Could the Chiefs have a top 5 offense?

On a team that is considered to have one of the best defenses in the NFL, the Chiefs might just surprise teams with their offensive firepower.

Ask any NFL expert what the strength of this year’s Kansas City Chiefs will be and their answer should be unanimous: the defense. There are so many stars on the defensive side of the ball for KC, and it should result in being one of the best units in the league.

But what about the offense? A quick glance at the Chiefs’ offensive roster will leave some with doubtful thoughts. But if you dig a little deeper, this offense might prove to surprise everyone this season.

At quarterback, Alex Smith continues to be one of the most under-appreciated players in the league. The “game manager” gets very little praise for what arm accuracy he does have and even littler praise for a mobility that has gotten the KC offense out of some sticky situations over the years. Behind him, the newly-signed Nick Foles should be one of the most dependable backup QB’s in the league this year due to his experience.

The offensive backfield really needs no explanation or introduction. The three-headed rushing monster of Jamaal Charles, Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware should prove to be one of the best in the league. Another player who doesn’t get enough attention, however, is fullback Anthony Sherman, who has been one of the most reliable and durable players in the league at his position over the last several seasons.

The wide receiver position has been the biggest question mark over the last few years, not just on the offense but on the whole roster. Jeremy Maclin will continue to be the top target for Smith and players like Albert Wilson and Chris Conley will continue to see lots of playing time, but this past offseason has added a few new faces to the WR corps. Rookie Tyreek Hill has been impressing everyone in training camp thus far and could be moving his way up the depth chart. There is a new veteran presence as well with the additions of Rod Streater and Mike Williams.

While the receivers have had questions surrounding them, the majority of the passing game has gone through the tight ends. Travis Kelce should once again be one of the best receiving tight ends in the league, provided his recent reality TV series doesn’t distract him on the field. Behind him, Demetrius Harris and the returning James O’Shaughnessey are solid backups and also solid run blockers, something that isn’t Kelce’s specialty.

Up front, the Chiefs offensive line doesn’t get a lot of talk, but they could be one of the best units on the team. Arguably the biggest offseason acquisition for the Chiefs this year, tackle Mitchell Schwartz will bolster the outside of the O-line alongside former first-overall pick Eric Fisher, a duo that will prove to be difficult for opposing pass rushers.

At guard, rookie Parker Ehinger has been impressing and the former Cincinnati Bearcat will bring youth to an experienced offensive guard group. Nothing changes at center, however, as Mitch Morse will continue to snap the ball for the Chiefs this season.

So what does all of this mean for the Chiefs offense? There is a very nice blend of experience and youth in this group. Plenty of proven veterans playing side-by-side with rookies who have lots of upside. How quickly those rookies, guys like Hill and Ehinger, get accustomed to the NFL play-style could potentially give this KC offense a huge boost and help them surpass expectations. Either way, this gives the offense something it hasn’t had too much of in a long time: depth. And that depth has been well overlooked leading up to the season.

To say that the Chiefs offense will be one of the top-5 units in the league might be a stretch. But can they do it? Absolutely. If the wide receiving problem of recent seasons has been solved, this offense has the potential to be a scoring threat both on the ground and through the air. Will they live up to this potential? Only time will tell. The pieces are in place, it’s up to the players now to execute and perform.