THE Kansas City Chiefs lost the Super Bowl in devastating fashion, and the dynasty is at risk of ending.
With Travis Kelce contemplating retirement, a limited amount of cap space, and key members of the squad headed to free agency, things aren’t looking great.
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However, the Chiefs dynasty doesn’t have to end in a Super Bowl loss.
While it may be hard, the team has an opportunity to turn things around with an expert offseason.
Andy Reid and the Chiefs front office will need to play their hands perfectly, and here is what they can do to rebuild the squad.
CUT TRAVIS KELCE’S CONTRACT
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Kelce is already contemplating retiring from the NFL, but his 2024 season should prove to the Chiefs that he isn’t worth his contract.
In 2024, Kelce had his lowest-ever totals for receiving yards and touchdowns.
During most of the season he was simply a nonfactor in the Chiefs’ offense.
The 2025 season will be Kelce’s age-36 season, and he will likely only get less productive on the football field.
Kelce has a cap hit of almost $20 million for the 2025 season and that is simply not worth it for the Chiefs.
If they cut him this offseason, they will only be on the hook for $2.5 million in dead cap instead of the full $20 million.
Kelce is a franchise legend, but it is time to let him go.
RESIGN TREY SMITH
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It was especially apparent in the Super Bowl that the Chiefs offensive line is a liability.
This offseason it has the potential to get even worse as Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith is set to enter free agency.
The Chiefs shouldn’t allow this to happen. By cutting Kelce, they should open up just enough salary to either franchise tag Smith or sign him to a long-term extension.
Patrick Mahomes needs help in order to show off his passing talent, and that means giving him a clean pocket and time to throw the ball.
Keeping Trey Smith is a step in the right direction to rebuilding the offensive line.
DRAFT YOUNG REPLACEMENTS
The Chiefs are set to lose other star players in free agency like safety Justin Reid and edge rusher Charles Omenihu.
The best way for them to replace those talents at a cheap price, thanks to their salary cap limitations, is through the NFL Draft.
Kansas City should specifically target tight end, secondary, and defensive line in the draft.
At the back end of the first round or at the beginning of the second round, the Chiefs should look at a player like tight end Elijah Arroyo out of Miami. He plays a similar style of tight end as Kelce and could slot into the Chiefs’ offense easily.
In the second or third round, a player like safety Nick Emmanwori out of South Carolina could replace Reid.
In the third round or later, an edge rusher like Elijah Roberts out of SMU is an underrated prospect that could replace Omenihu.
FREE AGENCY TARGETS
It’s hard to predict any free agent targets for the Chiefs because of just how bad their cap situation is.
However, we can target some positions of need for them to go after in the event that they do open up some money.
The Chiefs’ key free agency targets should be offensive line and wide receiver.
As previously mentioned, the team’s offensive line needs beefing up and some players like Joseph Noteboom from Los Angeles or Cam Robinson from Minnesota could be good options.
The Chiefs also need a veteran presence at wide receiver. Guys like Juju Smith-Schuster and DeAndre Hopkins haven’t worked out.
There are names like Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen entering free agency that could get smaller contracts due to their age.
