2024 offseason primer: Chiefs gunning for NFL’s first Super Bowl three-peat
It’s safe to say that winning three Super Bowl championships with four Super Bowl appearances in five seasons and making six straight AFC Championship Game appearances qualifies the Kansas City Chiefs (11-6 in 2023) as a dynasty.
Having lost four of six games from Week 11 to Week 16, many doubted whether the Chiefs were the same feared team they once were. But once they got into the playoffs, they ran through the gauntlet, knocking off the Miami Dolphins (11-6), Buffalo Bills (11-6), Baltimore Ravens (13-4) and San Francisco 49ers (12-5) en route to back-to-back Super Bowl titles.
Defense: DEs Tershawn Wharton, Michael Danna and Malik Herring; DTs Chris Jones and Derrick Nnadi; LBs Willie Gay Jr., Drue Tranquill and Jack Cochrane; CB Nazeeh Johnson; Safeties Mike Edwards and Deon Bush
Special teams: Punter Tommy Townsend
Outlook: Kansas City will have to create some cap flexibility in order to keep some of their free agents-to-be, but the team can free up nearly $25M by restructuring the deals of offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor, guard Joe Thuney and tight end Travis Kelce. Obviously, Jones is at the top of the team’s priority list. He’s a top-five DT and the Chiefs defense can’t afford to be without him.
Kansas City likely wants to retain a running back to backup Isiah Pacheco, and retaining either Valdes-Scantling or Hardman is probably in the best interest of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Smith was a solid left tackle this season, but he’s likely too expensive to keep around.
