The last three weeks of the Kansas City Chiefs’ season weren’t fun to watch.
Without quarterback Patrick Mahomes or any realistic playoff hopes, there wasn’t much to take away from those games. After backup quarterback Gardner Minshew was injured, the team was forced to lean on a third-string quarterback for nearly three weeks while several other starters were sidelined as well. Given the circumstances and the stakes, it’s difficult to be overly upset about how the season closed.
Still, there were lessons to be learned. Even in meaningless games, there are always details that can inform how a roster should be shaped moving forward.
With that in mind, here are the most notable takeaways from the final three weeks of the season.
1. Nohl Williams and Kristian Fulton can impact the Chiefs’ plan at cornerback in 2026
There weren’t many bright spots over the final stretch, but the play of these two corners stood out as a legitimate positive.
While Fulton was initially signed to compete for a starting role alongside Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, that plan never materialized. Injuries derailed his offseason, and when he did see the field earlier in the year, the results were underwhelming.
That situation forced the team to lean more heavily on Williams, though his role remained limited. He sometimes held up in coverage, but there were also moments where he struggled. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo often preferred dime packages with three safeties — or even Chris Roland-Wallace — over the rookie.
Once McDuffie and Watson were sidelined over the final three games, both Fulton and Williams were thrust into full-time boundary roles — and both responded well. I wrote about Williams’ growth a week ago. Fulton consistently flashed his best trait: defending at the catch point, something he’s done well dating back to LSU.
One of the quieter storylines this offseason will be how Kansas City approaches the cornerback position. Watson will be a free agent who is likely to command a significant deal, while McDuffie enters his fifth-year option season. Whether that leads to an extension or even a trade remains an open question.
No matter how those decisions shake out, both Williams and Fulton showed enough to be part of the 2026 plan. Williams appears capable of starting a full season, while Fulton’s durability remains a concern — meaning additional depth will still be necessary.
2. There is a role for Brashard Smith, but the Chiefs need to work at it
The seventh-round rookie’s season was largely frustrating. Despite frequent hints that a breakout was coming, it never materialized — largely because the coaching staff never committed to giving him a defined role.
The final two weeks offered some optimism — especially Week 18. Smith carried the ball 12 times for 56 yards, producing 4.7 yards per attempt. He did this primarily on outside-zone concepts that highlighted his burst and vision. Several of his best runs cut all the way back across the formation, something no other back on the roster can consistently do.
While this means there is something tangible to build upon, it’s up to the coaching staff to formalize Smith’s role. Rather than treating him as a situational change-up, the offense needs to give him consistent responsibilities if he’s going to matter in 2026.
One potential blueprint is the role once filled by Jerick McKinnon. Smith will need to improve in pass protection, but both players share receiving ability, explosiveness and third-down utility — traits that the team’s other running backs don’t necessarily share.
It’s difficult to be overly harsh on right tackle Chu Godrick, given his limited football background. Expecting high-level play in his first NFL action was unrealistic — and the situation he was placed in was far from ideal.
Still, based on what he showed, Godrick isn’t ready for meaningful snaps at this level. That may change with development, but any talk of him being a viable swing-tackle option in 2026 should be tempered for now — even if he remains an easy player to root for through the International Pathway Program.
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