The Chiefs will miss the playoffs again
Two things I think are equally true. First, the Chiefs got better this offseason. Second, it isn’t going to be enough.
Kansas City’s roster is once again quite shaky. The Chiefs did a commendable job of building around their tentpole players (Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Chris Jones) for a while. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s uncanny ability to turn middle-round defensive backs into viable starters allowed them to endure the departures of Charvarius Ward, L’Jarius Sneed and Tyrann Mathieu. Offensive linemen were acquired — Joe Thuney and Orlando Brown Jr. — then quickly replaced.
But the well eventually runs dry. Jawaan Taylor was supposed to be a cornerstone at right tackle. Safety Chamarri Conner was supposed to be another Spagnuolo success story. Felix Anudike-Uzomah would bring much-needed juice on the edge. Wide receiver Hollywood Brown would alleviate the lost effect of Tyreek Hill. Contenders with pricey rosters must be constantly innovating in scheme and finding low-salaried contributors in both the draft and free agency. General manager Brett Veach failed to do his part, while coach Andy Reid’s offense grew stale.
Of particular concern was the Chiefs’ handoff game. It didn’t exist. In theory, physical downhill runners Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt would keep their shotgun-heavy offense on schedule, forcing opposing defenses to at least respect the ground game. But Pacheco and Hunt so painfully lacked explosion that defenses never had to fear a light box giving up a big run. The 2024 and 2025 Chiefs had two of the three least explosive seasons on running back carries this century.
Of course, the front office saw this and added Kenneth Walker III, a home run hitter and the reigning Super Bowl MVP. But ideally, running back is one of those positions with which a contending team wins in the financial margins. The Chiefs had to pay sticker price to sign Walker because of their inability to develop an alternative. That means they have less room for error in places like the secondary, where both Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie are no longer taking snaps. And at receiver, where Rashee Rice must once again be the load-bearing wall of a thin group.
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