State of the Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes & Co. to author unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat?
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Where does your squad stand ahead of the 2024 NFL season? Adam Rank sets the table by providing a State of the Franchise look at all 32 teams, zeroing in on the new faces to know, one significant fantasy spin and the stakes at play in the campaign to come.
Members of the Chiefs organization, Chiefs fans around the world and those who wear purple because apparently it might be Taylor Swift’s favorite color …
Kansas City just did something that hadn’t been done in nearly two decades: winning back-to-back Super Bowls. And it seems like the Chiefs keep getting better. I don’t see any signs of them slowing down. Can they become the first team in NFL history to win three straight Lombardi Trophies? Let’s take a look.
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2024 brain trust
| POSITION | NAME |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Andy Reid |
| General manager | Brett Veach |
| Offensive coordinator | Matt Nagy |
| Defensive coordinator | Steve Spagnuolo |
| Special teams coordinator | Dave Toub |
Roster reshuffling
Below is a rundown of the Chiefs’ most notable roster developments for the 2024 season, including this year’s draft class, as well as key acquisitions and departures via free agency and trade.
| Draft class (round-pick) | Key additions | Key departures |
|---|---|---|
| Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas (1-28) | Carson Wentz, QB | Blaine Gabbert, QB |
| Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU (2-63) | Louis Rees-Zammit, RB/WR/ST | Jerick McKinnon, RB |
| Jared Wiley, TE, TCU (4-131) | Marquise Brown, WR | Richie James, WR |
| Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State (4-133) | Irv Smith Jr., TE | Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR |
| Hunter Nourzad, OL, Penn State (5-159) | Matt Araiza, P | Blake Bell, TE |
| Kamal Hadden, CB, Tennessee (6-211) | Donovan Smith, OT | |
| C.J. Hanson, OL, Holy Cross (7-248) | Nick Allegretti, IOL | |
| Willie Gay Jr., LB | ||
| L'Jarius Sneed, CB | ||
| Mike Edwards, S | ||
| Tommy Townsend, P |
New faces to know
Brown’s a good wideout, he’s fast and, yes, he does provide a deep threat. He is not Tyreek Hill, so let’s not even consider that comp. But if “Hollywood” can stay healthy — he hasn’t played a full season since 2020 — he could be a really potent addition to this offense. And with Rashee Rice facing a potential suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, Kansas City’s receiver room is a central focus for Chiefs observers. Which brings us to our next new face …
After adding Hollywood Brown in free agency, Kansas City traded up in the draft to select Worthy at No. 28 overall. Like Brown, Worthy offers blazing speed, as evidenced by his 4.21-second 40-yard dash — the fastest time in NFL Scouting Combine history. Patrick Mahomes just said there’s no time for the rookie to ease into his role in K.C., indicating that the Chiefs need the burner to hit the ground running. Worthy agreed with that assessment: “It’s all go. Once you’re here, you’re here. I understand definitely what Pat’s saying, and just to build that connection with him is going to be key here.” Now he needs to make sure a hamstring injury that cost him some time in the spring doesn’t crop back up.
State of the QB room
It’s the best. Of all time? Well, Patrick Mahomes, still just 28 years old, is indeed squarely in the G.O.A.T. chase. Some believe he’s already the one. And I get it: In six seasons as an NFL starter, he’s been to six AFC Championship Games and four Super Bowls, collecting three rings along the way. The man’s been prolific, no doubt. At the same time, we do all remember that Tom Brady had a pretty good start to his own career, right? Hoisting three Lombardi Trophies in his first four seasons as a starter — not too shabby. Then he went on to have a perfect regular season. Lost two Super Bowls. Won two Super Bowls. Lost a Super Bowl. Won a Super Bowl. Changed teams and immediately added a seventh ring to his collection. I’m not saying Mahomes can’t ultimately do the same, but he still has some work to do. Let’s give it some time. That said, in the coming season, Pat has a chance to accomplish something TB12 never managed to pull off: a three-peat.
Most important non-QB
After a Super Bowl season fueled more by Kansas City’s defense than its offense, the Chiefs’ front seven could have been leveled by free agency, leaving Steve Spagnuolo’s unit as a shell of what it once was. Like when you go to see one of your favorite bands at some fairground out in the suburbs, but when the show starts, you realize there is only one original member on stage — and it’s the keyboardist. Not to fret, though — this did not occur. Most crucially, K.C. handed Jones a five-year, $158.75 million deal with $101 million in guarantees. Big price tag for a guy who just turned 30? Sure. But the 6-foot-6, 310-pounder also just earned first-team All-Pro honors for the second straight season. He’s a true game wrecker with a knack for making the biggest plays in the biggest moments. His skills might start to diminish a bit over the course of this contract, but I love when a team is willing to just go for it in the here and now. And the Chiefs kept most of the band together, too, re-upping Derrick Nnadi, Mike Danna, Tershawn Wharton and Drue Tranquill.
My HOTTEST Chiefs fantasy take:
Is Xavier truly Worthy in Year 1?
We already talked about Kansas City’s first-round pick. And I undersand why many in the fantasy realm view him as an instant-impact type: He’s absurdly fast and he’ll be catching balls from Patrick Mahomes. All good. But it could take the 165-pounder a little time to transition to the pro game. And he had some drop issues in college. I’m just not sure about the week-to-week consistency in 2024. To me, this offense will funnel through Travis Kelce, Isiah Pacheco and Hollywood Brown.
2024 roadmap
Three key dates:
- Week 1 (Thursday): vs. Baltimore Ravens. The Chiefs showed last season that they don’t even need home-field advantage to get to (and ultimately win) the Super Bowl. But don’t give the Ravens any hope. Squash that in Week 1.
- Week 4: at Los Angeles Chargers. I’m excited to see what Jim Harbaugh has in store for the Chiefs. He’s never lost to Andy Reid. I mean, sure, it’s a two-game sample size. But undefeated!
- Week 15: at Cleveland Browns. This is the beginning of a stretch in which Kansas City will finish the regular season with three of its final four games on the road. After the trip to Cleveland — no easy assignment in mid-December, especially given this Browns defense — the Chiefs host the Texans, then hit the road for games against the Steelers (on Christmas Day after short rest) and Broncos. I’m not saying the Chiefs are in danger or anything. But that closing quartet doesn’t seem that easy.
For 2024 to be a success, the Chiefs MUST:
A) Win the Super Bowl
B) Make a playoff run
C) Earn a playoff berth
D) Finish above .500
E) Show progress
My answer: A) Win the Super Bowl. Duh. The Chiefs are attempting to become the first franchise in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a row. The last time a team came close to accomplishing this feat? When the Cowboys went back-to-back and then lost to the 49ers in the 1994 NFC Championship Game. And I don’t want Packer backers to get on my case about their team winning three straight titles. I know Green Bay took the 1965 NFL championship and then won Super Bowls I and II, all in a three-season span. The Pack also stacked three straight NFL crowns from 1929 through 1931. But I’m talking about three straight Super Bowl triumphs. Nobody’s done that. Point is, the Chiefs are on the cusp of unprecedented dominance and anything short of making history will be a disappointment.
- AFC East
- AFC North
- AFC South
- AFC West
- NFC East
- NFC North
- NFC South
- NFC West
