5 Kansas City Chiefs That May Not Return for 2012 NFL Season

The Kansas City Chiefs might not yet be technically eliminated from the playoffs this year, but their gauntlet of the NFL's top 2011 teams should quickly close out that dollhouse-sized window.

That leaves Chiefs fans dreaming about what they have in store for next year. Despite the massive disappointment that this season's been, Kansas City still has a number of key elements for a successful franchise.

The return of Jamaal Charles and Tony Moeaki will complete the Chiefs' collection of offensive weapons, while having Eric Berry back in the starting lineup changes the entire defensive dynamic.

There will also be a number of new players wearing Kansas City red and gold, too. Free agency and the draft will see to that. And one of Scott Pioli's key factors in selecting a player is knowing who that player will replace for the better.

So as the Chiefs finish up their season and start looking to 2012, here's a glimpse at the players who'll be doing some looking of their own—looking for another job.

Any Tight End Not Named Tony Moeaki

The picture above just about says it all.

Opponents completely outmatched Kansas City's tight ends this year. No one on the Chiefs' roster remotely replaced Moeaki's big-play receiving ability. Leonard Pope and Jake O'Connell have only combined for 202 yards and one touchdown so far this year—354 yards and two touchdowns short of Moeaki's rookie performance.

Now, Moeaki isn't exactly stellar as a blocker, but he'd certainly be an upgrade over Kansas City's active tight ends. Pope and O'Connell rank No. 1 and No. 2 for most penalties on the team—primarily holding calls. Late-addition Anthony Becht hasn't done much to change things for the better either.

The Chiefs will certainly look to address this entire position group next year in both the draft and free agency.

Barry Richardson, Offensive Tackle

Barry Richardson's lackadaisical work on the right side is no excuse for the oft-penalized tight ends.

But it could be, as Richardson consistently underwhelmed this year. He racked up a number of penalties of his own this year and often mapped a clear path for defenders to hammer Chiefs quarterbacks.

Richardson proved so ineffective in pass protection that Bill Muir regularly placed a tight end and a wide receiver as the primary blockers on the right side, while Richardson and Gerald Asamoah double-teamed the defensive end on 3-4 teams.

Long story short: Von Miller found himself matched up against Leonard Pope and Jonathan Baldwin. He likely thought Christmas came early this year.

Richardson gave up on plays, neglecting to hold his assignments and giving up the greater portion of Kansas City's sacks allowed.

The Chiefs must upgrade at the tackle position this year if they want Jamaal Charles to have any chance of returning to his elite form.

Thomas Jones, Running Back

The hardest player to say goodbye to will be Thomas Jones.

Jones hasn't held a roster spot in Kansas City very long but represents everything the Chiefs want out of their team going forward.

A locker room leader, selfless team player and tireless workhorse, Jones came to Kansas City to finish his career as the line-pounding compliment to Jamaal Charles' lightning-quick speed outside the tackles.

But the wheels fell off too soon—both for Jones and for Chiefs fans. The 33 years caught up with Jones, who has averaged only three yards per carry this season.

Kansas City needs a reliable back to do the heavy lifting in the run game if it wants Charles to stay fresh and healthy throughout his career.

And as much as everyone would prefer otherwise, Jones can no longer deliver on his end of the deal.

Sabby Piscitelli, Safety

Sabby Piscitelli wasn't supposed to be a serious option in the Chiefs defense.

The journeyman safety instead found himself pressed into service following Eric Berry's ACL tear but largely failed to impress in any aspect of the defense.

Instead, Jon McGraw stepped up his game to keep the Chiefs competitive on defense.

McGraw comes up in free agency this offseason, but no one stepped up to justify losing the savvy veteran, particularly on special teams where he stands out.

That keeps McGraw employed in Kansas City, puts Piscitelli back on the market and leaves the Chiefs shopping for another long-term reserve safety prospect.

Matt Cassel, Quarterback

Matt Cassel's career can't seem to get off the roller coaster.

From college backup to surprise starter to franchise quarterback, Cassel now stands a real chance of losing his team in 2012.

His Pro Bowl season in 2010 looked like proof of Cassel's ability—absolution of Scott Pioli's decision to invest a high second-round pick and $63 million contract on the merits of Cassel's one season as Tom Brady's stand-in.

With Kansas City regressing this year, though, the Chiefs could (and should) entertain drafting one of the top quarterbacks in the 2012 NFL Draft. Outside of Andrew Luck, all other quarterback prospects should be available when Kansas City's selection comes up.

2012 could also prove to be one of the best quarterback drafts in history, with Robert Griffin III, Landry Jones and Matt Barkley filling out the options for the first-round alone.

The question becomes whether or not Cassel is good enough to decline drafting an elite talent who could lead the Chiefs for the next decade.

If that answer is no, Kansas City can't afford to keep both Cassel and their draft pick on the roster. The Chiefs will have other contracts to renew, including those for Dwayne Bowe and Brandon Carr. Plus, Cassel hasn't demonstrated the ability to mentor a young quarterback coming into the league—not that he should really be interested in that job.

While he'll likely never reach elite status, Cassel is a solid quarterback when given an established offensive coordinator and skilled line to protect him. Another team would likely give him a chance to start again by 2013, if not sooner.

Kansas City would then need a solid reserve quarterback for injury insurance, but he'd likely come at a much cheaper price and less awkwardness than asking Cassel to fill that role.