AFC West offseason review: Did Chiefs improve OL?

The Chiefs strengths and weaknesses after free agency and the draft

It’s always important to keep an eye on the Las Vegas Raiders’ rivals, and recently, I received a mailbag question about what the other teams in the AFC West’s weaknesses and/or question marks are after free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft. But the answer is long-winded and deserving of an offseason review series, starting with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Free Agency

Key Additions: OT Jaylon Moore (SF), CB Kristian Fulton (LAC), S Mike Edwards (TB)

Key Losses: OL Joe Thuney (via trade to CHI), S Justin Reid (NO), DL Tershawn Wharton (DL), WR DeAndre Hopkins (BAL)

To be honest, the Chiefs’ biggest “addition” in free agency was using the franchise tag on guard Trey Smith. He’s one of the better interior offensive linemen in the league, and the club is currently working on extending Smith. However, that did come at the cost of trading Thuney, who struggled as the team’s emergency left tackle but is a quality guard.

That leads to the big remaining question in Kansas City from last season: Who is going to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side? Moore is the most logical answer since he signed a two-year, $30 million contract in free agency. But the former 49er has never taken more than 275 snaps in a season during his four-year career, per Pro Football Focus.

On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs made a solid pickup at cornerback with Fulton. He was a decent player for the Chargers last season and could take over as the defense’s No. 2 corner behind Trent McDuffie. However, going from Reid to Edwards is a downgrade at safety. Granted, Jaden Hicks and Bryan Cook return and are projected to be the starters on the backend.

Additionally, Wharton is an underrated loss as an interior pass-rusher who could take some pressure off Chris Jones. That said, I do think the addition of Omarr Norman-Lott via the draft is a decent replacement option.

Draft

Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Additions: LT Josh Simmons (1st round), DT Omarr Norman-Lott (2nd round), EDGE Ashton Gillotte (3rd round), CB Nohl Williams (3rd round), WR Jalen Royals (4th round), LB Jeffrey Bassa (5th round), RB Brashard Smith (7th round)

Simmons is the other contender to win the left tackle job this season. However, he is coming off a torn patellar tendon that could cause him to take more of a ‘redshirt year’ as a rookie, so to speak. If he’s healthy and returns to form, though, I’d expect the Ohio State product to be in the starting lineup.

Gillotte is probably more of a long-term pick than someone Kansas City is expecting to contribute right away. His game is similar to George Karlaftis’—whose contract expires after the 2026 campaign—and Charles Omenihu projects as the first defensive end off the bench behind Karlaftis and Mike Danna. But Omenihu is entering a contract year.

Meanwhile, Williams can compete for an outside cornerback spot and is a ballhawk, leading the country with seven interceptions last year. Royals also could carve out a significant role in year one, as he was expected to get drafted sooner than he did, and Kansas City’s crop of returning wide receivers is more solid than good.

Remaining Question Marks

• Offensive line

Outside of Smith and Creed Humphrey, the Chiefs’ offensive line is up in their. The left tackle battle was mentioned above, and Thuney’s departure means second-year pro Kingsley Suamataia will attempt to switch positions. On the other side, Jawaan Taylor and Wanya Morris will battle it out for the starting spot. Taylor is the favorite as the returning starter, but hasn’t lived up to the big contract he signed a few years ago.

• Secondary

While Fulton did have a bounce-back season last fall, he’s had four years of sub-par play and just one above-average campaign. So, Kansas City is taking a bit of a chance at cornerback, hoping either the former Charger, Williams or Jaylen Watson can become a servicable starter.

• Saftey

Reid was all over the field during his tenure with the club and won’t be easy to replace. Edwards provides some insurance, but he was let go by Buffalo and only played a handful of games in Tampa Bay last season. The Chiefs are putting a lot of faith in Hicks and Cook being quality starters this year, which is a risky proposition, in my opinion.

• Running back

Isiah Pacecho is coming off a career-low 3.6 yards per attempt (including the postseason) and battled injuries last season. That led many to believe Kansas City might add a running back in the draft, but the front office didn’t address the position until the seventh round. Granted, free-agent signing Elijah Mitchell and returner Kareem Hunt will factor into the mix as well. Still, I have questions about how the lack of activity at running back will impact the offense’s running game.