The Kansas City Chiefs have jumped out to a 4-0 start. Following an early bye week, some players hope to continue an incredibly hot start. Other names are still looking to find their footing or capitalize on a possible increase in their roles.
With that last part in mind, we have some clear Chiefs players who are candidates to make a leap in individual play. Four names immediately jump out as Kansas City returns from its bye week.
Jalen Royals, WR
Jalen Royals was already seeing more reps and touches throughout the first four games. Compared to the limited opportunities he received at the end of last season, it was nice to see him take advantage of spot snaps early on. Royals' results were encouraging and showed how he has possibly developed inside the Chiefs' system entering this season.
Now there is a greater opportunity awaiting Royals. Unfortunately for an already thin wide receiver room, Tyquan Thornton is out for a while with an injury. As a result, Royals is likely to see an increase in snaps and targets. Patrick Mahomes already appears comfortable looking his way. Despite limited opportunities, Royals has churned out positive gains and found the end zone in the first month. This second-year wide receiver can add production to the Kansas City offense that many did not envision in 2026.
Alohi Gilman, S
Alohi Gilman was never going to be the most physically impressive safety the Chiefs have had in recent years. Athletically, it is also a tall order to match what Kansas City received in that part of the roster. However, it has still been a bit of a quiet start to Gilman's Chiefs tenure.
There have been moments when he is out of position or out of his spot just enough against pass attempts. That has shown up in the intermediate to deep windows of the field. On the other hand, there have also been reps where Gilman is off on his angles against running backs. Rather than taking away their space to work with, he is left chasing from a less desirable position.
Gilman was going to be a safety who relied on instincts and immense effort. If he can fine-tune some early kinks, perhaps the plays on the ball and more consistent stops in space will materialize more often. Gilman still has a chance to be a bargain signing from this past offseason.
Ashton Gillotte, DE
Ashton Gillotte is still limited in his overall production and ceiling. This is due to the role he is asked to fill on the K.C. defense. Gillotte's deployment can also lead to minimized results in the box score. Yet Gillotte can still reach another gear beyond what he has shown early this season.
As an edge setter against the run, Gillotte can boost the team with faster reaction speed. Getting his hands up quicker to deconstruct blocks is one item to monitor. Watching how fast he reacts to climb through muddy traffic is another. Finally, Gillotte is still late at times in realizing where the run is going.
Another benefit to his growth could be cleaning up more often on pass-rush chances as other Kansas City defensive linemen draw attention as blitzers. If Gillotte gets his nose around the football at a marginally higher clip, that restores at least some confidence in this Chiefs' pass rush overall.
Peter Woods, DT
Given what most of the other rookies have done early this year, Peter Woods feels like a clear candidate in this category. There have been some impressive moments against the run in the first four games for this defender. He is displaying the power and hand quickness that people believed he always possessed coming out of the draft.
Stacking more successful results in a small span in individual games is the next step for Woods. And it really does not appear as though that will be a massive hurdle for Woods to conquer. The key will be him receiving the necessary quantity of snaps. As he sifts through rookie curves against veteran blockers, the Clemson product can become physically imposing. If that comes to fruition, Woods can work to hone his expanding hand-counter arsenal and technique.
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