Questions for the Reigning Champs Entering Training Camp
As the Kansas City Chiefs—two-time defending champions, a title not claimed in two decades—gear up for training camp, they do so with bandaid-patched wounds on both sides of the ball. In a league where strategic external acquisitions often prove more rigorous than sweeping overhauls, the Chiefs have opted for in-house promotions to mitigate the loss of their starting cornerback while investing a bargain for a pair of wholesale pass catchers. The Chiefs remain the team to beat, but four critical questions must be resolved as training camp looms. DISCLAIMER: I've already spoiled two of the key questions in the lede.
Which WRs Will Step Up?
Despite contending with glaring flaws on their way to historic back-to-back Super Bowls for the first time since the Bush administration, the Chiefs' receiving corps required significant attention. The unit has lacked a surefire X wideout capable of surpassing the benchmark 1,000-yard receiving season since Tyreek Hill's departure to free agency. Hopes for improvement were briefly raised with the addition of JuJu Smith-Schuster, only for those to be dashed when he signed with New England last offseason. The receiving group struggled mightily post-Smith-Schuster, leading the league with 44 drops and a league-worst 6.9% drop rate. Game-altering drops, such as Week One against Detroit and Week 11 versus the Eagles, single-handedly cost the Chiefs victories. In response, Kansas City signed former Ravens and Cardinals wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, drafted Xavier Worthy, and re-signed scheme familiar Mecole Hardman to bolster their ranks. The baggage surrounding Rashee Rice’s troubled offseason could limit the availability of experienced pass catchers for an undisclosed. As the season opener against Baltimore looms, I expect sanctions to be imposed on Rice, placing the onus on one of Skyy Moore, Worthy, Hardman, or Kadarius Toney to step up and shoulder the load while Rice awaits reinstatement.
Who’s Battle-Tested Enough to Replace Sneed?
Much like Hill's foray into free agency after failing to secure a contract extension, L'Jarius Sneed was traded after receiving the franchise tag, seeking a more lucrative deal in Tennessee. Emerging from this upheaval is the battle-tested Trent McDuffie, who spearheaded a formidable and physical cornerback duo last season. But the question remains: who will join him? The competition will be fierce among second-year player Jaylen Watson and three-year veterans Joshua Williams and Nazeeh Johnson—unless general manager Brett Veach opts to pursue Xavien Howard or another available free agent. With both Johnson and Watson recovering from season-ending injuries last year, it seems appropriate for Williams to be slotted next to McDuffie while the others navigate their paths toward speedy recoveries. Replicating Sneed’s production with unproven pieces will be challenging, but the three-way competition for the job should sharpen iron.
Who Fills The Starting Left Tackle Opening?
To fill the gap left by Orlando Brown Jr.'s departure to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Chiefs signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers left tackle Donovan Smith last offseason. However, this move could be labeled an epic failure, as Smith ranked among the league's most undisciplined offensive linemen, finishing 11th in penalties and earning a dismal overall grade of 55.4. In a tackle-rich draft class that saw 11 pass protectors selected in the first two rounds, the Chiefs secured one of their own: Kingsley Suamataia, a former standout from Oregon State and BYU. He'll compete with Wanya Morris for the starting left tackle spot, who already has four starts on his resume. While Morris has seen some brief starting action, Suamatatia was predominantly assigned to work with first-stringers for much of the offseason programming. Since the disastrous 31-9 Super Bowl LV loss, the defending champions have meticulously assembled an offensive line designed to keep Patrick Mahomes' jersey spotless. Having replaced seven starters since that game, they are banking on Jawaan Taylor and Suamatatia or Morris to serve as reliable bookend tackles for the foreseeable future.
Will the Chiefs' Offense Rejuvenate Its Potency?
The Chiefs' offense last year was functional when assessed in isolation, but it felt atypical compared to previous Andy Reid-coordinated units. They surpassed 30 points in just one game and were held to 20 or fewer points in half of their contests. Ultimately, they ranked 15th in points per game, averaging 21.8—a significant drop from their first-place finish of 29.2 per game in 2022. Turnovers plagued this group as they succumbed to a four-way tie for ninth with 28 total turnovers. Patrick Mahomes needs to be more responsible with the football, as he accounted for 15 of Kansas City's giveaways or 54% of the team's total. The defending champions hope to revive their renowned deep ball attack, which led the NFL with an average depth of 9.2 yards in 2018 but has since fallen to second-to-last in 2023. The additions of speedsters and deep ball threats Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown should help restore one of Kansas City's most lethal capabilities.
