The Kansas City Chiefs knew this offseason was going to be one that saw the franchise make key decisions on both sides of the ball as the organization hit the reset button.
After years of success, the Chiefs stumbled in 2025, and now they have the chance to trim down the roster and improve it at several key spots.
Defensively has been the biggest change, with key starters moving on, and the Chiefs adding some decent replacements.
But for a team that will likely have Super Bowl aspirations, is it enough?
Sports Illustrated's Eva Geitheim thinks the Chiefs are banking on their defensive moves hitting in 2026.
“Donna Kelce’s home renovations don’t have anything on the makeover the Chiefs are undergoing this offseason, particularly on the defensive side of the ball,” Geitheim wrote. “The Chiefs upgraded their running back room by signing Kenneth Walker III, but they have a number of holes to fill on defense.
“Between letting a number of veterans walk as they cleared cap space and watching three starters in the secondary exit, the Chiefs defense will have a different look in 2026. The defense has been critical for the Chiefs’ success since 2023, so they’ll hope their signings of Alohi Gilman and Khyiris Tonga allow them to stay stout on that side of the ball.”
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Are Chiefs poised for 2026 bounce-back?
They could be, and no one really expects the Chiefs to miss the postseason for a second straight year, especially with Patrick Mahomes at the helm.
Plus, the Chiefs have two first-round picks as well, which the franchise will be hoping hit the ground running.
Whether they will be used on defense remains to be seen, but there are still plenty of roster holes to address, and the Chiefs have the ammunition to do so.
It has been a good first portion of the offseason for the Chiefs, as they have said goodbye to several starters and gained draft capital in return, plus they've signed key players at important positions.
But is it enough for the Chiefs to be contenders in 2026? I think so.
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