The Kansas City Chiefs have squeezed every ounce of brilliance out of Patrick Mahomes since the day he took over under center. In the early days, it was fireworks-Mahomes improvising like a jazz musician, Tyreek Hill blowing past defenders, and a younger Travis Kelce carving up defenses from the slot. That trio didn’t just light up the scoreboard-they redefined what an NFL offense could look like.
But in recent seasons, the script has flipped. The Chiefs' defense has shouldered more of the load, while Mahomes has had to pull off weekly magic acts behind a line that hasn’t held up its end of the bargain. And now, with Mahomes sidelined for the rest of the year, Kansas City finds itself in unfamiliar territory-out of the playoff picture and staring down a critical offseason.
Let’s be clear: the Chiefs didn’t fall off a cliff. They’ve been hanging on thanks to Mahomes’ late-game heroics and a defense that’s kept them in games.
But the cracks have been there all season, and now they’re impossible to ignore. The offensive line couldn’t consistently protect Mahomes, and the pass rush faded when it mattered most.
The numbers tell the story. Mahomes faced pressure on 38.1% of his dropbacks this season-the second-highest rate of his career-and he was hit 102 times, third-most in the league.
That’s not sustainable, especially for a quarterback who just turned 30 and has taken 210 hits over the last two seasons. Even for someone as durable and dynamic as Mahomes, that’s a heavy load.
The Chiefs have started to address the issue, but it’s been a rocky road. Rookie tackle Josh Simmons was supposed to be a foundational piece, but his debut season has been derailed by injuries and personal challenges.
Simmons entered the league with health concerns, and they’ve followed him into the pros-most recently with a wrist injury. He also had to step away midseason for personal reasons, further limiting his availability.
That’s not to say Simmons can’t become a reliable piece down the line, but the Chiefs can’t afford to wait and hope. They need reinforcements-plural-along the offensive line. The injury bug has bitten hard, and Kansas City needs both depth and long-term answers to protect their franchise cornerstone.
And then there’s the Kelce question. Whether or not the future Hall of Famer decides to hang up his cleats, the Chiefs need to start planning for life after No.
- Noah Gray has been serviceable, but he’s not the heir apparent.
Kansas City needs a younger, more dynamic option-someone who can either step in if Kelce retires or develop under his wing if he sticks around a bit longer.
On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs have their own set of problems. The pass rush has gone cold, and they haven’t found a consistent running mate-or potential successor-for Chris Jones, whose production has dipped. Whether it’s an edge rusher or an interior disruptor, Kansas City has to find someone who can get after the quarterback and tilt the line of scrimmage back in their favor.
The silver lining? The Chiefs are armed with more early draft picks than they’ve had in years-three selections inside the top 75.
That’s a rare opportunity for a team that’s been picking near the bottom of the first round for most of Mahomes’ tenure. It’s a chance to reload in the trenches and reshape the roster around their still-prime quarterback.
Kansas City isn’t in rebuild mode. Not with Mahomes still in the building.
But this offseason is about recalibrating-getting younger, tougher, and more stable where it matters most. The Chiefs have been riding the wave of Mahomes’ brilliance for years.
Now it’s time to give him the support he needs to do it all over again.