Chiefs Offseason Priorities: Breaking Down Kansas City's Top Roster Needs
With the 2025 NFL season now in the books - and the Kansas City Chiefs watching the playoffs from home for the first time in years - the focus has shifted to what comes next. The team’s early exit marked unfamiliar territory for a franchise that’s grown accustomed to deep January runs.
Head coach Andy Reid has made it clear: this can’t become the norm. So now, the spotlight turns to general manager Brett Veach and the front office to retool the roster and get Kansas City back in championship form.
It’s a big offseason in KC, and with over 20 players set to hit free agency in March, the depth chart is in flux. For the purposes of this breakdown, we’re looking at the current roster without those pending free agents. That means some positions look thinner than they might be come training camp, but it also highlights where the Chiefs need to reload - and fast.
Let’s dive into the top roster needs heading into a pivotal offseason, starting with a few honorable mentions that could easily climb the priority list.
Honorable Mentions
Linebacker (7):
Leo Chenal’s versatility will be missed if the Chiefs can’t bring him back.
He’s a tone-setter in the front seven, but with limited cap space, Kansas City may not be able to afford a player who only sees the field about half the time. The good news?
Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill are both under contract, giving the Chiefs a solid base. But they’ll need to find an answer at SAM linebacker - a role that’s been quietly important in Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme.
Defensive End (6):
You can never have too many pass rushers, and while the Chiefs aren’t desperate here, the position could use a jolt of explosiveness.
George Karlaftis is a reliable starter, Mike Danna is steady, and Ashton Gillotte has intriguing upside. But adding another edge threat - someone who can win one-on-one and collapse the pocket - would give the defense another gear.
Wide Receiver (5):
Take away Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton, and suddenly the receiver room looks paper-thin.
Rashee Rice is the clear No. 1, with Xavier Worthy showing promise, but after that? It’s a steep drop to Jalen Royals, who never quite found his footing in 2025.
Nikko Remigio is an exclusive-rights free agent. There’s also the possibility of further league discipline for Rice, which only adds to the uncertainty.
This group needs reinforcements - and soon.
Defensive Tackle (4):
Chris Jones remains a force in the middle, but he’ll be 32 by the time the 2026 season kicks off.
Behind him, things get murky. Omarr Norman-Lott showed flashes before tearing his ACL in October, and Zacch Pickens is still more projection than production.
With Derrick Nnadi, Mike Pennel, and Jerry Tillery all set to hit free agency, Kansas City has some serious decisions to make on the interior.
3. Tight End
Travis Kelce sparked plenty of speculation with his recent comments, hinting at a possible return for a 14th NFL season. If he does come back, it’s hard to imagine him playing anywhere but Arrowhead.
But even if there’s one more ride left, the Chiefs have to start planning for life after No. 87.
Kelce has been the heartbeat of Kansas City’s offense for over a decade. Even in a “down” year, he’s never posted fewer than 800 receiving yards in a healthy season. That kind of production doesn’t grow on trees - and it certainly doesn’t get replaced overnight.
If Kelce retires, the tight end room suddenly looks like Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, and Jake Briningstool. Solid depth, but not a group that strikes fear into opposing defenses.
Drafting a tight end at No. 9 might feel like a reach - Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq is talented but may not carry top-10 value. Veterans like Kyle Pitts or Isaiah Likely could be targets, but price tags might be too steep.
Bottom line: whether Kelce plays or not, Kansas City needs to invest in the future of the position. The offense has leaned on elite tight end play for years. That can’t be an afterthought now.
2. Running Back
With Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt both set for free agency, the backfield is wide open - and fans are ready for a refresh.
Brashard Smith showed flashes as a rookie, but it’s a big leap to expect him to carry the load in Year 2. The Chiefs need more explosiveness and consistency in the run game, and while scheme tweaks under new (and familiar) offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will help, a dynamic back would go a long way.
Kansas City could go the veteran route and pair that with a mid-round draft pick. There’s talent set to hit the market - names like Breece Hall, Javonte Williams, and Tyler Allgeier are intriguing options. Kenneth Walker looked like an ideal fit before Zach Charbonnet’s playoff injury complicated Seattle’s situation.
Yes, some fans are dreaming of Jeremiyah Love in red and gold, but the draft capital it would take to land him might be too rich considering the team’s other needs. Either way, whoever lines up behind Mahomes next year will be working under Bieniemy, who just led Chicago to the third-best rushing attack in the league. That’s a promising foundation.
1. Safety
Kansas City’s defense has long been built around smart, versatile safeties who can disguise coverages and handle a heavy mental load. From Tyrann Mathieu to Juan Thornhill to Justin Reid and now Bryan Cook, there’s been a clear lineage. But if Cook doesn’t return, that chain might be broken.
Spagnuolo’s scheme demands a lot from its safeties - not just physically, but mentally. It’s a defense built on deception, and the guys on the back end are the ones pulling the strings.
Chamarri Conner has earned the staff’s trust, leading the team in defensive snaps and playing all over the field - from box safety to nickel to deep coverage. He’s a chess piece, and Spags loves that.
Nic Hicks showed promise in a limited role, mostly in the box, and Cook himself praised his growth and maturity late in the season. But if Cook walks, the Chiefs won’t just be replacing a starter - they’ll be replacing a leader.
This might be the most urgent need on the roster. Not only do the Chiefs need someone who can handle the complexity of Spagnuolo’s defense, they need someone who can lead the secondary - a group that’s often the key to making the whole scheme click.
Final Thoughts
The Chiefs aren’t in rebuild mode - not with Patrick Mahomes under center and Andy Reid still calling the shots. But they are in retool mode, and this offseason is a big one. Whether it’s finding the next great safety, preparing for life after Kelce, or adding juice to the backfield, Kansas City has work to do.
Brett Veach has proven he can find talent at every level of the draft, and he’ll need to do it again. Because while the Chiefs may have taken a step back this year, the expectation hasn’t changed: get back to the Super Bowl. And fast.