When it comes to talking about the Kansas City Chiefs, you really have to grade on a bit of a curve. While critics and pundits will say that the Chiefs' defense has been carrying this team the last couple of years, the offense has still been one of the best in the NFL situationally, even if it doesn't look pretty on the overall season statistics. It's not like we're watching the #1 defense in the league carry the #32 offense in the league each week. These Chiefs showed late last season just how dominant they are capable of being offensively, and that wasn't even at full strength.
The Chiefs have been in the middle of the pack among NFL teams the last two years in scoring offense, a decline that can be contributed to a variety of factors. Teams give the Chiefs their best every single week, and they've had to deal with injuries, among other things.
Chiefs' general manager Brett Veach is going to need to approach the 2025 NFL Draft in "reload" mode because the primary piece is already in place. How can Veach make life easier on Patrick Mahomes in the 2025 NFL Draft? It just so happens that the strengths and depth of this particular class could line up really nicely for the Chiefs to add some new building blocks.
Offensive line leads top 3 offensive needs for the Chiefs in the 2025 NFL Draft
1. Left tackle/left guard
I don't care about the Jaylon Smith signing, and I don't care about the projection for Kingsley Suamataia at the left guard position. The Chiefs have tried every way you can possibly try in the NFL -- trades, draft picks, waivers, in-season signings, NFL Free Agency, etc -- to fix the left tackle position since Patrick Mahomes became the starter.
Nothing has worked.
They can't afford to feel comfortable with any of the additions they've made just yet. The left tackle position is still a major question mark for this team and with that being the case, you have to assume that the Chiefs could be in the market for a tackle as early as the first round. Not only that, but you also can't forget that the left guard position is being vacated this offseason by one of the best to ever do it.
It's completely fine for the Chiefs to have a plan in place before the draft. You can put a starting five down on paper all you want. Nothing should be in Sharpie until after the 2025 NFL Draft. The Chiefs could legitimately find two new starters for the left side of their offensive line in this draft, and that's really the way they should be thinking.
Yes, there are other needs this team will have to address, but with Patrick Mahomes turning 30 this coming season, the urgency to keep him well-protected has to be ramped up, no matter the cost. Keep throwing darts.
2. Running Back
With Isiah Pacheco hopefully coming back healthy in the 2025 season, this might not feel like such a big need for the Chiefs' offense, but let's look at it with a different lens.
Even if you decide not to take Pacheco and the fact that he only appeared in seven regular season games last year under consideration, this is one of the deepest draft classes at the running back position we've seen in quite some time. The level of talent across the board could mean you're getting guys with 3rd-round grades as late as the 5th or 6th round.
The Chiefs don't need to be desperate in getting a running back from this class, but they should take someone they view as having RB1 qualities or maybe someone they feel can come in and contribute to their offense immediately on all three downs. Having a healthy Pacheco is great, but Kareem Hunt led this team in yards from scrimmage last year. Samaje Perine barely missed cracking the top five in that category.
The Chiefs should be on the ready to draft someone who could legitimately push one of those guys off the roster as a rookie and perhaps even be the featured player in the offense. That will help Pacheco be even more effective in his role as well.
3. Wide Receiver
You might be able to put wide receiver and running back into the same category or level of "need" for the Chiefs in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The wide receiver position could get exponentially better for the Chiefs this year just by way of guys staying healthy. If Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice don't miss most of last season, how different does this receiver group look on the whole? How differently would it be perceived going into the 2025 season?
With that said, the injuries are a factor and the Chiefs should be on the lookout for an upgrade, especially in terms of a wide receiver who can bring to the table similar skills as Rashee Rice. You never know how players are going to come back from major injuries like that, and this year's receiver class may not be top-heavy but certainly has interesting guys to watch out for on Day 2 or Day 3 who could bring that combination of size and after-the-catch ability the Chiefs need.
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