KANSAS CITY, Mo. – It’s the time for optimism at Kansas City Chiefs headquarters, days after they agreed to contract terms with wide receiver Sammy Watkins and linebacker Anthony Hitchens and officially installed Patrick Mahomes as their starting quarterback.

The mood of coach Andy Reid on Thursday reflected it. It’s beyond the normal in that regard as the Chiefs go about building their 2018 roster.

“We have a few more changes," Reid said, comparing his mood this March to that in other years. “I’m excited about it, yeah. I’m not going to hide that from you. We’re fired up about this whole thing ... I’m ready to roll and we’re sitting here in March.

“We’re so excited about the future. The energy level [is high]. I’m so happy that our fan base is who they are and they’ve got something to look forward to this upcoming season with the new additions and we’re not done. We’ve got a great nucleus coming back."

The Chiefs have replaced the reliable Alex Smith with a young quarterback who has the potential to deliver more. They already had a strong cast of offensive skill players and added to that with the signing of Watkins. The Chiefs are confident the additions of Hitchens and cornerback Kendall Fuller, acquired from Washington in the Smith trade, will have significant impacts.

They’ve also subtracted cornerback Marcus Peters, a talented player but one whose behavior required Reid and others to spend much energy on trying to rein him in.

Smith had no bigger fan in the Chiefs’ organization than Reid. Smith was the quarterback Reid wanted to acquire when he arrived as head coach in 2013. Together, they made four playoff appearances in five years and won the AFC West title the past two seasons.

But clearly much of Reid’s bright disposition has to do with Mahomes stepping in. The Chiefs saw enough from Mahomes last year in practice and his one regular-season game to believe he could well become a franchise type of quarterback the Chiefs have lacked for years.

“Listen, Alex is going to go down as one of my all-time favorite guys and players and human beings and everything else," Reid said. “The things he did here, he set all these records here. But life in the National Football League is this: Change takes place. We’re fortunate to have [Mahomes] as the change. Not every team can say that.

“He’s going to put his own mark on this thing. ... We’re very optimistic about it. When you’re around him here like you will be, you’ll get that same feel, that same energy. He’s grown up in a locker room and he gets it. That part, he gets. His teammates, I saw guys gravitate to him during the year and how he takes control. He’s nice right now, up here, to you [during a news conference], but there’s this other side that he’s not afraid to pull the trigger on and give you the business when you’e not doing your thing.

“So it’s an exciting time."