didn't have the cap space to replace everyone. On top of that, they traded away their second-round draft choice, and received no compensatory picks. If the Chiefs want to keep improving, they're going to need some of their unheralded young guys to bring a boost in production.

5. G Jeff Allen

Baltimore Ravens v Kansas City Chiefs

5. G Jeff Allen

Baltimore Ravens v Kansas City Chiefs — Jeff Allen is not going to have the same help along the offensive line this season, with Branden Albert, Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz all hitting the road. Allen is very good at his job, but the pressure will be on this season to perform and stay healthy, with the depth along the offensive line being much less established than it was last season.

4. WR A.J. Jenkins

Kansas City Chiefs v San Diego Chargers

4. WR A.J. Jenkins

Kansas City Chiefs v San Diego Chargers — A.J. Jenkins was starting to gain the coaching staff's confidence as the 2013 season wound down. He will be the most likely candidate to replace Dexter McCluster's production at wide receiver, and may even surpass it. The Chiefs are going to need Jenkins to fulfill some of his former first-round pick potential if they want the passing game to hit the next level.

3. RT Donald Stephenson

Kansas City Chiefs v St. Louis Rams

3. RT Donald Stephenson

Kansas City Chiefs v St. Louis Rams — Coach Andy Reid has confirmed that Eric Fisher will be replacing Albert at left tackle, and Donald Stephenson will be replacing Fisher at right tackle. Stephenson played great as an injury fill-in last season, and the Chiefs need him to keep up that level of play as an everyday starter.

2. DB Husain Abdullah

Oakland Raiders v Kansas City Chiefs

2. DB Husain Abdullah

Oakland Raiders v Kansas City Chiefs — Husain Abdullah also performed great last season in limited playing time, and he'll also need to keep it going with an expanded role heading his way. Defending the pass was arguably the Chiefs' biggest weakness in 2013. In a division with Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers, making the playoffs seems like an outside chance without major improvements from the secondary.

1. TE Travis Kelce

Green Bay Packers v Kansas City Chiefs

1. TE Travis Kelce

Green Bay Packers v Kansas City Chiefs — It looked like the tight ends were going to be a major part of the passing game in 2013 before injuries ravaged the position. Travis Kelce was very impressive in training camp before a knee injury wiped out his rookie year. If Kelce can fulfill some of his potential, he could bring a much-needed new dimension to the Chiefs' passing attack.

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Kansas City Chiefs

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