Las Vegas Raiders continue to try to mimic the Kansas City Chiefs

The Las Vegas Raiders are trying to mimic the Kansas City Chiefs on offense, and they could be closer than many think after adding John Brown.

Free agency is well underway, and the Las Vegas Raiders have once again addressed the receiving corps by adding former Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills speedster, John Brown.

Brown played nine games this past season for the AFC East-winning Bills and posted 33 catches for 458 yards and three touchdowns. Although 2020 was arguably one of his weaker seasons since coming into the NFL, do not be fooled, as Brown fits the Raiders’ offensive game plan to a tee, and his under-the-radar signing is going to open eyes once 2021 begins.

Brown in this offense is what the Raiders want. They set forth a plan once Patrick Mahomes broke onto the scene in Kansas City, as they knew they couldn’t stop him on defense, so the only way to make themselves competitive would be to match the Chiefs speed-for-speed, tight-end powerhouse for tight-end powerhouse.

Look at what they’ve done since Mahomes broke in. The Raiders went out and put a lot of faith in a virtual unknown in Darren Waller, who has become a top-tier tight end in this league. Waller is now on-pace to becoming the league’s best tight end with Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz getting older and George Kittle’s injury concern aiding his ascension.

Waller can be the Raiders’ Kelce

Then we have the drafting of Henry Ruggs III last year at 12th overall. Ruggs was considered the best receiver in his class to some, but one thing basically everybody agreed on was that he was certainly the fastest receiver in his class. Now that we’ve seen him play his rookie year in the NFL, he is most definitely one of the fastest guys in the league overall.

The Chiefs have a guy much like him in terms of breakaway speed, and that is of course Tyreek Hill. Hill is obviously the more skilled receiver at this juncture of each of their careers, but the speed along with the build and the ever-existing deep threat they both pose makes them eerily similar.

That is why the Raiders chose Ruggs in the first place. They’ve gotten their deep threat, speed guy to match Kansas City’s. They’ve gotten their Tyreek Hill, and while not as productive as Hill has been yet, Ruggs has the raw talent to get there.

Finally, what else do the Chiefs have that the Raiders didn’t on offense? A second-speed guy.

The Chiefs have Mecole Hardman as a buffer third option that Mahomes can pivot to instead of Tyreek Hill, giving the Chiefs not one, but two legit deep threats with rarely-matched speed. Now, the Raiders can say they have their two-deep threat guys in John Brown and Henry Ruggs.

Granted, a bit of a knock-off version of Hill and Hardman, but the skeleton of the Chiefs’ offense is still there for the Raiders to build off of.

The Raiders know they need to be able to keep pace with the Chiefs if they want to win a division and ultimately, a Super Bowl, and they’ve acted in securing a dominant tight end and two speedsters on the outside just like Kansas City has.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery. The Raiders have identified the Chiefs as the next potential dynasty in the NFL and that the only way to be able to hang with them was going to be to beat them at their own game. The Raiders now have what the Chiefs have in offensive weapons, in a way.

Brown is back on a team where he will not be overshadowed by his opposite receiver. He came to Buffalo and became the number one guy, then Stefon Diggs arrived and his numbers plummeted. This is a team that Brown can revive his career with.

Come 2021, expect this team to try and make some noise in the passing game. More than they ever have under Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock.

And they’re coming for the Chiefs.