Recently, a former NFL general manager said that the window was closed.

At least one former NFL general manager is predicting that the Kansas City Chiefs’ AFC dominance is coming to an end. Former Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon recently said as much on CBS Sports.

“The window for this Chiefs team is closing,” he explained.

He cites reasons such as defensive tackle Chris Jones getting older and coming off of injury, and Travis Kelce rounding out the back nine of his career to justify his claim.

And while he gives Chiefs Andy Reid his due by complimenting the old ball coach on his ability to evolve his offense based on the players he has, Carthon does little else to support his thought.

When he was asked what team is best positioned to usurp the reigning AFC champs, he provided the same tired predictions we hear year after year — which is that this will be the season in which the Buffalo Bills or the Baltimore Ravens ascend to the throne as the top dogs in Lamar Hunt’s conference.

Listen, I get it.

Like Harvey Dent said in The Dark Knight, “You either die the hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

And that’s precisely what’s happened to this Kansas City Chiefs team. They’ve won too much for too long. Now, national analysts are looking for someone — anyone — to “rescue” them from the tyranny of the NFL’s version of Julius Caesar, but I wouldn’t expect a knife in the Chiefs’ back any time soon.

I refuse to buy into the annual tradition of NFL talking heads explaining to everyone why the rest of the league has finally caught up with the Chiefs.

Also, forgive me if we don’t take team-building advice from a guy who took over the reins of a Tennessee Titans franchise instantly stripped it for parts. In two seasons, Carthon fired head coach Mike Vrabel, let running back Derrick Henry walk in free agency and installed Will Levis at starting quarterback.

The Titans weren’t good prior to Carthon taking control, but in just two seasons, he drove the ship into the iceberg to the point that Tennessee had the first overall pick in this year’s draft.

I think I’ll put my faith in Chiefs general manager Brett Veach — but for argument’s sake, let’s still examine the claim.

Is the Chiefs’ Super Bowl window closing?

Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Yes and no.

The answer to this question is always yes unless you do something to make the answer no.

With the NFL salary cap and the way the draft is structured, the NFL is designed for parity and to prevent dynasties from existing. Because of this, teams are constantly gaining ground on you, unless you find a way to stop the window from closing and prop it back open, as the Chiefs have managed to do in recent years.

Sure, Chris Jones is a year older, Travis Kelce is on his victory lap and Justin Reid is enjoying his Chiefs retirement in New Orleans with the rest of his former teammates.

But here is why the Chiefs will not only contend next season but also be better than they were in 2024.

1. The Chiefs finally drafted a left tackle.

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

This isn’t even just about this year— this is about the next five years. If this pick hits, then the best quarterback in the history of the NFL will finally have his blind side protected. If you can keep Patrick Mahomes upright, he will find a way to win you many football games.

This was the Chiefs’ biggest weakness, and they fixed it in spades.

2. The Chiefs’ wide receiver room in ‘Rolling in the Deep’

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Move over, Adele, because the Chiefs’ wide receiver room is “Rolling in the Deep.”

Early last season, Jalen Royals dominated college football to the point that some analysts wondered if he could play his way into the back of Round 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Then, he hurt his foot, which caused him to fall down draft boards.

I mention this because Royals is going to start the year fifth on the wide receiver depth chart for Kansas City, behind Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster.

The 2025 wide receiver group can be the deepest in Chiefs’ history.

3. The Chiefs continue to invest in their pass rush

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Chris Jones was injured in the Super Bowl, but it’s not like he tore his ACL. He will be ready for the start of camp. Defensive line is one of the few positions where a player can be productive deep into their 30s.

In fact, since 1982, a 30-plus-year-old player has registered 13-plus sacks in a season 44 times.

Jones is just now 30 years old and could very well have three or four more years of elite defensive line play left in him.

George Karlaftis is entering his fourth season, Charles Omenihu is healthy, and Kansas City invested further in the pass rush by drafting Ashton Gillotte and Omar Norman Lott with top 100 picks in this year’s draft.

It’s hard to imagine the pass rush being worse than it was a year ago when the Chiefs won the AFC.