The latest
Records the Chiefs and Mahomes Can Reach in 2025 | Si
Chiefs match Patriotsfor longest playoff streak
If Kansas City indeed makes it back to the playoffs, it will be for the 11th year in a row, matching theNFL record set by the Patriots from 2009-19. New England’s record is more impressive when you consider that the Patriots nearly had a streak of 17 straight seasons, with 2008 the lone exception and that being a year when New England went 11-5 after losingTom Brady to injury in the season opener. Last season, the Chiefs moved past theColts (2002-10) andCowboys (1975-83) for the second-longest playoff streak.
Another streak the Chiefs are closing in on is consecutive division titles. The Patriots own that record at 11 in a row, while this coming season would be a 10th straight title for Kansas City, which started its current postseason run as a wild card in 2015.
1 Player Each NFL Team Should Consider Trading Before the 2025 Season | Bleacher Report
Kansas City Chiefs
Jaylen Watson
For a team that has utterly dominated the AFC over the past decade or so, the Kansas City Chiefs don’t have a roster with a lot of obvious trade candidates. The massive contracts handed out to the team’s stars have impacted the team’s depth—there just aren’t that many players the team can afford to part with.
However, the Chiefs do have solid depth at cornerback—and as Ralph Vacchiano wrote for Fox Sports, that could make contract-year cornerback Jaylen Watson expendable.
“The former seventh-rounder had emerged as a starting corner for Kansas City last year before a broken ankle cost him half the season. He did return for the playoffs and even started in the Super Bowl, so his health isn’t a concern. But this offseason, the Chiefs signed cornerback Kristian Fulton, and next year they’re going to have to pay All-Pro corner Trent McDuffie at least $13 million on his fifth-year option. Watson will be a free agent, too, and they’re not likely to pay three corners. He’s only 27, so his value is still high because corners with his talent can be hard to find.”
Watson’s injury aside, he was excellent last season, allowing just 53.3 percent of the passes thrown in his direction to be completed with a passer rating against of just 75.4.
Those numbers will get the attention of plenty of NFL teams.
2025 NFL All-Paid Team: Saquon Barkley, Dak Prescott headline top earners by position | CBS Sports
C -Creed Humphrey
Kansas City Chiefs · 26 years old
AVERAGE PER YEAR: $18 million
The Chiefs wasted no time addressing their offensive line after it was dominated by the Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV, drafting Humphrey 63rd overall in 2021. In turn, he wasted no time becoming an elite player as the anchor of Kansas City’s front. Humphrey is one of only three centers in the Super Bowl era to have made the Pro Bowl in at least three of his first four seasons in the league, joining Travis Frederick and Maurkice Pouncey. Of that group, Humphrey is the only one with a Super Bowl ring (he has two). His four-year, $72 million deal ties him to Kansas City through the 2028 season.
Worst to first for 49ers? Ranking 8 last-place teams’ chances to win division in 2025 | FOX Sports
5. Las Vegas Raiders (AFC West)
The Chiefs lost only two games with their starters on the field during a season in which they had question marks and injuries throughout their offense. Question marks that they addressed this offseason, by the way. I’m not betting on the Chiefs being any worse, as a result. Therefore, the AFC West is nowhere near up for grabs. Add in that all three of the Raiders’ division opponents made the playoffs last year and the hill gets steeper in the desert.
For what it’s worth, Las Vegas has been playing Kansas City tough of late — the last three games have been decided by one score, and the Raiders even won one. They now also have a decorated head coach in Pete Carroll, while new general manager John Spytek has made some key additions this offseason. If the offensive line can hold up for Geno Smith, I think Las Vegas is going to outperform expectations.
Around the NFL
Ranking new QB/WR duos: Dak Prescott and George Pickens fall behind other NFC tandem | CBS Sports
6. Lamar Jackson and DeAndre Hopkins
Even though he doesn’t have another MVP trophy sitting on his mantel, Lamar Jackson’s 2024 season was otherworldly. He became the first player in league history to throw for over 4,000 yards and rush for at least 900 yards in a single season. After all that, his offense gets even more dangerous thanks to the arrival of DeAndre Hopkins. While Hopkins isn’t at the peak of his powers like he was during his days with the Houston Texans, he can still produce. After being traded to the Chiefs midseason last year, Hopkins tallied 41 catches for 437 yards receiving and four touchdowns in his 10 regular-season games played. That puts him at a pace of 70-743-7 over a full season. With Zay Flowers as the No. 1 receiver and the rushing threat of Jackson and Derrick Henry, Hopkins should be freed up to excel, giving Baltimore a much-needed secondary receiver option, making us bullish on this duo for 2025.
Source - Steelers renew talks with Dolphins TE Jonnu Smith | ESPN
The development brings new life to a possible trade between the Steelers and Dolphins after sources had told Schefter earlier Tuesday that a trade was not expected to be completed.
Sources also told Schefter earlier Tuesday that the team will host free agent wide receiver Gabe Davis on a visit this week. Davis was scheduled to travel to Pittsburgh on Wednesday to visit with the Steelers on Thursday, the sources told Schefter.
Though the Steelers have Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington on the roster, they could be in search of a third true tight end after free agency acquisition Donald Parham Jr. tore his Achilles tendon during Tuesday’s OTA session, sources told Schefter.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs Roster: Trent McDuffie named a top-five cornerback by PFF
3. TRENT MCDUFFIE, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
McDuffie, the highest-graded cornerback in PFF’s advanced metrics in 2024, has been highly underrated to start his career. His PFF advanced coverage grade ranks second across the past three years — and first across the past two years — while his standard PFF coverage grade in that span (89.0) places fourth.
The Chiefs don’t ask McDuffie to shadow opposing receivers, but his ability to stay tight in coverage is elite.
My take
After the Chiefs traded cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans last offseason, McDuffie had to play outside more often in 2024, which is reflected in his snap numbers.
In 2023, McDuffie lined up as a slot defender 608 times as opposed to 368 on the outside. That flipped in 2024, with 152 slot snaps in comparison to 953 on the outside. Kansas City has been intentional about correcting that this offseason, signing veteran cornerback Kristian Fulton to a two-year contract.
Should Fulton and Jaylen Watson stay healthy, the Chiefs will have two outside cornerbacks they trust, affording defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo the ability to use McDuffie in the way that best suits the situation.
“They kind of talked about wanting to put me back at inside in certain situations, things like that,” said McDuffie of last year’s exit interview. “It kind of just allowed me to influence the game a little bit more in there — a little bit more blitz and things like that. As far as playing outside and matching up, it’s still early, but I told them anything I can do truly like — outside, inside, cover, whoever you need me to do — that’s where I stand ever since I’ve came in, and that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”
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