Kansas City Chiefs 2024 NFL offseason primer: Champs retooling for run at third straight Super Bowl title
Kansas City Chiefs' 2023 season: 11-6, won AFC West, won Super Bowl
Overview: Once again, the Chiefs are Super Bowl champions, and they're already having an active offseason. As everyone saw, they could absolutely use some upgrades on their roster, particularly at wide receiver. They've already addressed their two biggest questions on defense by extending star defensive tackle Chris Jones to a massive deal and reportedly trading cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Titans. Sneed initially given the franchise tag he was dealt to the Titans for a deal involving a 2025 third-round draft pick.
After that, the Chiefs' roster in 2024 could be looking very different from the team that just won its third Super Bowl in the past five seasons. But Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are in place, which gives them a leg up on everyone else.
Key free agents
CB L’Jarius Sneed (franchise tagged and traded)
DL Chris Jones (re-signing)
OT Donovan Smith
WR Mecole Hardman
EDGE Michael Danna
LB Drue Tranquill (re-signing)
Who's in/out: Jones was a priority for the Chiefs as he was one of the best players on K.C.'s defense. He made good on his promise at the Super Bowl parade, where he told the crowd: "I ain't going nowhere." Sneed, however, is leaving after failing to reach a long-term deal after getting the franchise tag. That will hurt the Chiefs' secondary. The team is bringing back Tranquill on a two-year deal.
Key free-agent needs
Wide receiver
Offensive tackle
Defensive line
Why the holes? Outside of Rashee Rice, the Chiefs didn't look to have many long-term hopes at wide receiver entering free agency. They hope Marquise Brown is the remedy, signing him to a one-year deal valued at $11 million. The Chiefs also gave a small one-year deal for tight end Irv Smith. Left tackle Donovan Smith is slated to become a free agent, but they could upgrade the level of play they received there. And with pass rusher Charles Omenihu coming off a torn ACL in the playoffs, defensive line is an area the Chiefs will want to look at too.
Do they have the money?
The Chiefs were limited after signing their high-priced defensive stars. Some of their salary-cap adjustments included reportedly cutting wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and reaching a restructuring agreement with Mahomes. Hours before the official start of free agency, the Chiefs had $16.2 million in cap space, per Spotrac.com. They have a lot of needs to cover with potential key free agents leaving, but they can create some room to keep their top-shelf talent in town.
Potential notable cuts
S Justin Reid
WR Kadarius Toney
Why they might be gone: Toney is an obvious one. He has clashed with the organization and didn’t play at all in the playoffs during their Super Bowl run. Justin Reid ($14.2 million hit, but lowers to $3.5 million if cut) could be another cap casualty as the Chiefs try to increase an already solid cap space situation.
2023 NFLPA report card
Draft picks
1st round: No. 32
2nd round: No. 64
3rd round: No. 95
4th round: No. 132
5th round: No. 159 (from Cowboys)
5th round: No. 173 (compensatory)
7th round: No. 252
Good draft fit
Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Why him? The Chiefs need speed and competency at wide receiver. Worthy is a lighter receiver, but he’s competent and can absolutely fly. He would be an upgrade over the fast but unpolished corps the Chiefs just dragged to another Super Bowl title.
What can move the fantasy football needle this offseason?
Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice and Isiah Pacheco are all in line to be high-round fantasy football selections. There aren’t too many moves that would change that, but if Kansas City takes a big swing at their near-barren outside receiver position or brings in a big-name veteran running back to beef up the depth behind Pacheco, that will shake up the workload projections. At the same time, the entire offense would get a boost from a legitimate outside receiver who is both reliable and a vertical threat. So I wouldn’t overcorrect and push players like Rice too far down, given what we saw them do in the frustrating 2023 offense. It’s just worth noting that wide receiver remains such a clear and pressing need going into the offseason, so the target tree is bound to get upended. — Matt Harmon
