Offensive Positional Overview

A Deeper Dive Into Where the Chiefs Need to Add Talent

We are into the full swing of the offseason and it’s time to dive into the position groups to see where the Chiefs can improve heading into next season.

There are many players that have been added to the team as future contracts but I will not be touching on those players here. This is going to be about the players that played in 2021 and also those that have the highest likelihood of contributing in 2022.

If you missed the primer on the Chiefs Free Agents you can find it here.

I’ve also dove into the cap situation for the Chiefs this season here.

Quarterback

The first place to start is the most important position in all of sports. The quarterback position is in place for the Kansas City Chiefs for the next 10 years or so and is under contract for the next 8. But Mahomes will need a backup and that is the big question at the position this offseason.

Chad Henne has played well in Mahomes’ absence but at the 36 the question is whether or not he will continue to play. If Henne wants to continue playing I expect the Chiefs will have him back but he will need a new contract as his is expiring. If he is ready to retire then things get interesting.

It’s possible the Chiefs feel they have Mahomes’ backup already on the roster in Shane Buechele. If they don’t then they will be looking in free agency to bring in a veteran backup to replace Henne.

Another dynamic to watch is if Nagy affects how the Chiefs move forward. The Chiefs mainly have kept Henne for someone to help Mahomes. Now with Nagy back it’s possible they role with Buechele. Regardless of whether or not they bring in a veteran free agent, I expect the Chiefs to be looking in the draft for another QB to bring in to work on developing over the next few years behind Patrick.

Running Back

Running back is a position where I expect a lot of changes this offseason. Clyde will be back and is likely going to be the starter. The question becomes who are the players behind him. Derrick Gore will be back and has shown that he is a capable player that needs time to grow into a bigger role.

Darrel Williams and Jerrick McKinnon are question marks. I liked what I saw from both backs and Williams has been underrated in his time in Kansas City. That said I fully expect that he will sign elsewhere this offseason as he is likely to get a better deal somewhere else.

McKinnon is a bit of an enigma. He played well in the playoffs and really gave the Chiefs a lift. The problem with McKinnon is his injury history and whether or not he can stay healthy. He showed he still has value in the NFL with the way he played and that means it is possible someone offers him money elsewhere. I think if the Chiefs can sign him for about what he made last year he should come back.

I think Kansas City watches free agency at the running back position and tries to add someone after the draft if they don’t pick a running back late.

I’m adding in Michael Burton here as a running back. I expect him back in Kansas City even though the position is continually being used less and less throughout the NFL. He is a great core special teams guy and was very successful in short-yardage situations this season.

Offensive Line

Skipping tight end and wide receiver for now and moving on to the offensive line because what a difference a year makes. All signs indicate the Chiefs have 4 of their 5 offensive line starters for probably the next three or four seasons. Orlando Brown Jr. will be back whether or not he’s signed long-term as they will franchise him if they have to.

The three interior pieces include one of the best guards in the game in Thuney and then two rookies that played fantastic this whole season. The Chiefs look to be set at the inside line positions for years to come.

The question is at right tackle and you can extend that to a swing tackle discussion as well. Lucas Niang is going to be questionable to return from his injury in time for camp and maybe even the season. Worse yet he was hurt a lot this season. The Chiefs will need to look in the draft to fill either the right tackle spot or the swing tackle spot and maybe both.

The Chiefs also have multiple questions of depth along the line other than the swing tackle position. I already discussed I think bringing back Wylie makes sense as long as it’s a sensible contract but he isn’t what you want as a starter or a swing tackle. Depth at center is a question unless they resign Blythe which is possible unless he is wanting a chance to play.

Nick Allegretti has played well and gives you good depth at guard but I expect Kansas City to be looking to get younger at their reserve positions on the line and looking to draft talent. With the way Veach knocked the offensive line out of the park in 2021 I’m very interested to see what he can do with the defensive end and wide receiver positions in 2022.

Tight End

The tight end group obviously has the starter in Travis Kelce. The question is who are going to be the backup tight ends. Noah Gray and Jody Fortson will both be back in 2022. Both have room to grow and maybe the Chiefs give them the opportunities to take some of the snaps from Kelce so he is fresher down the stretch.

The question at the tight end position is largely the same as last offseason when the Chiefs brought back Blake Bell. Can Bell come back on a reasonable deal, yes? Could the Chiefs look at this deep tight-end draft and try to find another tight end more like Kelce to take the offense to another level? I think it’s a definite possibility they will look in the draft and see who falls.

Wide Receiver

Here is where the real fun is going to begin. Tyreek Hill is currently working on a contract extension with the Chiefs and is going to be in Kansas City for the foreseeable future. Mecole Hardman is the only other wide receiver currently under contract for 2022. That likely means multiple additions are coming at the wide-out position this year.

I will start by saying I expect Byron Pringle to be back if he is willing to take a smaller offer in Kansas City. I can’t see Demarcus Robinson back on another one-year deal even though they have continued to bring him back the past couple of years. Marcus Kemp is a question mark as he is solely a special teams guy and while great at it you have to wonder if they will want to get younger and bring someone else in that can offer more at the WR position on offense.

I know Josh Gordon is back and I won’t count him out but he definitely did not step up like I thought he may be able to do later in the season. Two years off of football is a lot to come back from so we will see if he is able to make any strides in camp in 2022.

Kansas City is in a prime position to find a WR in free agency. I don’t expect they will go with a receiver that wants a big long-term deal though they could. If they add a big name and do a long-term deal I still expect that they will be looking in the draft regardless.

There are too many talented wideouts in this year’s draft that I don’t think the Chiefs will pass up. It could be even getting a guy they like in the first round depending on how the draft plays out. It would make a lot more sense for the Chiefs to sign a WR to a one year 8-10 million dollar deal and still draft a WR early than it would if they bring in a guy like Mike Williams for three to four years and still draft another in the first round.

The key for me though is I think Veach has seen that while Mahomes can elevate the players around him the Chiefs were severely lacking in playmaking pass catchers other than Kelce and Hill. I can’t see Veach going into the season without stocking the cupboards knowing if he does the Chiefs can be Super Bowl favorites again this season.

Special Teams

Adding this in here because the defensive side of the ball is going to be a lot longer. I don’t think we see any big moves on special teams this offseason. Townsend started to become more consistent late in the season and Winchester and Butker are very good at their jobs.

Later this week I’ll be diving into the defensive side of the ball.