ESPN’s future power rankings have the Kansas City Chiefs sitting at No. 11, a little outside the top 10 but still firmly in the conversation as one of the league’s best long-term bets.
The rankings project every team from 2027 through 2029 using four buckets: roster, quarterback, coaching and front office. Kansas City checked in with an overall score of 83.2, a number that reflects both the uncertainty around the roster and the one thing that keeps the whole operation afloat: Patrick Mahomes.
That’s the big reason Ben Solak was willing to keep the Chiefs in elite territory despite a rough 2025. “How far can a team with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback really fall?”
Solak wrote Monday. “Questions abound regarding GM Brett Veach's recent drafting and head coach Andy Reid's antiquated scheme, but the Chiefs will always be Super Bowl contenders so long as No. 15 is healthy and under center.
Such is the benefit of employing a generational talent.”
Kansas City’s 2025 season was a mess by its standards. The Chiefs had not missed the playoffs since 2014 before last year, but a six-win campaign snapped that run.
Mahomes’ season-ending injury clearly changed the ending, though the problems were already piling up before that point. The passing game was plagued by drops, the run game lacked much beyond short gains, the team struggled in clutch moments, pressure on opposing quarterbacks came and went, and special teams execution was shaky.
Still, ESPN’s projection is built around the idea that this is a reset, not a collapse. The Chiefs brought Mahomes back from injury and added Kenneth Walker III, a back who fits what the offense was missing last season: explosive runs. Walker, fresh off winning the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player with the Seattle Seahawks, is expected to make an immediate impact in Kansas City.
There are real questions on defense after the Chiefs lost their top two cornerbacks to the Los Angeles Rams. Even so, the addition of Mansoor Delane should help, and the front line also got better.
The receiving group remains the part that could keep the offense from fully taking off. Louis Riddick pointed to Rashee Rice, who is out of jail and should be in line for a better season as long as there is no more trouble off the field. Xavier Worthy is dealing with another injury issue, and Travis Kelce is more than likely done after this season.
Riddick also sees a possible opening for rookie Cyrus Allen, the fifth-round pick who drew the most targets on the team in his preseason debut after a strong training camp. Jalen Royals was another receiver mentioned as someone who could carve out a useful role.
Seth Walder added another reason for optimism, projecting that Mahomes will throw for 5,000 yards in one of those seasons if the passing game finds its rhythm again. No quarterback has reached that mark since Mahomes did it in 2022.
The bottom line for Kansas City is that 2026 should look much better than 2025, and even if the Chiefs aren’t quite as dominant as they’ve been for much of the last decade, ESPN’s projection leaves the door open for a return to that level over the next few years.
In Other News...
Chiefs WR Injuries Are Putting Real Pressure On Brett Veach
Training camp has already put the Chiefs receiver depth under a microscope, with a string of injuries forcing the position group into a precarious spot. Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Cyrus Allen have all been dealing with issues, and Tyquan Thorntons departure from practice only adds to the sense that Kansas City is trying to manage a thin room while camp reps keep piling up.
The uncertainty gives Brett Veach a familiar sort of roster problem, the kind that can push a front office to revisit the veteran market before things get worse. Josh Reynolds remains available after drawing interest from the Chiefs before, and if the injuries continue to linger, Kansas City could have reason to see whether a proven stopgap makes more sense than waiting for the room to heal on its own. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Backfield Battle Behind Ken Walker Is Getting Hard To Ignore
The Chiefs running back room has turned into one of the more interesting little competitions of the preseason, with Ken Walker sitting atop the depth chart and a handful of challengers trying to make the picture less straightforward. Emari Demercado, Emmett Johnson and Brashard Smith have all been part of the mix, and recent games and practices have shown Kansas City leaning into a rotation that keeps the reps flowing while the staff evaluates who can handle a bigger role.
Johnson has been the one drawing the most noticeable workload, while Demercado has seen less of the action, which only adds to the sense that this battle is still sorting itself out. Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy have both acknowledged the competition, and with more preseason snaps still ahead, the Chiefs should have a clearer read soon on how this backfield will settle behind Walker. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Inner Circle Had A Big Presence At Kelce And Swift Wedding
The Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce wedding at Madison Square Garden in July drew plenty of attention far beyond the guest list, and it sounded like the Chiefs orbit was well represented. Daniel Hunt, the teams co-owner, said in a CBS News Texas interview that he was not invited, but he also made clear there were no hard feelings, especially with his brother Clark among those who did attend.
What stood out from Hunts account was how much of Kansas Citys inner circle showed up anyway, with teammates and coaches reportedly in the mix for the event. It is another reminder of how tightly woven Kelce remains into the organization even after recently signing a three-year contract extension, with the relationship between the star tight end and the franchise still very much intact. [Read more 🡒]