KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Fresh off a second Super Bowl title and third Super Bowl appearance in the last four seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs remain one of the favorites to win another NFL crown.
That’s because Patrick Mahomes remains the Chiefs’ quarterback, but there are some roster holes to fill with an eye toward 2023 — but also keeping in mind key free agents next season.
Kansas City filled the need at left tackle created with Orlando Brown Jr.’s departure for Cincinnati by signing former Jacksonville right tackle Jawaan Taylor with plans to have him switch sides.
Additional roster turnover — both this offseason and potentially next offseason — provides a window into the team’s biggest needs to keep the championship window open.
Key players lost in free agency (8): LT Orlando Brown Jr. (Cincinnati), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (New England), RT Andrew Wylie (Washington), RB Ronald Jones II (Dallas), FB Michael Burton (Denver), WR Mecole Hardman Jr. (New York Jets), S Juan Thornhill (Cleveland), DT Khalen Saunders (New Orleans)
Key 2024 free agents (4): DT Chris Jones, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LB Willie Gay Jr., CB L’Jarius Sneed
Here’s a look at other offseason moves based on Over the Cap’s free agency tracker:
Key players signed (5): LT Jawaan Taylor (Jacksonville), S Mike Edwards (Tampa Bay), LB Drue Tranquill (Los Angeles Chargers), DT Byron Cowart (Indianapolis), DE Charles Omenihu (San Francisco)
Key players re-signed (9): DT Derrick Nnadi, TE Blake Bell, S Deon Bush, TE Jody Fortson, P Tommy Townsend, DT Tershawn Wharton, RT Prince Tega Wanogho, QB Shance Buechele, G Nick Allegretti
Remaining free agents (6): DE Frank Clark, DE Carlos Dunlap, DT Brandon Williams, RB Jerick McKinnon, WR Justin Watson, LB Darius Harris
What then are the the Chiefs’ biggest needs ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City? Glad you asked:
Defensive line
Four of the seven defensive linemen who logged at least 33% of Kansas City’s defensive snaps last season — Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, Mike Danna and Derrick Nnadi — are under contract for next season.
Veteran defensive ends Frank Clark and Carlos Dunlap remain unsigned, while defensive tackle Khalen Saunders has moved on to New Orleans.
The Charles Omenihu signing fills one gap and re-signing Tershawn Wharton, who missed last season with a torn ACL, fills another, but the Chiefs still need more young depth at end and tackle along the defensive line.
Regardless of what happens with Jones’ contract, which has one year remaining, Kansas City would be wise to keep investing up front on defense.
Wide receiver
Some of the production lost at wide receiver with the Smith-Schuster and Hardman departures could be replaced in-house.
Kadarius Toney wasn’t on the roster to start last season, while 2022 second-round pick Skyy Moore will take on a bigger role.
A healthy Justyn Ross could be an intriguing camp storyline.
Still, more veteran help or another infusion of young talent via the draft may be needed on a unit that also includes Marquez Valdes-Scantling and newly signed veteran Richie James.
Toney has struggled to stay healthy and the Chiefs lost big-time speed at the position with the departures of Tyreek Hill and Hardman in recent years. Could the Chiefs be tempted by a speedster?
Valdes-Scantling’s production was in line with his four seasons in Green Bay, but he failed to emerge as the deep threat Kansas City may have sought — and may again in the draft.
Right tackle
Right tackle Lucas Niang has played more than seven snaps on offense once since early November 2021, but he’ll get the first crack at replacing Andrew Wylie, who secured the bag in Washington.
Prince Tega Wanogho re-signed, providing some tackle depth, but it gets thin on the edge of the offensive line beyond that.
Kansas City will bring in a developmental tackle or two for the offseason, but investing draft capital — maybe even a high pick — should be a priority.
Running back
Maybe Jerick McKinnon returns again. It feels like Kansas City has gotten the best of him in the last year and a half (especially in pass protection and red-zone touchdown production).
If he doesn’t return, the Chiefs need backfield help.
Seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco was a revelation last season, but Clyde Edwards-Helaire has proven to be injury-prone and is heading into a walk year.
La’Mical Perine is the only other running back currently on the roster, leaving the position as a sneaky need moving forward.
Safety
Juan Thornhill’s gone, but Kansas City still has Justin Reid and 2022 second-round pick Bryan Cook along with Deon Bush and former Tampa Bay safety Mike Edwards.
The Chiefs are well positioned to absorb the loss of Thornhill, but could use a safety with elite range to supplement that group.
The fact that Edwards and Bush are only on one-year deals heightens the need at the safety spot.
Cornerback</h2>
Can you ever have enough quality cornerbacks in the modern NFL? No, I’ll answer that for you. You cannot.
The Chiefs return all five cornerbacks from the Super Bowl and invested heavily at the position in last year’s draft with the additions of Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson and converted safety Nazeeh Johnson.
The wild card is L’Jarius Sneed, a former fourth-round pick who has established himself as a rock-solid NFL starter.
Kansas City hasn’t shown an inclination to pay top dollar for a cornerback under GM Brett Veach — trading away Marcus Peters and opting against re-signing Steven Nelson and Charvarius Ward when they hit free agency.
Perhaps the Chiefs will buck tradition with so much young talent at the position and pony up for Sneed, but if the club is leaning against a big contract then a reinforcement at corner might be in order.
Tight end
After re-signing Jody Fortson and Blake Bell this offseason, there's no immediate need for a tight end on Kansas City's roster.
Travis Kelce is at the height of his future Hall of Fame powers and Noah Gray emerged as a reliable second option in two-tight-end sets.
That said, Kelce will turn 34 next season and unfortunately can't remain an all-time great forever.
There are some elite tight-end prospects and quality depth in this draft, so I won't complain if the Chiefs take advantage — even with a high-round pick.
Linebacker
Willie Gay Jr. is an athletic and ascending player, but he may not fit into the Chiefs' long-term plans if be plays his way to a significant free-agent contract after last season.
Adding linebacker Drue Tranquill bolstered the linebacker unit for next season, but he signed a one-year deal, so adding depth at linebacker — an athletic player with coverage skills — wouldn't be a bad idea to provide roster flexibility beyond 2023.
Veteran backup quarterback
With Chad Henne gone, Shane Buechele and Chris Oladokun are the only other quarterbacks currently on the roster behind Mahomes.
Buechele fits fine in a backup role. He’s shown well in preseason during the last few seasons, but there's a roster need there.
Adding a QB who’s started in the NFL to serve as a sounding board in the film room and provide additional insurance — especially given the big roles Henne and Matt Moore played in spot duty in recent years — wouldn’t hurt.
But it’s obviously not a draft priority.
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