As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for the stretch run of the 2024 NFL season, it’s clear that the team is positioned for another playoff push. However, while the focus is always on winning now, it’s also important to keep an eye on the future. The Chiefs, under head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, have built one of the most successful franchises of the past few years.
However, with roster turnover inevitable and long-term sustainability in mind, the team must evaluate key players on the current roster, assessing their contributions and potential future roles.
Here are four important late-season roster evaluations that could impact the Chiefs’ future, spanning across various positions that will be key in determining how the team evolves over the next several seasons.
While Patrick Mahomes has firmly established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, his success heavily depends on the performance and development of his wide receivers. The Chiefs’ passing attack has been dynamic over the past few years, but they have undergone significant changes in the wide receiver room in recent seasons. With Tyreek Hill’s departure to Miami, Mahomes has had to work with a new cast of wideouts. The late-season evaluation will focus on how well the current receivers are performing, particularly in terms of developing chemistry with Mahomes and their ability to stretch the field.
Key players under evaluation include Rasheed Rice, the rookie wide receiver out of SMU, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who was brought in to add speed to the offense. Rice’s ability to grow into a reliable target for Mahomes is crucial. Although he has flashed potential, consistency is key for the Chiefs moving forward. Valdes-Scantling, on the other hand, has struggled with consistency but has the speed and deep threat ability that Mahomes often thrives with.
The Chiefs will also be looking at Skyy Moore, who was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Moore’s second season has been up and down, but he has shown glimpses of promise. Can Moore develop into a consistent playmaker? Or will the Chiefs need to invest more heavily in wide receiver talent during the 2024 offseason?
In the long term, the Chiefs need to answer whether they have a true No. 1 wide receiver to complement Mahomes. While the team has found success with a committee approach, Mahomes’ best years might come with a premier weapon on the outside. This will be one of the most closely watched developments heading into the offseason.
On the defensive side of the ball, few players are as crucial to the Chiefs’ success as Chris Jones. The dominant defensive tackle has been the cornerstone of Kansas City’s defensive front for several years, and he remains one of the most disruptive interior linemen in the NFL. However, as Jones enters the later stages of his career, the Chiefs will need to evaluate his long-term future with the team.
In 2023, Jones signed a massive extension that solidified his place in Kansas City for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean the Chiefs shouldn’t start planning for a future without him. Evaluating the development of younger defensive linemen like George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah becomes crucial. These players represent the next generation of the Chiefs’ defense, and their development in 2024 will have a major impact on the direction of the defense moving forward.
Karlaftis, the second-year edge rusher out of Purdue, has shown steady improvement. His ability to apply pressure on the quarterback will be critical in determining how the Chiefs structure their defensive line for the future. Meanwhile, Anudike-Uzomah, the first-round pick from the 2023 draft, is a project who could offer high upside as he continues to refine his game. The Chiefs need to evaluate whether these young players can take on bigger roles in 2025 and beyond, and whether the Chiefs can maintain a dominant defensive line once Jones is no longer a central figure.
Jones is still performing at a high level, but a late-season evaluation will help determine how the Chiefs can balance their salary cap while planning for future years. Will they need to add more pieces to the defensive line or rely on the younger talent they have in house?
The Chiefs’ secondary has been an area of significant improvement over the past few seasons. However, cornerback remains a key area of evaluation. The team’s ability to cover high-powered passing offenses is an area of concern heading into the late stretch of the season, especially as Kansas City faces a variety of formidable quarterbacks in the AFC.
One player who will be under intense scrutiny is Trent McDuffie, the Chiefs’ 2022 first-round draft pick. McDuffie has shown tremendous promise as a shutdown corner, but the question remains whether he can develop into a true No. 1 cornerback on a championship-caliber defense. McDuffie’s growth in his second season will be a critical factor in determining the future direction of the Chiefs’ secondary. Does he have the ability to match up with top-tier receivers consistently? Can he be relied upon to handle the most difficult assignments in high-stakes playoff games?
Alongside McDuffie, the Chiefs will evaluate the play of their other cornerbacks, including L’Jarius Sneed, who has been a versatile piece for the defense. Sneed’s ability to cover a wide range of routes and contribute as a playmaker has been vital. However, his contract status and future with the team will also be a focus in these evaluations. Will the Chiefs opt to extend Sneed or move in another direction?
Additionally, the Chiefs need to consider the long-term depth of the position. While they have some promising young talent, Kansas City will need to keep looking for future contributors, especially if McDuffie and Sneed leave holes in the defense due to free agency or injury. The secondary, while strong, could use an influx of talent to keep pace with the offensive juggernauts in the AFC.
The running back position has often been a point of evaluation for the Chiefs, as they’ve relied on a mix of contributors rather than one feature back. However, one player whose future with the team has come under scrutiny is Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the Chiefs’ first-round pick in 2020.
Edwards-Helaire has had a solid but unspectacular career so far in Kansas City. He showed early promise but has struggled to make a lasting impact in a crowded backfield. With the emergence of Isiah Pacheco, a seventh-round draft pick who has provided much-needed explosiveness and consistency, Edwards-Helaire’s role on the team has diminished. Late in the 2024 season, the Chiefs will need to evaluate whether Edwards-Helaire still has a place on the roster moving forward or if the team should part ways.
Pacheco has established himself as the team’s lead back, and while Edwards-Helaire is still a capable running back, he hasn’t provided the same level of impact. The Chiefs may look to move on from Edwards-Helaire in favor of cheaper, younger options, particularly in the draft, where running backs with the potential to make an immediate impact are available. The future of the running back position will likely hinge on whether Edwards-Helaire can contribute in other ways, such as as a receiver out of the backfield or on special teams, to justify a continued spot on the roster.
The Kansas City Chiefs are in a position to contend for Super Bowls for years to come, but as always, the future is never guaranteed. The late-season roster evaluations of key players, including the wide receiver group, defensive line, secondary, and running back, will go a long way in determining how the franchise builds around its superstar quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, and keeps the championship window open for as long as possible. By making the right evaluations, the Chiefs can set themselves up for sustained success, ensuring that they remain a powerhouse in the NFL for years to come.
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