The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for an offseason full of expected changes after the 2025 campaign fell far short of the expectations placed on this group. For the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, not only will the season come to a close short of the AFC Championship, but Kansas City will miss the playoffs completely. This creates an obvious sense of urgency for meaningful offseason changes and parting ways with failing pieces.
Frustratingly, there is no shortage of pieces that need to be moved on from, including coaches who are no longer doing the job. The only truly untouchable pieces heading into the offseason should be Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid. Leading us to look at three players likely playing their final downs with the Chiefs in Week 18.
1. Hollywood Brown
What is so frustrating about watching the undersized receiver is the level of inconsistency. Brown has 523 receiving yards on the season and 5 touchdowns. This production speaks to the greatness of Mahomes. Watching the tape, it is obvious that the receiver is far from an elite option and shouldn't be a consideration for re-signing. Brown is scheduled to hit free agency and will create an opportunity for Kansas City to improve at the position.
Brown's limits are clearly pointed to by the fact that he only averages 10.8 yards in target depth and offers 3.5 yards on average after the catch. Brown isn't breaking many tackles or likely to take the top off of the opposing defense. In fairness, the pass catcher wasn't a problem when it came to securing the football, with only one drop on the season.
While this is a solid number, it doesn't take away the obvious limitations in the receiver's game. Everything that Brown is supposed to offer, Xavier Worthy can do at a much higher level. This makes it clear that the two sides need to part ways with KC looking to improve at the position.
2. Isiah Pacheco
Already, the Chiefs have made it clear that Pacheco won't be returning in the 2026 season. The running back is scheduled to hit free agency at the end of the season and hasn't offered anything close to convincing production. The once exciting playmaker has been held under four yards a carry this season, offering only 462 total rushing yards and a lone touchdown. Patrick Mahomes will be coming off ACL surgery in the 2026 season and should not, under any circumstances, be asked to be anything close to Kansas City's leading rusher.
So often in big games, it was the legs of the quarterback fueling the offense, keeping drives alive. This illustrates the failure of Pacheco and why the Chiefs clearly need to make a change. Kansas City needs a starting back that can take pressure off the quarterback and fuel the offense against lesser defensive units.
Pacheco clearly isn't going to provide this, leaving zero reason to consider a reunion. There really is nothing the back can do in Week 18 to change this. Even a huge day against the hapless Las Vegas Raiders isn't changing the fact that it is time to turn the page.
3. Noah Gray
While Gray is still under contract for the 2026 season, the tight end is no longer meeting the standard of the franchise. In a season when the Chiefs badly needed surprise contributors, with injuries and suspensions limiting the ceiling of the offense, Gray has 148 receiving yards and two drops despite limited targets. The blocking and reliability in the passing attack have both noticeably regressed from a season ago, opening the door for a completely new depth chart at the position.
Travis Kelce is expected to retire, and Robert Tonyan hasn't had the expected impact, rarely taking the field. It is time for the Chiefs to clean the slate at the position, and Gray is a piece of this based on the lack of success in the 2025 season. There isn't a lot that the pass catcher can do in Week 18 to change the perspective on this.
Gray's contract keeps the tight end in Kansas City until the end of the 2027 season; however, the Chiefs electing to cut Gray saves $4 million in cap space. While this isn't a huge number, it is a viable decision when the tight end isn't living up to expectations and Kansas City is going to need every penny possible freed in the 2026 offseason to retool a failing roster. This should be Gray's final game in a Kansas City uniform.