Change comes to every team after the season, so the Chiefs’ unexpected blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX didn’t alter the course.
But it shined a spotlight on some priorities.
Take offensive line: The Chiefs crafted a team-record 15 regular-season victories and reached their fifth Super Bowl in six years playing four different left tackles; the fourth, Joe Thuney, moved from guard.
Not ideal.
Patrick Mahomes was sacked six times in a game for the first time in his career, and the Eagles never blitzed. Left tackle, an unknown entering 2024, continues in that state for 2025.
Here are the boxes the Chiefs must check heading into the offseason:
Approaching free agency
The franchise tag period runs from Feb. 18-March 4. The Chiefs used the tag on cornerback L’Jarius Sneed last season before trading him to Tennessee. Impending free agents can be legally contacted on March 10, and the market opens two days later.
The Chiefs roster includes 28 free agents, including guard Trey Smith, linebacker Nick Bolton and safety Justin Reid. All told The Star last week they’d like to remain in a Chiefs uniform, and general manager Brett Veach said the team would “throw the kitchen sink” trying to resign them. But signing all three is unlikely, and it might be difficult to retain two.
All rate at or near the top of their position, with Smith considered one of the top prizes on the market. Reid tweeted after game that “I pray this isn’t the end but if it is — I just want to say that I love and appreciate every single one of you that welcomed me and supported me.”
If the Chiefs can’t afford Smith, it could perhaps reallocate money for Bolton and/or Reid.
“You want them all back,” Veach said. “These are good problems to have. We’ve been so blessed to have them and what they did for this organization.”
Among other Chiefs hitting the market are wide receivers Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson and Mecole Hardman.
Also, defensive linemen Charles Omenihu, Derrick Nnadi, Tershawn Wharton and Mike Pennel.
Offensive line
If Smith finds a new team, the Chiefs will have three starters back at their best positions: Creed Humphrey at center, Jawaan Taylor at right tackle and Thuney at left guard
Mike Caliendo, a free agent, started the final six games. including all three in the playoffs at left guard. And although he held up well down the stretch, the Super Bowl performance was rough.
“For me, this is just more motivation,” Caliendo said after the game. “If I’m going to step in like that, I’ve to play up to the standard that coach (Andy) Reid sets. It wasn’t that today.”
Kingsley Suamataia, the second-round draft pick who started the first two games at left tackle, was then benched for Wanya Morris.
Veteran D.J. Humphries was brought in to play over Morris but was injured in his first game. That’s when Thuney, the All-Pro guard, shifted to tackle.
Suamataia likely will move to guard. What’s the answer at left tackle? If the Chiefs go the free-agent route, they risk overpaying.
With the 31st pick …
By losing the Super Bowl, the Chiefs will have the next-to-last pick in the draft. They’ll also draft No. 63 overall, and own the second pick in the third round from the Sneed trade.
Their first-round pick last season had his biggest game in the Super Bowl. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy caught all eight targets for 157 yards and two touchdown receptions. He’s the second player in Super Bowl history with at least 150 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a game.
The Chiefs would love to get that kind of impact from their next first-round pick. If they address left tackle in free agency, they could go defensive line with the first pick. The only rotation defensive linemen under contract for next season are Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, Mike Danna and Felix Anudike-Uzomah.
The draft is April 24-26.
Blair Kerkhoff has covered sports for The Kansas City Star since 1989. He was elected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
