The Kansas City Chiefs cannot afford to step backward in their current competitive window. What three players should they extend as soon as possible?
The Kansas City Chiefs have shifted away from signing free agents and towards the 2023 NFL Draft. With less than a month until NFL fans descend upon Kansas City, the host team wants to nail the event and set themselves up for the 2023 season and beyond. But the Kansas City Chiefs are not a team that should rely on their rookie talent alone. That right is reserved for teams at the top of each round or those without a clear path to success. The Chiefs are defending Super Bowl champions for many reasons, and one is their returning players. Returning players bring a level of experience and chemistry that is hard to replicate, which gives the Chiefs an advantage over many teams in the league.
Sure, every NFL fan knows who quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce are. They are among the league’s biggest stars, on and off the field. They are leaders among their peers on the field. They are two big parts of any success the Chiefs will achieve in the 2023 season. But they are just two members of a 53-man roster. The other 51 are a mixed bag, with varying paths to Kansas City, different levels of importance, and unique long-term outlooks with the Chiefs. Some of them might be starters, while others might be backups or special teams players. However, each member of the roster plays a crucial role in the team’s success and contributes to achieving their goals.
Players like center Creed Humphrey and linebacker Nick Bolton will be top extension candidates when their time comes. Now, though, a select few players should remain Chiefs for a long time. Who are these players, and why should general manager Brett Veach prioritize them in the extension negotiation process?