As we continue to take a _weird_ look at the upcoming NFL season, it's time to make some predictions for the Kansas City Chiefs through such a lens.
It's rather easy to predict a ton of wins, a deep postseason run, and lots of heroics from Patrick Mahomes. But what could go sideways? What is unexpected? That's an interesting thought exercise.
1\. Noah Gray is a major target
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Noah Gray has been a solid find for Brett Veach as a former fifth-round draft choice out of Duke. Out of college, the book on Gray was that he was a sponge in terms of coachability, and he's become a favorite of Andy Reid and his staff in his first four years in the league.
Despite playing behind the best tight end in the game, [Gray has found an increasing number](https://arrowheadaddict.com/the-rise-of-noah-gray-a-quiet-revolution-in-the-chiefs-offense-01jdfz03xf0y) of targets each season—from 10 to 34 to 41 to 49. Two things are clear in that progression: Patrick Mahomes trusts him more and the game plan is clearing room for him.
Given that Gray could step into a TE1 role next year if Travis Kelce retires, I'm predicting Gray will have 65 targets this year—a rather surprising total for a second tight end. For perspective, that total would have placed Gray in the top 25 tight ends in the NFL last season.
Are the Chiefs going to their TEs that much in 2025? Or is Kelce going to get more rest than folks think? We're projecting as much.
2\. Ashton Gillotte is a starter by season's end
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For those who are bullish on Ashton Gillotte, this might not be such a weird prediction, but for the casual fan, the idea of a third-round rookie [climbing the depth chart to be a new starter](https://arrowheadaddict.com/ashton-gillotte-faces-potentially-favorable-path-to-immediate-snaps-as-rookie-pass-rusher-01jz2q5c38h9) on the edge in his first season could be weird.
This is not to say that Mike Danna lacks value or impact for the Chiefs, but it does acknowledge the limited ceiling in place. Gillotte's power and strength are already NFL-ready, as is his arsenal of pass-rushing maneuvers. Fans of George Karlaftis will recognize the same sort of non-stop motor in Gillotte, and this package should earn him more playing time as the season goes on.
There's no doubt that Danna and Karlaftis will start the season as the starting ends. Charles Omenihu also factors in. But Gillotte is a long-term anchor who we think will become a year-one starter in 2025.
3\. Six players to six sacks
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Last year, the Chiefs only had two players register six sacks or more in what was a rather lackluster season in terms of pass-rushing metrics. George Karlaftis led the team with 8, Turk Wharton added 6.5, and the team's best rusher, Chris Jones, ranked third with 5 sacks.
This year, we're expecting a major leap forward for several reasons, and the end result will be a robust total for the team's pass rushers in a shared display of talent. We're predicting six players will finish with six sacks or more in 2025.
Jones is an easy guess, and Karlaftis is a natural pick as well. But it's important to note that Charles Omenihu is healthy and available at the start of a season for the first time in three years with the Chiefs. If we're already in on Gillotte being a starter at season's end, we're throwing him in as well.
From there, Steve Spagnuolo's penchant for blitzing will pile up totals for other players in the second and third levels. Nick Bolton had 3 sacks last season. Leo Chenal had 3 in 2023. And let's not forget Danna, who had 11.5 combined sacks in 2022-23. Six sacks are a lot, but we're being weird here and believe it could happen based on Spags' aggressive schemes.
4\. The leading rusher is not on the roster
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Let's get a bit more weird or bold with our final prediction: the Chiefs leading rusher (or at least their primary running back by season's end) is not on the current roster.
We certainly hope Isiah Pacheco returns from an injury-plagued season with a vengeance. We wish Elijah Mitchell the best in his attempts to return to relevance. We want Brashard Smith to succeed as much as anyone. We're crossing our fingers that Kareem Hunt can stave off age and decline for one more year.
Are we counting on any of that? No, we're not. In fact, we're predicting the Chiefs will make a deal at some point—the NFL's trade deadline?—to secure a running back.
This year's free-agent crop was anemic at the position, and the Chiefs had a hard time finding value in early rounds in the draft that made sense. But some losing teams are going to try to squeeze something from depreciating assets and that's where Veach could work his mid-season magic.
Don't forget that the Chiefs traded for Joshua Uche and DeAndre Hopkins a year ago. Kadarius Toney and Mecole Hardman before that. Veach has a history of making moves to bolster the roster and a move in the backfield would go a long way.