Chiefs Strengths and Weaknesses of Position Groups: 2024

Laddie Morse

The Kansas City Chiefs are making there way towards Training camp coming up in late July. It looks like they’ve fixed their offense in a major way while allowing their Championship winning defense to remain intact, for the most part. Here are the Chiefs next scheduled practices beginning this coming Monday:

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With Patrick Mahomes at quarterback the Chiefs have the best of the best and possibly the best of all time. With Carson Wentz as his backup, the Chiefs currently have the best possible backup QB in the game today. Wentz is starting his 9th year in the NFL and he’s been a starter for 8 of those years. Nothing but positives here.

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With Isiah Pacheco as he starter, the Chiefs have one of the best starting running backs in the NFL. Sure, there may be a hand full of other RBs who are better, but considering he is a 7th round choice and is going into his third season, plus, he’s familiar with Andy Reids’ offense, he’s a huge plus. The Chiefs have re-signed the previous starter, Clyde Edwards-Helaire — CEH — so Pacheco’s backup is in sound hands. The Chiefs are still looking for a backup to those two and the only problem would come if there was an injury or two involved with these two starters.

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David Bell has an excellent article on the offensive linemen. You can read that here –> “To Fill the Remaining Holes Along the Front Five.” If the Interior three hold up this whole year, we should have the best in the biz at those IOL positions. As David Bell has outlined, the question marks are at the Tackle positions. With Wanya Morris and rookie Kingsley Suamataia duking it out for the starting role, we’ll find out this offseason exactly who will fill that role. At Right Tackle, Jawaan Taylor returns, but he’ll have competition in Lucas Niang. With drafted players in Hunter Nourzad and C.J Hanson added to the mix, the backup IOL and future of those positions appear sound.

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When the Chiefs cut Marquez Valdes-Scantling and signed Marquise “Hollywood” Brown it appeared all was taken care of at the Wide Receiver position. Until… Rashee Rice messed things up… twice… and so in the midst of that crisis the Chiefs drafted the speedy Xavier Worthy to hopefully make the position strong again. Pundits like to say the Chiefs won the last two Super Bowls WITHOUT Tyreek Hill, but most fans are aware that GM Brett Veach was set on repairing the position before this offseason began. While Veach has done a good job of doing exactly that, there still remains a question mark at this position and that is mostly because of Rashee Rice. If Rice is suspended for the first half of the 2024 season, which many anticipate, his return later in the year should help to solidify the position.

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The Chiefs Tight End position may be the strongest it’s ever been. They not only signed Irv Smith, a good hands TE, but they drafted Jared Wiley, a 6-foot-6, lbs. 249 lbs. great blocker, who can also catch the ball. Wiley played QB in high school — much the same as Travis Kelce — and he’s been studying Kelce for years now, so it looks like we’ve got an ideal set of TEs at this position. Throw in Noah Gray and the Chiefs may end up keeping 4 TEs on their final 53 man roster and if that happens it’ll be nothing but good news for the running game (and Travis Kelce’s longevity of course).

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Let’s take a look at our Special Teams Players next:

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With Tommy Townsend leaving and K.C. bringing in both Matt Araiza (known as the “Punt God” in college) and UDFA Ryan Rehkow, it looks like the position will be solid. ChiefsWire says of Rehkow:

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“Rehkow is a former Big 12 Punter of the Year

known for having a big leg throughout college.”

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The Chiefs Long Snapper is James Winchester who is signed to a one-year deal of $1.152.500. With a new Punter on board this year, it’s important that the Long Snapper is consistent. While Winchester is 35 years old, he’ll likely remain on a one-year deal for the near future. Having Winchester keeps a solid level of consistency at this position.

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The one who is the Holder is not often talked about. Since Matt Araiza is not considered the holder for the field goal tries and extra points, the Chiefs have had to look elsewhere. The one who looks to be the Holder is backup QB Carson Wentz. Note: keep an eye out for a trick play involving Wentz this year.

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Harrison Butker will remain the Chiefs Kicker this season. Butker has undergone some criticism this offseason for comments he’s made which are political/religious in nature. While I will not guess that the NFL nor the Chiefs will levy a punishment for his words, it’s just a guess. Since we don’t do political/religious talk here at ArrowheadOne, I’ll just say:

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I may not agree with Harrison Butker,

but he’s still my Kicker.

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Let’s take a look at our Defensive Players next:

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Yes, the Chiefs have the best intior Defensive Lineman in the league now in Chris Jones. The Question is: can they stop the run? That question will be answered in week one when they go up against the Ravens. Let’s not take the Ravens lightly. They have finished in the top three in Team Rushing for the past five years: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 1st, and 1st. Containing that kind of consistency will be a challenge for the Chiefs. Right now, they have Derrick Nnadi to line up next to Chris Jones on first and second downs. I’m not so sure he’s going to be able to help contain Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. This appears to be a position of need.

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With George Karlaftis and Mike Danna, and second year man Felix, Anudike-Uzomah — FAU — running things I expect plenty of pressure and sacks this year. DE also has some depth with B.J. Thompson, Malik Herring, plus Charles Omenihu when he returns and this position may be as strong as it’s been since the days of Derrick Thomas. Tamba Hali is helping George Karlaftis and FAU with their hand fighting, so things are looking up for the pass rush.

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I’m going to miss seeing Willie Gay and his sideline spirit when the offense is on the field. I’ll also miss his ability to track down ball carriers and WRs on the perimeter. Aside from Willie Gay, the Chiefs should have one of the best LB groups in the NFL. With Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, and Leo Chenal rotating into the main roles, the Chiefs will be able to anticipate, hit, tackle and track as well as any team. Also, let’s not forget that UDFA Jack Cochrane is in the mix here and with the possibility of adding Curtis Jacobs, a UDFA from Penn State, the Chiefs should have another great year at LB (3:52).

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A lot of Kingdom fans are acting like the Chiefs traded away the whole dang farm when they traded L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. With Trent McDuffie on hand, and Jaylen Watson taking the place of Sneed, things are looking up at CB in the Kingdom. Many may not want to admit this but, Trent Mcduffie is a better CB than L’Jarius Sneed. Add in Joshua Williams, Nazeeh Johnson, Nic Jones and newly sign rookie draftee, Kamal Hadden, and the CB position may be as strong as it’s ever been. With Dave Merritt coaching up the CBs this is as talented a group as the Chiefs have ever had.

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Mike Edwards has left in Free Agency and he was a solid performer for the Chiefs in 2023. Edwards has moved on to the Buffalo Bills, but the Chiefs have many other excellent players to pick up the slack, including Justin Reid, Byron Cook, Chamarri Conner and Deon Bush. Then, let’s not forget the Chiefs most recent Safety draft choice of Jaden Hicks who was ranked as the top Safety by Dane Brugler. While Hicks was drafted by K.C. with the 133rd pick (overall), Brugler had him rated as the 39th best prospect. Take a look at KCSN’s video review of Hicks. He wears #25 for Washington State (2:43).

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If you’re thinking about running it back and winning a second championship in a row — no, make that a third championship in a row — then you must improve your roster. Well, bad news for the rest of the league, because it looks like that’s exactly what the Kansas City Chiefs have done. Nice job — so far — Mr. Veach.

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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