Arrowhead Addict

The Kansas City Chiefs clearly made the right decision when it came to L'Jarius Sneed back in 2024. The Chiefs were coming off back-to-back Super Bowl victories but Sneed was set to land a new extension and a hefty one at that. The Chiefs decided to trade their top-notch cornerback to the Tennessee Titans, who then inked Sneed to a four-year deal worth roughly $76 million. Sneed proceeded to play just 12 games for the Titans in two years and was released this offseason.

The Chiefs have a lot of returning faces across their linebacker room for 2026 Kansas City Chiefs players including Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) celebrate after stopping the Indianapolis Colts on fourth down Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Kansas City Chiefs fans are lucky to have Patrick Mahomes taking the snaps at quarterback. While the team had decent quarterbacks before him, Mahomes has given them something they've never had before, which is an MVP-level signal-caller, one capable of leading the team to a Super Bowl and winning it all on the brightest stage. That's why it isn't going to be looked at as a big deal to fans that Mahomes was ranked second in the latest ESPN quarterback rankings by executives, coaches, and scouts.

The Kansas City Chiefs had numerous weaknesses in 2025, hence their final mark of 6-11. Their pass rush was anemic, their running game was comically bad, they lacked speed in the secondary, and their wide receivers were a combination of injured and ineffective. General manager Brett Veach has addressed three of those four issues this offseason through both free agency and the draft.

Identifying specific trends from NFL teams can take a fair amount of time. That is especially true when considering new regimes once they get their shot in a new place. At the same time, some of the more impactful difference making trends may be an item that teams tap into a fourth of the time throughout the season. For the Las Vegas Raiders, there are plenty of new faces going into 2026. The Raiders are once again starting over with a new head coach.

The Chiefs have an extensive history of elite edge rushers, with the likes of Derrick Thomas, Tamba Hali, and Justin Houston all making their mark on the organization. Despite the team's history with incredible pass rushers, the Chiefs have struggled to draft and develop defensive ends over the last several years. Now, heading into 2026, questions are brewing from fans and analysts about the status of the Chiefs' edge rushers as we approach the offseason.

Kansas City Chiefs fans know all too well the importance of a strong offensive line. Having one can be the difference between winning a Super Bowl and getting blown out in one (or two, sadly). That's why Brett Veach went to work last offseason revamping the Chiefs' offensive line. He spent a late first-round pick on Josh Simmons and signed Jaylon Moore in free agency. The Chiefs also extended right guard Trey Smith, making a statement that they believed in the guys they had drafted and built up.

For all of the roster changes, storylines with stars, and general interest around the Kansas City Chiefs as the NFL's most successful franchise of the last decade, one narrative reigns supreme: the health and availability of Patrick Mahomes. The team's franchise face went down with a torn ACL and LCL in a game against the L.A. Chargers late last season. Since then, all eyes and ears have been tuned into any bits of information they can find to hear more about his recovery timeline.

Gardner Minshew has been cast as a lead. He's also been a supporting actor as well as a member of the ensemble. At this point, it's hard to tell exactly the role he'll play for the Arizona Cardinals in 2026. Last season, Minshew served as the primary backup to Patrick Mahomes for the Kansas City Chiefs. In Week 14, he stepped up in relief of Mahomes when the Chiefs' superstar went down with torn knee ligaments.

The Kansas City Chiefs are hoping for a different outcome in 2026 after missing the postseason last year. They flipped things around on the roster, which included moving up to select cornerback Mansoor Delane. Kansas City gave Cleveland picks 9, 74, and 148 in exchange for No. 6 to snag Delane. Giving up those kinds of assets shows how the Chiefs viewed him, giving him a clear path to making a difference from the get-go.