KC Chiefs fans can’t forget that 2022 was a retooling year

Where and how the Chiefs can improve

The Chiefs currently are working with dead cap space that will disappear next year when the contracts of Anthony Hitchens, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, and Jermaine Carter expire. When it is all said and done, that will create close to $10 million in cap space. Some other moves that would create space would be extending Chris Jones and cutting Frank Clark and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. With those moves made, the Chiefs would be sitting on around $50 million in cap space before they made any moves to retain players on expiring contracts.

Of the players with expiring contracts, the Chiefs will consider long-term deals for just a handful: Orlando Brown Jr. (not guaranteed), JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Mecole Hardman. The others with expiring deals may get signed to a one or two-year deal. With newfound cap space, it would allow the Chiefs to pursue top-level players at several positions of need in free agency before the draft: Edge, Safety, Wide Receiver, and Offensive Tackle.

With a good young core of defensive players in L’Jarius Sneed, Nick Bolton, Willie Gay, Trent McDuffie, and Joshua Williams, the Chiefs seem to be just a few pieces away from having a very good defense. With added pass rush and better safety play, the Chiefs may just get the boost that they need on defense.

Here are some potential fits for both positions:

EDGE/DTs players on expiring contracts: (stats updated from this year)

• Yannick Ngakoue, EDGE, Indianapolis Colts: 9 sacks, 14 QB hits
• Javon Hargrave, DT, Philadelphia Eagles: 8 sacks, 11 QB hits
• JJ Watt, EDGE, Arizona Cardinals: 7 sacks, 16 QB hits
• Brandon Graham, EDGE, Philadelphia Eagles: 6 sacks, 10 QB hits

Safeties on expiring contracts:

• Jesse Bates, S, Cincinnati Bengals
• Jordan Poyer, S, Buffalo Bills
• Adrian Amos, S, Green Bay Packers
• Terrell Edmunds, Pittsburgh Steelers

These are just the pieces before the draft on defense. Offensively, they may want to invest in a new set of bookends on the offensive line. With shaky play from both Orlando Brown Jr. and Andrew Wylie, the Chiefs may want to spend big to protect the most valuable player in the NFL: Patrick Mahomes. Further, with Kelce being the primary target, the Chiefs may want to invest in another weapon to work with Kadarius Toney and JuJu Smith-Schuster in the passing game.