Five players to watch in preseason week one

Who I'm paying most attention to against the Rams

There is a renewed energy around all things Chiefs football that hasn’t existed the same in recent memory.

The team is now firmly removed from the most historic three-season run in the history of the sport — an era that saw the team come the closest ever to a threepeat. An abysmal 6-11 season, a big offseason trade, and a haul of draft picks have given things like the preseason more meaning.

The comments from veterans show a different focus than in previous seasons. Younger players who have been given the runway to make an impact on this team seemingly are stepping up at this point in camp.

It’s hard to pare down the players to watch in the first preseason game. I wouldn’t blame anyone for paying attention to a list of 15-20 names that are worth focusing on for this game. The roster construction, youth, and opportunity are all providing high levels of interest in what is happening in St. Joseph.

Here are the five players I am most paying attention to in week one of the preseason.

WR Cyrus Allen

I’m sure it’s a surprise to see this player leading off the list.

Allen has taken camp by storm by making the most of opportunities with Patrick Mahomes and the first-team offense. While an injury slowed him down for a few days, it didn’t slow down his status with the top group. He jumped right back in with the true All-Decade quarterback and got back to making plays.

We may not see a ton of snaps from Allen in preseason week one, and that is as telling as anything he does on the field. Where and when Allen gets work can tell us about his outlook with the offense. If he’s done with the first team, that’s noteworthy.

OL Kahil Benson

The case for Benson is similar to Cyrus Allen with a few important caveats.