With the free agency frenzy largely over, all eyes are now fixated on the NFL Draft in a couple of weeks.
Chiefs GM Brett Veach and his staff have done their due diligence on addressing roster needs as well as cutting bait with key Super Bowl-winning contributors.
As an organization, no single move is unto itself, they are all connected in the hopes of building another championship roster.
One move here or there could be the difference in causing a chain of events that either see you hoisting a Lombardi trophy or walking away from the field in agony and defeat.
For the Patrick Mahomes-era Chiefs, every year is precious, thus, every decision is placed under more of a microscope than ever before.
Here are the biggest offseason moves that could backfire on the Chiefs and potentially stall their hopes of another celebration in Kansas City.
1. Not Extending RG Trey Smith
Despite his sixth-round draft pedigree (largely due to health implications), Smith has been integral in transforming the Chiefs’ interior offensive lines into one of the best in the league.
Smith was expected to become one of, if not the highest-paid guards in the league this offseason, either by the Chiefs or somewhere else in free agency.
However, before he could even hit the open market, the Chiefs elected to place their once-a-year franchise tag on him with a cap hit of $23.4 million, locking him up for the 2025 season only. As the two sides continue to work on a long-term deal, the likelihood of it happening decreases every day he’s not signed.
With an O-line already in flux, specifically on the left side, and RT Jawaan Taylor likely playing his last season in KC, the Chiefs cannot afford to have additional moving parts in the position group that protects the league’s biggest commodity in Patrick Mahomes.
2. Choosing Nick Bolton Over Justin Reid
By really no fault of his own, Nick Bolton was perhaps the biggest topic of discourse for Chiefs fans this offseason, with many wondering whether or not the Chiefs would resign him and, more importantly, for how much.
Justin Reid had played over 3,000 snaps since signing with the Chiefs back in 2022 and was a commanding voice inside the Chiefs locker room and out on the field.
As visions toward 2025 got closer, it became apparent that the Chiefs would have to make a decision between the two-star players.
Bolton won out, signing with the Chiefs for 3 years at $45 million, while Reid traveled down south to New Orleans, claiming another 3-year payday worth $31 million with the Saints.
Many in KC felt that fellow Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill was perfectly capable of filling the void that would have been left by Bolton as the “Mike” linebacker, and he showcased as much a couple of years back when Bolton was out with an injury.
There is now less confidence in a safety room with a talented but very young Jaden Hicks and often injured Bryan Cook entering the last year of his rookie deal as the two main starters on the back end.
Both Reid and Bolton have made game-altering plays in big spots, and both are deserving of the contracts they got. But the question remains if the Chiefs will miss Reid more than they would have missed Bolton had the decision by Veach been flipped.
3. Chaos at LT and LG
I am of the opinion that the left side of the Chiefs’ offensive line will end up being the deciding factor on whether or not they win another Super Bowl.
And as we stand right now, the left tackle and left guard spots for the Chiefs are perhaps the biggest question marks for any team at any position in the NFL.
Making the decision to trade All-Pro guard Joe Thuney was a bold move by Veach, to say the least, and it very well might blow up in his face.
Head Coach Andy Reid has made it clear that last year’s second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia will fill in at Thuney’s old position. If you just threw up in your mouth a little bit, you’re not alone. Suamataia was a train wreck at the left tackle position last year and was quickly relegated to the bench for the rest of the season.
However, a year into the system, with time to clear his mind, Suamataia might just be a better fit at guard than tackle, given his six-foot-five, 325-pound frame and 34” arms. Filling in at left tackle is former San Francisco 49er Jaylon Moore.
A career backup to Hall of Famer Trent Williams, Moore appeared in five games last year at LT and played quite well, impressing the Chiefs enough to award him a two-year, $30 million contract.
It’s a huge risk to not only give Moore a big contract relative to what he’s done in the league but also to expect him to slide in at a starting spot and play all 17 games of a grueling NFL season. He’s literally never done that before and hasn’t even come close.
There is a huge upside to these moves if both guys can play just average-level football, which will probably be better than what the Chiefs had last year on the left side of the line. But chances are, there are going to be major learning curves, frustration amongst the quarterback and coaching staff, and a whole lot of games where the Chiefs are stuck trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
4. Not Drafting a Defensive Lineman Early in the Draft
I dread this truth as much as you do, but Chris Jones isn’t getting any younger, and while he’s still elite, it’s never a bad thing to have guys waiting in the wings when that time comes.
To help both elongate Jones’s playing career and build an elite defensive line inside out, the Chiefs would regret not using a couple of their early-round picks to help bolster an already very good defensive line.
Aside from Jones on the interior, the only Chiefs worth anything right now are Mike Pennel, an older run-stuffing specialist, and Jerry Tillery, who might not even make the 53-man roster. On the outside, the Chiefs have a little more to work with in Karlaftis, Danna, Ominehu, and Felix Anudike-Uzomah.
But the point remains, and injuries always happen. This year’s draft is filled with both top-level talent and quality depth pieces at the defensive line position.
If the Chiefs elect to withdraw from drafting help in the trenches with their most valuable picks, I fear the pass rush and run defense could suffer mightily this season.
