The Kansas City Chiefs have no shortage of frustrations as they are one game away from a daunting offseason. So much went wrong with the 2025 roster that it is easy to argue it is time to start fresh at a number of positions. However, there are a few select Chiefs who are deserving of a second chance as players who still could have a positive impact if afforded a second-chance.
This doesn't mean the Chiefs shouldn't be focused on searching for improvements, but understanding the reality that not every underwhelming player or position can be fully replaced. It leads us to look at a trio of players who underwhelmed in the 2025 season but clearly deserve another chance.
1. WR Tyquan Thornton
The veteran receiver appeared poised for a breakout season before Rashee Rice returned from suspension and Xavier Worthy got healthy after an early shoulder injury. Thornton's targets and snaps both slid in the wrong direction when both players returned and it halted what appeared to be a great story. It seemed the receiver was reduced to occasionally getting a deep shot and otherwise appeared to be on the field simply for the cardio. This leaves some questions as to whether or not Thornton will be brought back next season.
While it is understandable that Kansas City may have a level of apprehension around Thornton, it isn't time to turn the page just yet. Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster should both be jettisoned while keeping Rice, Worthy, and Thornton. The receiver had enough early chemistry with Patrick Mahomes to deserve a second-chance to continue to progress.
Thornton's 2025 season was still a step forward, totaling 438 receiving yards and a trio of touchdown catches and it is enough to earn Thornton another look at as an option on the back end of the depth chart.
2. K Harrison Butker
Butker's contract keeps the veteran kicker rostered until the 2028 season. However, there was reason to wonder if he was kicking his way to an early departure All told, Butker has missed nine kicks this season, including some in key spots and extra points that are typically layups for one of the league's more reliable options. It wouldn't be the first time we've seen an incredibly productive kicker go bad without warning.
Just in the past three seasons, we've seen two of the league's most accurate kickers, Younghoe Koo and Justin Tucker, implode, showing how quickly things can go sideways at the position. All this left reason to wonder if this was the case for Butker and whether or not it was time to turn the page. It's a question the kicker has given a clear answer to in the final games of the season, going 7-for-8 on field goal attempts over the last three games.
For the Chiefs, you simply cannot afford to jettison a player with Butker's presume unless you're positive that things have gone sideways. This earns the kicker another season and hopefully a chance to put together a more consistent 2026 campaign.
3. WR Jalen Royals
Heading into the 2025 season, there was an expectation that Royals was going to contribute. Despite being a Day 3 pick, Royals had a strong camp and was even garnering fan comparisons to a lesser version of Rice. This speaks to the lofty expectations fans had for the rookie heading into the season. Instead, Royals only played 43 offensive snaps the entire season, and only eight snaps since Week 8.
Although he was hampered by knee injuries, Royals wasn't given enough of an opportunity when healthy, and that should afford the receiver a safe roster spot heading into the 2026 season. While a fourth-round pick's roster spot is rarely safe, there is enough promise and a clear need at the position that should give Royals a chance. For the Chiefs, it doesn't make sense to part ways with the pass catcher in such a small sample size.
Kansas City is going to need additional contributors as well when you consider that Hollywood Brown is a free agent and the Chiefs may have to make life easier on a backup quarterback if Patrick Mahomes isn't ready to start Week 1 after tearing his ACL late in the season. Having the wildcard of the unknown pass catcher leaves every reason for his return in hopes of finding cheap production.