The Kansas City Chiefs were a dynasty for Patrick Mahomes' first seven seasons as a starter. During that time, he made the Chiefs' offense one of the most feared in the NFL. However, for most of their best seasons, that offense was also paired with a very good defense. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has consistently fielded a unit that ranged from solid to near-elite at times. One of the key components of his best units was a dangerous pass rush, and the last couple of seasons, that pass rush has been lacking.
As recently as the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the Chiefs finished 2nd in the NFL in sacks. They totaled 57 sacks in 2023 and 55 in 2022. That number dropped to 39 in 2024 and then to 35 last season. That number tied them for the 7th fewest in the NFL. When you look at the breakdown in sacks by season, you see that the drop really came from a lack of production from KC's defensive line (both their defensive tackles and defensive ends).
In 2023, when the Chiefs finished second in the NFL in team sacks, KC's defensive linemen combined for 39.5 sacks. Last season, their defensive linemen only combined for 21.5 sacks. That 18-sack difference makes up the vast majority of the drop-off in team sacks from 57 to 35. So if the Chiefs want to see their sack and pass-rush productivity return to the level it was when they won their last Super Bowl, KC's two rookie defensive linemen will be the key.
The Chiefs used two top-40 picks on their defensive front in May. Theytook defensive tackle Peter Woods at the end of the 1st roundand then shortly aftertook outside pass rusher R Mason Thomas with their early 2nd-round pick. Reports coming out of training camp are that both rookies are looking like they could be genuine contributors in their first season. Peter Woods looks like he's motivated and showing the talent that had many predicting that he'd go early in the 1st round, and R Mason Thomas is as explosive as advertised, and you can see whyhe was one of the most anticipated players to watch in camp.
KC adding two potential pass rushers helps the Chiefs' pass rush in two ways. Obviously, Woods and Thomas will add pass rush themselves, but the other major key is that their presence means that opposing offenses can't put all their attention on stopping Chris Jones and George Karlaftis. In each of the last two seasons, KC's top pass-rushing duo has only combined for 13 sacks. In 2022 and 2023, the duo combined for at least 21 sacks.
If KC's main defensive linemen this season could put up numbers similar to these:
- George Karlaftis - 10 sacks
- Chris Jones - 8 sacks
- R Mason Thomas - 7 sacks
- Peter Woods - 6 sacks
- Ashton Gillotte - 3 sacks
- Felix Anudike-Uzomah - 3 sacks
- Khyris Tonga - 1 sack
That would give the Chiefs 38 combined sacks from their defensive front, just 1.5 sacks shy of what the defensive line put up in 2023 (39.5), when they had 57 team sacks and finished 2nd in the NFL (and won the Super Bowl). Those numbers don't require any one player to have a massive season, but Thomas getting 7 sacks and Woods getting 6 sacks as rookies is asking a lot. Karlaftis did put up 6 sacks as a rookie, but Chris Jones didn't hit the 6-sack mark until his 2nd season in the NFL.
While most of the focus this preseason is on the Chiefs finding a way to get their offense back on track, rejuvenating their pass rush is also an underrated need. If their two rookies can come out of the gate producing right away, it could go a long way toward getting their pass rush back to the level it was during their dynasty run. Not only would that improve their defense, but it would also take some of the pressure off Patrick Mahomes and the offense to have to be highly prolific. Here's to hoping that the early positive reviews for Peter Woods and R Mason Thomas are a sign that the Chiefs' pass rush is back.
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