Positions Where KC Could Still Upgrade If They Want To
The positions on this list don’t have massive glaring holes. If the season started today the Chiefs could fill out the position with the players they already have and be okay.
That having been said, the Chiefs are still lacking something at all these positions. That could be that the starters there are just “okay”, it could be that they lack quality depth, or it could be that they are getting old at the position and could stand to add someone young that could be more of a long term answer.
Running Back – The Chiefs have two options that have started games in Clyde Edwards-Helaire and newly signed Robert Jones. After that, they have Derrick Gore and Darwin Thompson to fill out their depth. That’s not a terrible running back group, but they could stand to add a quality third-down back either in free agency or the draft.
Right Tackle – As I mentioned in the previous offensive line section, the Chiefs are about set on the offensive line for next year. However, with Lucas Niang’s health a question mark, Andrew Wylie more a stopgap starting option/depth player, and swing tackle Geron Christian profiling as more of a left tackle the Chiefs have room to add a possible long term right tackle option. They don’t have to add anyone, but if someone was available in the mid-rounds of the draft they should definitely consider it.
Defensive Tackle – The Chiefs have Chris Jones as the anchor of their defensive front and several other role players that can rotate there too in Derrick Nnadi, Tershawn Wharton, Khalen Saunders, and Andrew Billings. That’s enough to fill out the position for the season, but if someone was available cheap in free agency or the draft there is still room to upgrade this spot.
Linebacker – The Chiefs’ top two linebackers this season should be Nick Bolton and Willie Gay Jr. They had lots of snaps to replace with the losses of Anthony Hitchens and Ben Niemann. The Chiefs have signed Jermaine Carter and Elijah Lee so far this offseason. With those two and Darius Harris that may give the Chiefs enough at the position to get by, but once again there is still room for improvement here, especially at the #3 linebacker spot.
Safety – The Chiefs have a solid safety group already with Juan Thornhill, Justin Reid, Deon Bush, Zayne Anderson, and Devon Key. The question is if KC sees Bush/Anderson/Key as up to the job of playing the snaps Dan Sorensen played the previous few seasons or if they see them more as just special teams/depth players. Bush may be their Sorensen replacement, but it’s not impossible that they target someone with higher upside in the draft.
Punter – Tommy Townsend is fine and I don’t know that with bigger issues to address the Chiefs should be on the market for an upgrade here. Townsend is in the last year of his deal and could be cut without any significant cap hit so if the Chiefs had a clear-cut upgrade fall in their lap it could be an option.
Now let’s move to the top three biggest holes on the roster.