Chiefs have notable depth issues emerge at training camp

The Kansas City Chiefs have a few glaring concerns emerging in training camp.

Per The Athletic's Jesse Newell, the Chiefs have notable depth issues surfacing at running back and defensive tackle before the regular season.

"At running back, starter Isiah Pacheco appears to be full strength after suffering fibula and rib injuries last season, but KC doesn’t seem to have much explosiveness behind him," Newell wrote. "Kareem Hunt is a short-yardage specialist who turns 30 this week. Free-agent pickup Elijah Mitchell has yet to show the burst he had in his earlier days, while seventh-round running back Brashard Smith is super athletic but still working to pick up the playbook as a sort of receiver-back hybrid."

Newell thinks Kansas City should be in the market for a third-down back before their Week 1 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers.

While Newell praised rookie Omarr Norman-Lott for his performance thus far at training camp, he thinks the Chiefs need to add another run stopper at defensive tackle, a position he considers to be one of the roster's most significant weaknesses.

"At defensive tackle, the Chiefs could use a run stopper — both now and in the future — to play alongside (Chris) Jones," Newell continued. "Mike Pennel remains the top candidate for now, but he just turned 34. Marlon Tuipulotu and Fabien Lovett are younger, but both lack NFL playing experience; if either emerges, that could go a long way toward helping one of the team’s biggest question marks."

A third-down back should be much easier for the Chiefs to acquire than a defensive tackle at this point in the year. 

Fortunately for Kansas City, issues with a third-down running back and rotational defensive tackle are a much better problem to have than on the offensive line, which plagued the team all last year.

With a large contract tied to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, there are always going to be some holes on the roster. However, the Chiefs should be in much better shape for the 2025 regular season than in 2024, when they were AFC champions.