{"id":749332,"date":"2026-02-13T13:28:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T13:28:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/749332\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T13:28:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T13:28:37","slug":"chiefs-2026-offseason-ranking-positions-of-need-before-free-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/749332\/","title":{"rendered":"Chiefs 2026 offseason: Ranking positions of need before free agency"},"content":{"rendered":"

The offseason is underway, and the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> have multiple positions of need to address this offseason. Let\u2019s rank them, considering the roster and performance during the 2025 season.<\/p>\n

\"KANSAS<\/a><\/p>\n

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – NOVEMBER 10: George Karlaftis #56, Chris Jones #95, and Mike Danna #51 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrate prior to a game against the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Chiefs\u2019 defensive line struggled during the 2025 season, and heading into the offseason, the position is depleted. The team needs a combination of capable pass rushers and big bodies to stuff the run.<\/p>\n

With a premier pick in the NFL Draft and a loaded defensive line class, Kansas City has a chance to pick one of the top defensive ends or tackles, but with multiple top-100 picks, the organization could double up and add multiple players to the defensive line.<\/p>\n

Defensive tackle Chris Jones and defensive end George Karlafitis need help up front, and the draft will be a great spot for the Chiefs to replenish talent in the trenches.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Chiefs\u2019 running back room has been lackluster for the last two seasons, but this offseason, general manager Brett Veach will have a chance to take a swing in an interesting free agent class, as well as add talent through the draft.<\/p>\n

With only Brashard Smith on the roster, Kansas City should be looking to add multiple players before the rookie minicamp begins in early May.<\/p>\n

The most likely outcome is the Chiefs signing an established veteran player, then drafting a running back as high as Day 2 in the draft. This will ensure Kansas City has a known commodity while also looking to the future.<\/p>\n

\"ST.<\/a><\/p>\n

ST. JOSEPH, MO – AUGUST 02: Kansas City Chiefs tight ends Travis Kelce (87), Noah Gray (83) and Jared Wiley (12) during training camp on August 2, 2024 at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Regardless of legendary tight end Travis Kelce\u2019s decision on whether he will come back for another season or retire, the Chiefs need to add talent to the position.<\/p>\n

Veteran Noah Gray had a down season, and Jared Wiley has not panned out based on what the team imagined using the 131st overall pick in the 2024 draft.<\/p>\n

While this position is a need for Kansas City, this season\u2019s free agent class is not that deep, with Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts projected to be the highest-paid player, according to Spotrac, followed by Kelce in second. The draft could be where the Chiefs could add talent for the future of tight ends with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.<\/p>\n

\"JACKSONVILLE,<\/a><\/p>\n

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 6: Drue Tranquill #23 and Nick Bolton #32 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrate a defensive play against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on October 6, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

A sneaky choice for this list is linebacker. There is a real possibility that Kansas City could be without either Leo Chenal, a pending free agent, or Drue Tranquill, a potential cap casualty, in 2026. Each player has been a key contributor to the Chiefs\u2019 defense the last few seasons by joining Nick Bolton in a formidable trio on the second level of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo\u2019s scheme.<\/p>\n

If the trio is broken up, the most likely scenario is a team-friendly deal for Chenal while Tranquill walks. This would open up the possibility for the Chiefs to swing on a star prospect like Arvelle Reese in the first round, or find a potential Day 2 star like former Missouri Tiger Josiah Trotter.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Chiefs\u2019 receiving room, on paper, looks fine \u2014 but the offense could use an extra body capable of producing mid-tier, no.1 receiver numbers, or being a high-level no. 2 receiver.<\/p>\n

In the draft, the Chiefs could have a chance to take Carnell Tate from Ohio State or Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State, the top two wideouts in the draft by consensus. If the team decides to prioritize defense, there\u2019s a path to take in free agency.<\/p>\n

Romeo Doubs, Jauan Jennings and Alec Pierce could be names worth monitoring once free agency begins and would all be welcome additions to the Chiefs roster.<\/p>\n

\"KANSAS<\/a><\/p>\n

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – DECEMBER 07: Jayden Higgins #81 of the Houston Texans is tackled after his reception by Jaden Hicks #21 and Chamarri Conner #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on December 07, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

Veteran Bryan Cook is a pending free agent, which leaves Kansas City\u2019s current safety room razor-thin. Jaden Hicks and Chammari Conner are both in line to take over for Cook if he leaves, but both players have had up-and-down careers to this point.<\/p>\n

If the Chiefs believe in the value of the position, the team could take former Ohio State standout Caleb Downs in the first round, if he is available. If not, Safety could be a position Kansas City has holes in coming into 2026.<\/p>\n

\"KANSAS<\/a><\/p>\n

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 19: Center Hunter Nourzad #60 of the Kansas City Chiefs prepares to snap to quarterback Gardner Minshew #17 during the game between Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.\u201d\u201d (Photo by Jamie Squire\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Chiefs\u2019 lack of quality depth along the interior offensive line has hurt them in recent seasons. The team should use the back end of the draft and the lower tier of free agency to add quality depth in the trenches and make sure that they have the deepest unit possible.<\/p>\n

Kansas City\u2019s main focus in 2026 should be bringing back Mahomes when he is healthy and continuing to build the roster around him for years to come. Spending superfluous resources on a high-end backup would be short-sighted in the long run.<\/p>\n

The team does not \u2014 and cannot \u2014 function the way it is designed to do so without his full presence, so there is no need to try to salvage early-season wins if he is not ready to go when the season begins.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The offseason is underway, and the Kansas City Chiefs have multiple positions of need to address this offseason.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":749333,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2063],"tags":[346,7,118,110,80177,924,2438,2437,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-749332","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-kansas-city-chiefs","8":"tag-chiefs","9":"tag-football","10":"tag-kansas-city","11":"tag-kansas-city-chiefs","12":"tag-kansas-city-chiefs-analysis","13":"tag-kansas-city-chiefs-discussions","14":"tag-kansascity","15":"tag-kansascitychiefs","16":"tag-nfl"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116063564200084495","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/749332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=749332"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/749332\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/749333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=749332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=749332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=749332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}