Everything fell right into place last season for the Chiefs. No surprise, Kansas City was home to the Super Bowl Champions yet again: the second time in a row and the third overall title for the newest NFL dynasty. With one of the best quarterbacks (if not the best) in Patrick Mahomes and one of the savviest front offices in the league, the Chiefs are primed for success in the years to come.
As champagne celebrations hit, there was a very clear priority for what needed to be done with the Chiefs. The team knew they needed to focus on getting receivers for Mahomes. The defense cannot carry the team again if they want a chance at a three-peat.
While the team was able to skate through the regular season, I feel like that cannot happen again in 2024. With the AFC as stacked as it is, competing for the number one seed might be one of the most intense races in recent history. The Chiefs have one of the best rosters on paper, but some questions remain lingering about whether it can translate to game action.
While the team did not make many moves this season, it made a few impactful moves. Signing veteran wide receiver Marquise Brown to a one-year deal might be the most impactful. While he is not expected to play in week one, adding a new veteran wide receiver to the group will give confidence to the young players.
The Chiefs also had a great draft this season, adding two extremely impactful players in the first two rounds. Xavier Worthy and Kingsley Suamataia will be playmakers from the first game, supporting a cast of veterans. Worthy has a chance to become one of the most reliable receivers for Mahomes and provide a new speed the receivers room has not seen in years. Suamataia has been turning heads for the entire training camp and the preseason and has the chance to be a solid O-Lineman of the future.
2024 Kansas City Chiefs
Coaching Staff and Front Office Personnel
Head Coach: Andy Reid
Offensive Coordinator: Matt Nagy
Defensive Coordinator: Steve Spagnuolo
Special Teams Coordinator: Dave Toub
Notable Assistant Coaches: Brendan Daly (Linebackers Coach), Joe Cullen (Defensive Line Coach), Connor Embree (Wide Receivers Coach), Andy Heck (Offensive Line Coach), Kevin Saxton (Offensive Assistant), Andy Hill (Assistant Special Teams Coach)
General Manager: Brett Veach
Notable Additions
Free Agency: Marquise Brown (WR, Cardinals), Carson Wentz (QB, Rams), Juju Smith-Schuster (WR, Patriots)
Draft: Xavier Worthy (WR, Texas), Kingsley Suamataia (OT, BYU), Jared Wiley (TE, TCU), Jaden Hicks (S, Washington State)
Trades: N/A
Notable Subtractions
Free Agency: Nick Allegretti (G/C, Commanders), Willie Gay (LB, Saints)
Trades: L'Jarius Sneed (To Tennessee)
Releases: Marquez Valdes-Scantling
2023 Chiefs Offensive Team Ranks
- 22.2 Points Per Game (14th)
- 357.9 Yards Per Game (8th)
- 248.6 Pass Yards and 109.3 Rush Yards Per Game (6th and 17th)
- 43.32% Conversion Rate on Third Down (6th)
- 51.25% Red Zone Conversion Rate (19th)
- 28 Turnovers (t-16th)
2023 Chiefs Defensive Team Ranks
- 17 points Allowed Per Game (2nd)
- 298.9 Yards Allowed Per Game (2nd)
- 185.8 Pass Yards and 113 Rush Yards Allowed Per Game (4th and 16th)
- 35.53% Conversion Rate Allowed on Third Down (5th)
- 50.88% Red Zone Conversion Rate Allowed (8th)
- 17 Takeaways (t-27th)
Can the Chiefs Three-Peat?
The biggest storyline for the Chiefs this season, of course, revolves around their chances of winning a third Super Bowl Championship in a row. Even with a lackluster regular season in 2023, the Chiefs still found a way to make it to the top. After improving the roster throughout Free Agency and the draft, the Chiefs only improved.
The only issue with this idea is that it has never been done before. Even the Steelers dynasty of the 1970s and the Tom Brady Patriots couldn't reach this conclusion. With a stacked AFC this season, three-peating will be insanely hard to do. But if anyone could do it, it's the Chiefs.
Currently, their odds to win Super Bowl 59 are +500, and their odds to win the AFC Championship are +300. They're projected to win over 11.5 games and are basically locks to win the AFC West.
MVP Again
In 2023, Patrick Mahomes statistically had one of his worst seasons in the NFL. While his stats were still elite compared to other quarterbacks in the league, he wasn't the typical Mahomes we are all used to seeing. Without a strong group of receivers, it was clear that Mahomes did not have anyone reliable to target besides Kelce. This led to more interceptions than he has ever had before, along with the lowest passing success rate of his career.
The Chiefs spent the off-season ensuring that Mahomes can improve his numbers this season. From signing Marquise Brown to drafting Xavier Worthy, the front office ensured Mahomes had reliable targets this season. As one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, it is only fitting to predict that he will be able to get back to his former self.
Drama in the WR Room
Last season, the WR position was one of the offense's most shaky and inconsistent parts. Veterans like Kadarius Toney and Marquez Valdes-Scantling underperformed, and the offense scored the fewest points since Andy Reid joined the team in 2013.
With the addition of Worthy, the signing of Marquise Brown, and the reunion with Juju Smith-Schuster, the receiver room is getting a significant upgrade this season. Having veteran presences in the locker room will allow the younger players to develop correctly.
The releases of Toney and Valdes-Scantling removed two players carrying dead weight on the team. Toney has been a disappointment since he was drafted by the Giants and had no real spot on the Chiefs this season.
Draft Day Heroes
After the regular season ended, the Chiefs knew they had to get great players to ensure their quarterback had options. In the first round, the Chiefs selected Worthy, a speedy wide receiver who will give Mahomes a reliable option to throw to. The second round brought Suamataia, who relieved the offensive line.
The bigger surprises came in the later rounds. In the fourth round, Jared Wiley, a tight end, was selected. Wiley is now being viewed as someone who can take over for Kelce when he retires due to how he performed during training camp. Jaden Hicks, a safety picked in round four, was another training camp standout and will work to complement a strong defense.
The offensive line also saw upgrades with Hunter Nourzad, picked in the fifth round, and CJ Hanson, who was picked in the seventh round. While they will likely not be starters in year one, they will serve as solid backup options. Round six pick Kamal Hadden remained the only draft pick this year to not make the 53-man roster.
"Everything Has Changed"
Last season marked the first season with the new Chiefs companion, Taylor Swift. This season, however, marks the first full campaign where she and Kelce are officially a couple. While the media attention last season did not hinder the team's abilities, they will have to work extra hard this season to ensure it does not infiltrate the locker room.
The fans in 2023 were less than impressed by the NFL's continuous coverage of Swift (even as a Swiftie, I was offended when the NFL put "Chiefs are 2-0 as Swifties" in their Instagram bio). A new season fresh from a Super Bowl win sparks some questions for those consistently tired of Swift in the media. How will the team handle this constant media attention from the first week?
On the other hand, Swift has brought so many new fans into the NFL, and more specifically, the Chiefs. After she was shown at Arrowhead Stadium on September 24th, 2023, viewership increased by 53% among girls aged 12 to 17. Getting younger fans, especially girls, into the football game will be a massive boost for the NFL in viewership and sales. As a new season begins, it is hard to imagine that this number will go anywhere but up.
The Bottom Line
This Kansas City team has the tools and the opportunity to win the Super Bowl each year. While they definitely experienced their ups and downs last season, the team is even better on paper this season.
It's no secret that there were definitive reasons why the Chiefs struggled in the regular season in 2023. After fixing some of these problems in the offseason, there is no reason why the Chiefs shouldn't finish better than they did in the past. However, a three-peat might be hard to achieve with a healthy and stacked AFC. The Chiefs have always found a way in the past, and I'm sure they will do the same this season.
Defined Chiefs Strengths
- Patrick Mahomes
- Great Depth Within the Defensive Line
- One of the Most Talented Group of Specialists in the league
- A Great Group of Talented Linebackers
Defined Chiefs Weaknesses
- Lack of depth behind Isiah Pacheco in the RB Room
- Lack of Depth on the Offensive Line if Suamataia Doesn't Live up to the Hype
- Wide Receiver Situation Could Crash and Burn
- ???'s Surrounding the Durability of Second-Year Players
Chiefs Seasonal Outlook
Record Ceiling: 13-4
Record Floor: 10-7
AFC West Finishing Position Prediction: 1st
Team MVP: Patrick Mahomes
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