The Chiefs are attempting to bounce back from by far the worst season of the Patrick Mahomes/Andy Reid era where they failed to make the playoffs all together after making the Conference Championship or Super Bowl in all seven of the previous seasons with the two in charge. The offense sputtered last season and the trend of the team not being as explosive offensively has now persisted for 2-3 seasons in a row. The common thread in regards to the offense not being as good is the absence of former offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy. Bienemy has now returned to the team and the offense can expect to pick up the slack as a result. However, the personnel of the team on offense surrounding Mahomes and also backing up Mahomes last year at QB was simply not good enough. The team has now added QB Justin Fields to backup Mahomes who offers the team some high-end capabilities from the backup QB spot that they lacked last season after Mahomes went down. The skill position grouping of the team also has been lacking in recent memory. With the aging of Travis Kelce, the team failing to replace the production of Tyreek Hill as the Chiefs have lacked true #1 wide out production since he departed, while the team’s running back room has been weak in totality as well in recent years, with the running back concerns really showing themselves last season as the team had perhaps the worst running back unit in the league in 2025. Heading into next season the personnel the Chiefs have on offense will need to be better and I think it will be better, here I will do an assessment of the skill position personnel the Chiefs have on offense heading into next season.
Starting with the wide receiver room of the Chiefs heading into next season it remains a concern and the Chiefs have not done much to address it heading into next season as of now. Rashee Rice continues to lead the unit for the Chiefs, and he has electric talent but has struggled with injuries and off the field concerns thus far in his career. Rice, a 2023 2nd rounder, had an elite rookie season ranking in the borderline elite range among players at his position despite being a rookie, playing in 16 games. However, in 2 seasons since, Rice has played a combined 12 games with a slight drop off in his production in totality since his rookie season. Perhaps if Rice can stay healthy and come into his own with new offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy, he can establish himself as a true #1 wide out in the modern NFL, as he is more than capable.
The players in the wide receiver room surrounding Rice remain a concern however as Kansas City lacks the presence of even a reliable #2 wide out. Xavier Worthy is the currently listed #2 wide out for the Chiefs and has electric talent but is unproven as a consistent reliable player at the position. Worthy set the NFL combine record for the fastest 40-yard dash ever, running an astonishing 4.21. Worthy was then drafted in the first round and had a decent rookie season in 2024 and showed slight improvement this past season. However, Worthy has graded in the below average range in terms of an overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus in each of his first two seasons in the NFL. Worthy’s speed has not even done that much thus far in the league as well, as his yards per reception numbers have been pedestrian as well. Worthy as of now feels like a gadget reserve player rather than a starter in the NFL. Worthy has also played in 31 games in two seasons, so it is not as if a lack of experience is to blame for his subpar production thus far. Perhaps Worthy can come into his own with new offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy and Patrick Mahomes being healthier, along with the Chiefs having better offensive circumstances in totality.
2022 2nd rounder Tyquan Thornton is the remaining big name in the Chiefs’ wide receiver room as a former high draft pick. Thornton was drafted by the Patriots but really underwhelmed in three seasons for New England being viewed as a bust. After a very underwhelming stint with New England, Thornton joined the Chiefs before this past season. Thornton was placed in consistently among the league’s worst offensive circumstances in New England and did not see the field as much as he should have. Thornton with the Chiefs was placed in better offensive circumstances and had a career year as a result, Thornton led the NFL in yards per reception in 2025 albeit catching just 19 balls. Thornton still graded in the below average range among players at his position according to Pro Football Focus, however. Perhaps Thornton could break out getting more snaps under new offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy and fully live up to his high draft potential. Outside of Worthy and Thornton the Chiefs’ wide receiver core is comprised of several late round picks and undrafted free agents, perhaps a few of them could break out and provide some depth for Kansas City next season.
At tight end the unit is still led by the aging future hall of famer Travis Kelce. Although Kelce is still a good player, he has just been above average for two years in a row now and nothing special, playing the past two seasons at 35 and 36 years old. Kelce has still managed Pro Bowl selections for the past two years in a row now but that has paled in comparison to the previous form he held where he was a top 3 tight end in the NFL with regularity. Perhaps Kelce can have a rejuvenate type of season playing under former offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy again, but he is set to turn 37 years old next season so it remains to be seen how good he will be. But from a worst-case scenario standpoint, Kelce will still be a solid to an above average #1 tight end, from a best-case scenario standpoint he could return to elite form. While the likes of Noah Gray who has shown a lot of potential in the NFL along with 2024 4th rounder Jared Wiley are set to back him up, with Wiley being very unproven, however.
At running back, the team as stated previously had perhaps the weakest running back room in the league in 2025 led by Kareem Hunt, Isaiah Pachecho, and a rookie in Brashard Smith. The team has now overhauled the unit this offseason and now projects to have one of the premier running back rooms in the sport this upcoming season. They have added reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker who is among the best overall backs in the sport. They have added the very underrated Emari Demercado who has always been one of the premier #2 backs in the NFL, while 2025 7th round rookie Brashard Smith is going into year 2 after a pretty strong rookie campaign. Despite the proven talent of both Demercado and Smith, Andy Reid has listed 2026 5th rounder Emmett Johnson as the team’s current #2 back. Perhaps to preserve the likes of Demercado and Smith, but perhaps Johnson is just that talented. As Johnson earned first team All-American honors, first team All-Big Ten honors, and was recognized as the best running back in the Big Ten during his final collegiate season at Nebraska playing in perhaps the toughest conference in the country. It is rare for a player that accomplished to be drafted that low and he could perhaps be a steal of the draft. I feel that the Chiefs are in the definitive discussion for having the best overall running back unit in the NFL heading into next season.
Overall, from a skill position standpoint the Chiefs are in pretty good shape heading into next year. The running back unit of the team projects to be elite if not the best in the sport. Rashee Rice is in line to breakout as a true star #1 wide out as he hopefully stays healthy and stays out of trouble now being coached by Eric Bienemey. Travis Kelce could bounce back to elite form under Eric Bienemy while still likely being a pro bowl caliber player at worst. While the likes of former 1st and 2nd rounders in Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton have promise and either/both could emerge as a strong complementary option to Rice in the wide receiving core. A breakdown of the Chiefs’ skill position players heading into the 2026 season can be found below.
Notable 2026 Chiefs’ Wide Receivers
WR1 – Rashee Rice – B+ to A-, could emerge as A level player as he gains more experience and now plays under an elite offensive coordinator for the first time
WR2 – Xavier Worthy – C, NFL record for fastest 40-yard dash at combine, has been pedestrian in first two seasons in NFL however
WR3 – Tyquan Thornton – C+, was viewed as a bust as a former 2nd rounder after three seasons with Patriots, led NFL in yards per reception in year 1 with Chiefs, could now breakout and live up to high draft billing taking more snaps
Notable 2026 Chiefs’ Tight Ends
TE1 – Travis Kelce – B+, two straight good but not great seasons, was arguably top tight end in NFL in his prime, but will now turn 37 next season
TE2 – Noah Gray – C+ to B-, borderline elite production in 2024, but consistently below average outside of that
TE3 – Jared Wiley – 2024 4th rounder, below average thus far in very limited NFL action, first team All-Big 12 in final collegiate year
Notable 2026 Chiefs’ Running Backs
HB1 – Kenneth Walker III – A to A+, reigning Super Bowl MVP
HB2 – Emmett Johnson – 2026 5th rounder, first team All-American in last collegiate season playing in maybe the toughest conference in the country
HB3 – Emari Demercado – B+ to A-, has always been among premier reserve running backs in the NFL
HB4 – Brashard Smith – C+ in rookie season, 2025 7th rounder, perhaps best #4 back in NFL, could emerge as B level player or better heading into year 2
