The Kansas City Chiefs are unlikely to make any more significant moves with their roster during the offseason.
That means they're pretty much all set as they finish up OTAs and head into training camp late next month. Between now and when the regular season kicks off, we'll see which players step up and which ones disappoint.
The popular football analytics website Pro Football Focus recently broke down all 32 NFL team's biggest strengths, weaknesses, and X-factors heading into 2025. Here's what they identified as the Chiefs' biggest strength from the 2024 season:
"Biggest strength in 2024: Defense: The Chiefs finished 2024 with the second-highest-graded defense and placed in the top 10 for PFF run-defense grade, PFF pass-rush grade and PFF coverage grade. The only other team to accomplish that feat was the Eagles, who vanquished Kansas City in Super Bowl 59."
I think everyone would agree with this. The Chiefs are coming off their worst year on offense ever since Patrick Mahomes took over as the starting quarterback. For the second year in a row, their defense carried the team. The only thing the unit really left to be desired was its sack total, but it did finish with the sixth-most QB pressures. Here's what PFF identified as Kansas City's biggest weakness in 2024:
"Biggest weakness in 2024: Patrick Mahomes‘ supporting cast: Mahomes ranked just eighth among quarterbacks in PFF overall grade (83.9) last season, making it just the second time in his seven years as a starter that he graded below 90.0 or was outside the top five in grading. Much of that had to do with the Chiefs' relatively average offensive environment. Kansas City placed just 17th in PFF pass-blocking grade, 15th in PFF receiving grade and 15th in PFF rushing grade in 2024."
This is another easy take to agree with. Mahomes' supporting cast has been a problem in each of the last two season. To be fair, the Chiefs did try to fix the issue last year, but injuries ravaged their wide receiver and running back groups. 2024 second-round draft pick Kingsley Suamataia being a bust a left tackle also set the offense back. Which leads up to PFF's biggest X-factor for the 2025 season...
"X-factor for 2025: G Kingsley Suamataia: The Chiefs traded All-Pro guard Joe Thuney to the Bears this offseason, leaving a gaping hole at left guard. That spot will likely be manned by 2024 second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia, who struggled in his rookie season at left tackle before getting benched after two games. Among tackles with at least 190 snaps, he earned the second-worst PFF overall grade (37.9). Now, he’ll need to fill Thuney’s massive shoes while learning a new position."
The Chiefs are placing a lot of faith in a guy who clearly was not ready to play at the NFL level as a rookie. Perhaps changing positions will help, but that's far from guaranteed. Suamataia showed some promise while playing LG in Week 18 last season, so hopefully he'll find his niche there. Playing next to him could be PFF's rookie to watch in 2025...
"Rookie to watch: T Josh Simmons: Next to Suamataia on the offensive line will likely be first-round pick Josh Simmons. While a torn patellar tendon ended his 2024 season in mid-October, he still led all FBS tackles with a 0.7% pressure rate allowed."
Despite coach Andy Reid recently stating that Simmons is ahead of schedule on his injury rehab, I'm not completely sold that he can be penciled in as the starter at LT. Veteran Jaylon Moore has experience on his side, and has spent his career learning from one of the best to ever play the position in Trent Williams. My rookie to watch would be wide receiver Jalen Royals, who could make an immediate impact as a rookie.
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