The Chiefs are seeking the first three-peat in Super Bowl history, and more offensive firepower is the biggest change from a season ago. If you like the analysis here, consider signing up for our free newsletter to get can’t-miss NFL news and insights straight to your inbox every week.
- 2023 finish: 11-6 (first in AFC West); won SB
- Over/under: 11.5 wins
Notable additions
QB Carson Wentz, RB Louis Rees-Zammit, WR Hollywood Brown, TE Irv Smith, S Tyree Gillespie, P Matt Araiza
Notable losses
QB Blaine Gabbert, RB Jerick McKinnon, RB La’Mical Perine, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR Richie James, TE Blake Bell, OT Donovan Smith, OT Prince Tega Wanogho, G Nick Allegretti, LB Willie Gay Jr., LB Darius Harris, CB L’Jarius Sneed, S Mike Edwards, P Tommy Townsend
2024 draft class
WR Xavier Worthy (1.28), OT Kingsley Suamataia (2.63), TE Jared Wiley (4.131), S Jaden Hicks (4.133), C Hunter Nourzad (5.159), CB Kamal Hadden (6.211), G C.J. Hanson (7.248)
Projected starters
QB: Patrick Mahomes
RB: Isiah Pacheco
WR: Rashee Rice
WR: Hollywood Brown
WR: Xavier Worthy (R)
TE: Travis Kelce
LT: Kingsley Suamataia (R)
LG: Joe Thuney
C: Creed Humphrey
RG: Trey Smith
RT: Jawaan Taylor
DE: George Karlaftis
DT: Chris Jones
DT: Derrick Nnadi
DE: Mike Danna
LB: Drue Tranquill
LB: Nick Bolton
LB: Leo Chenal
CB: Trent McDuffie
S: Justin Reid
S: Bryan Cook
CB: Joshua Williams
2024 outlook
Kansas City didn’t make a ton of moves this offseason, but the ones they did make were impactful—trading L’Jarius Sneed to the Titans, while adding Hollywood Brown and two impact rookie additions in Xavier Worthy and Kingsley Suamataia. It’s perhaps a more natural change in philosophy by supporting Patrick Mahomes as much as possible after definite struggles for the offense in 2023, but Steve Spagnuolo’s defense proved it could lead the way by limiting opponents to point totals of seven, 24, ten, and 22 in the postseason, so we’ll see how they adjust in January without Sneed around.
Of course, it might not matter if Andy Reid’s attack simply outscores everyone, as Brown and Worthy will stretch the field to create space underneath for Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice—not to mention the angry-running Isiah Pacheco getting lighter boxes. For both this year and beyond, I think the rest of the league will be angry at themselves for allowing the Chiefs to get Suamataia as a guy that could realistically be the blindside protector for the rest of Mahomes’ career, and the 21-year-old rookie will get the best possible coaching under Reid to reach his immense potential.
Again, the loss of Sneed creates more questions on defense, but “Spags” has always maximized what he has—particularly late in the year and into the postseason, so possible struggles early on shouldn’t be overblown. Cornerback is the big concern right now (which I’ll expand on with the position battle to watch), but Chris Jones returns and is determined to three-peat, Trent McDuffie has turned into one of the league’s top cornerbacks (though will be tested without Sneed), and George Karlaftis is looking to build on a Year 2 breakout that ended with 3.0 sacks in the playoffs.
Position battle to watch: Cornerback
Competition for the Chiefs is fierce at both wide receiver and cornerback, but the offense is more about the depth, while the secondary is desperate for multiple players to step up behind Trent McDuffie. Jaylen Watson still working his way back from a torn labrum makes Joshua Williams the favorite to start, but Kamal Hadden is the player to watch for me. Although the sixth-round rookie has seen limited action this preseason, he just needs to make the team and get a shot in the regular season to show his playmaking ability on the perimeter.
Breakout candidate: DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah
Some are already writing off Anudike-Uzomah, but pass rushers can take time to adjust at the next level, and he should be counted on for a bigger role in Year 2. As a rookie, Anudike-Uzomah recorded two tackles for loss in his lone game with at least 50% of the snaps played, which came in the season finale with the Chiefs gearing up for January; look for him to thrive with an expanded role in 2024.
Circle on the calendar: Week 11 (@ BUF) | Sunday, November 17 – 4:25 PM ET
The opener against Baltimore, Week 2 versus Cincinnati, the Super Bowl LVIII rematch, either game against the rival Raiders, or the matchups versus the Texans and Steelers before and on Christmas are among the others to circle; but the Bills—who lost a 27-24 thriller in the Divisional Round—remain the biggest threat to them in the AFC in my opinion, which gives a November trip to Buffalo game-of-the-year potential.
Bottom line
The dream of a three-peat isn’t needed for Patrick Mahomes and company to be motivated to climb the mountain once again, but it’s certainly a bonus in their chase. After leaning on their defense in 2023, we can expect the Chiefs to provide more offensive fireworks with an emphasis on adding speed to the attack.