- Chiefs. Chris Jones celebrates as Chiefs' complicated exit moves don't affect one of his favorite teammates
- Chiefs. Xavier Worthy makes drastic decision after his arrest and problems with Tia Jones in search of a radical change
After falling short in Super Bowl LIX, the Kansas City Chiefs are now turning the page and preparing for what could be one of their most important offseasons yet. The team remains a perennial contender with Patrick Mahomes at the helm, but in order to return to the big stage in 2025, they must address key weaknesses on both sides of the ball.
The Chiefs will have several critical decisions to make, particularly with free agents on both offense and defense. While the team's defense was among the best in the league last season, their offensive struggles became evident, particularly in the Super Bowl loss.
To maintain their dominance in the AFC, Kansas City will need to upgrade their offensive line and bolster their receiving corps, ensuring Mahomes has the protection and weapons he needs to keep the Chiefs at the top of the league.
Offensive line struggles and the need for more firepower
The most pressing issue for Kansas City this offseason is fortifying the offensive line. Throughout last season, Mahomes frequently found himself under duress, and if the Chiefs do not prioritize fixing this issue, they risk repeating the same mistakes next season.
With a quarterback of Mahomes' caliber, ensuring he has adequate protection must be the front office's top priority.
Beyond the line, the Chiefs also need to address their lack of depth at wide receiver. The team saw flashes of brilliance from rookie Xavier Worthy, but overall, Kansas City's ing game lacked explosiveness.
Worthy stepped up in crucial moments, including the Super Bowl, but with few reliable options outside of him, the Chiefs must find another dynamic playmaker to Mahomes.
Head coach Andy Reid acknowledged Worthy's potential and hinted that the team has yet to fully utilize his skill set.
"We learned Xavier is more than a deep threat. He also has the ability to do that and we probably could have tapped into that even more," Reid said at the NFL Combine. "I'm not sure we've tapped that out. I think there's more, and that's exciting."
Worthy's rookie season was a bright spot in the Chiefs' offense, despite the team falling short of a third consecutive Super Bowl title. ESPN Chiefs writer Adam Teicher highlighted his production, noting his impact among the league's top rookies.
"The Kansas City Chiefs were satisfied with the production they got in 2024 from wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who finished sixth among NFL rookies in receptions (59), seventh in yards (538), and second in touchdowns from scrimmage (nine)," Teicher reported.