The Kansas City Chiefs are attempting to make history by becoming the first club to win three straight Super Bowl victories. They have already won two straight titles. Anything is possible when Patrick Mahomes is at the center of the offense.
If the Chiefs stay healthy, it might even be surprising if they don’t end up taking home another championship the following season. However, this does not imply that they are flawless, even if they have dominated for the most of the previous five years.
It was evident that Kansas City had certain gaps even in 2023. Mahomes suffered what was likely the worst regular season of his NFL career as a starter because of the team’s evident wide receiver problems. Isiah Pacheco was a reliable back, but their backfield lacked depth as well.
During the regular season, the Chiefs had a run of just 3-5 games, and it appeared as though clubs like the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens would eventually overtake them. That did not come to pass as Kansas City easily defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl and advanced through the AFC playoffs.
This offseason, the Chiefs added some intriguing players: they selected University of Texas receiver Xavier Worthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and they signed former wide receiver Marquise Brown in free agency.
Even so, Kansas City needs to make a few more changes before training camp and, eventually, the regular season begin.
Thankfully, the Chiefs still have the opportunity to sign a few free agents. These are three names Kansas City ought to take into account.
David Bakhtiari is an attacking tackle.
Donovan Smith’s decision to not be re-signed by the Chiefs this offseason has left a big vacuum on the left side of the offensive line. Wanya Morris is a member of Kansas City, but the team does not appear to be convinced that he should start at left tackle.
Former Green Bay Packers star David Bakhtiari is one name that has been associated with the Chiefs.
As of right now, we have no idea if Andy Reid and company are considering Bakhtiari. At this moment, it’s really just fan and media speculation, but the fit makes perfect sense. As a seasoned veteran, Bakhtiari undoubtedly wishes to join a contender. A left tackle is needed by Kansas City. It seems like the perfect combination.
Naturally, Bakhtiari has changed since his heyday with the Packers.
Due to a knee ailment, Bakhtiari missed all but one game in 2023. Over the previous three seasons, he has appeared in just 13 games. In addition, he hasn’t participated in a full season since 2019. Despite playing in just 12 games in 2020, he was selected to the Pro Bowl and the First Team All-Pro.
When healthy, Bakhtiari is without a doubt one of the best offensive lineman in the game, but that’s the problem. Green Bay released him earlier this offseason since he is rarely healthy these days. It’s also a major factor in his continued availability as a free agent.
Is there really anything the Chiefs stand to lose in this game?
Kansas City is looking for its past. Brady is being pursued by Mahomes. Reid’s on the trail of Bill Belichick. The Chiefs need to cover all of their bases, and left tackle is a very big base, if they are to turn that goal into reality. After all, it’s Mahomes’ blind side.
Bakhtiari is almost certainly available on an inexpensive one-year contract, so as training camp draws near, Kansas City would be prudent to think about adding him.
Wrestler Marquez Valdes-Scantling
The Chiefs appeared to have resolved their wide receiver depth problem when they signed the previously mentioned Brown in free agency. Rashee Rice then proceeded to become embroiled in a number of very significant legal matters, effectively starting over for Kansas City at the position.
Worthy was selected by the Chiefs in the draft, and many believe he was one of the class’s top selections. That being said, he is still an incoming rookie no matter how much of a steal he was in the late first round. He is hence unproven.
Given that Rice might have a protracted suspension, Brown might be Mahomes’ lone reliable wide receiver for the most of 2024. Because of this, Kansas City would greatly benefit from the return of the old reliable in Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
It’s true that Valdes-Scantling isn’t the best player. Neither is he really a No. 2. However, he made some huge catches in the postseason and contributed significantly to the Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl victories. During the 2022 regular season, he also caught 42 receptions for 687 yards and a few scores.
There aren’t many alternatives left for Kansas City now that veterans like Tyler Boyd, DJ Chark, and Odell Beckham Jr. are no longer available. While Michael Thomas is still active, the Chiefs should be concerned about his injury history. Hunter Renfrow is another one you have, but he hasn’t been effective since 2021.
Given the extremely limited number of receivers available in free agency, Kansas City could be better off signing with Valdes-Scantling, who they already know. Mahomes believes in him, and he has demonstrated his ability to play on a major stage.
Cornerback Xavien Howard
Back in March, the Chiefs had a very difficult choice to make. Keep L’Jarius Sneed around? Or do they trade him to get around the possible financial headache?
Kansas City ultimately went with the latter. They understood they would need to set aside funds in order to sign defensive tackle Chris Jones to a long-term contract, and they couldn’t afford to pay both Jones and Sneed in the long run unless they wanted to totally deplete their finances.
Consequently, Kansas City dealt Sneed to the Tennessee Titans; although Trent McDuffie remains at the other cornerback position, the team may certainly benefit from adding more depth and insurance. It’s difficult to believe Joshua Williams, who is so different from McDuffie, is trusted by the Chiefs.
Xavien Howard might hold the key to their solution.
The Miami Dolphins cut Howard earlier in the summer following his lackluster 2023 season, which saw him log 45 tackles, an interception, and 12 passes deflected in 13 games. Not because he was a horrible player; rather, there was a noticeable decline in his output, along with some injury problems.
But Howard is a seasoned veteran with four Pro Bowl seasons under his belt, including three in a row from 2020 to 2022. If not for ailments that kept him out of five games in 2019, he may have traveled five times in a row.
Twice, in 2020, when he recorded ten interceptions, the 30-year-old topped the NFL in interceptions. His ability to ballhawk has undoubtedly declined over the past two seasons, as evidenced by the mere two picks he has in 2022 and 2023. But we are aware that he possesses it.
Howard is undoubtedly hoping to join a competitive team. Howard may make a nice landing with the Baltimore Ravens, according to some speculation, so why not the Chiefs? McDuffie and Howard together would make for a formidable combination.
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