Chiefs’ Major Offseason Miss Draws Heavy Criticism
The Chiefs added some big pieces to their defense, but they failed to pay attention to arguably their biggest position of need.
The Kansas City Chiefs made just a handful of moves in free agency this offseason, with Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker the team’s lone splashy addition. Beyond Walker, safety Alohi Gilman, defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, and cornerback Kaiir Elam were the team’s other big moves. Kansas City also went defense-heavy in the draft as well, using its first four selections on that side of the ball, including both first-round picks — cornerback Mansoor Delane, defensive tackle Peter Woods — plus its second-rounder (edge-rusher R Mason Thomas) and fourth-rounder (safety Jadon Canady).
And while most, if not all, of those moves were necessities, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes that failing to add an impact wide receiver was the team’s biggest mistake of the offseason. “Could Veach have done more to give Patrick Mahomes — or Justin Fields — another answer in the passing game? I think so,” Barnwell wrote .
“A second tight end would have taken some of the load off Kelce and allowed the Chiefs to play more multi-tight end sets — something they leaned into after trading Tyreek Hill in 2022. Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach addresses fans during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) “Another route-runner might have given Mahomes a reliable pair of hands.
You can understand why the Chiefs worked on their defense with most of their selections in this year’s draft, but this offense still feels as if it’s going to be dependent upon Mahomes magic, which will be even more difficult as the QB returns from a torn ACL. ” Though they re-signed both tight Travis Kelce and WR Tyquan Thornton, the Chiefs let both Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster walk in free agency. Rashee Rice is in legal trouble for the third straight offseason, and his availability is a true wild card at this point, putting a lot of pressure on Xavier Worthy, Thornton, and second-year wideout Jalen Royals to carry the WR corps.