With training camps in full swing, the competition begins for 90 players to make the 53-man roster. There are more than 45 or so Chiefs players, in my opinion, that are a deadbolt lock to do just that, many of those guys capable of improving their production from the previous year.
The term “breakout year” tends to be flippantly thrown out there in the sports world, without much of a barometer of what qualifies for a player to have a year in which they break out. For me, a breakout player means that up to this point in his career had his best season statistically. He also, for NFL purposes, has to be within his rookie contract. It’s hard for me to compute, rather accept that a 30-year-old can truly have what we call a breakout year, because when you do so, you’re expected to at least stay at that level for a while or improve even further as a now cemented star at your respected position.
With all of that out of the way, here are four Chiefs players who I believe are destined to have career years in 2025, hopefully securing themselves a starting spot on this roster for years to come.
1. WR Xavier Worthy
2024 stats: 59 Receptions, 638 Yards, 6 TDs 20 Rush Attempts, 104 Yards, 3 TDs
If you’re a Chiefs fan (which I assume you are if you’re reading this article), then you and I both know that Xavier Worthy can play. The 28th overall pick from last year's draft left no doubt in fans' minds that his speed is real. His combine record 4.21 40-yard dash is legit, and it translates on the field. His route tree is already vast and growing each day. Worthy’s rookie year was somewhat of a mixed bag for the first dozen weeks, but when he gained the trust of Patrick Mahomes, he was the go-to guy on offense.
Through weeks 14-17 plus the three playoff games, Worthy was on the field for 83.5% of the snaps, with a season high of 91.1% in the Super Bowl. He was on the field like a WR1, and he produced like one, too. Over that span, his 17-game pace was 109 rec, 1,258 yards, and 12 TDs, to go along with 153 rushing yards and 2 TDs. I could very well see him put those numbers up this year, especially with the fact that fellow receiver Rashee Rice will likely be suspended to start the season, giving Worthy the keys to the car.
And the rushing matters too. Look at what Tyreek Hill did when he got those end-arounds handed to him. It adds a whole new level of speed and unpredictability to an offense that kind of needs it. Worthy was an easy choice for a breakout 2025 season.
2. LG Kingsley Suamataia
2024 stats: Started Weeks 1-2 at LT, Started Week 18 at LG
Listen, I might get some push back on this, simply due to how poorly Kingsley played at left tackle to start the season before his benching. And you’re right, he was a trainwreck for those two weeks, there’s no getting around it. But as we stand today, Kingsley is slated to be the starting left guard for 2025, taking Joe Thuney’s old spot, and I believe he might just fit right into that new role.
Kingsley’s frame and mobility are more of a guard type anyway. He’s 6-foot-4 and 325 pounds, and strong as an ox. The reason why he was pigeonholed into being a tackle is partly due to the Chiefs not doing their due diligence and forcing a second-round pick to protect the blindside of the best player in the league. The other reason is that Suamataia does have 34 ¼-inch arms, which is prototypical for tackles, something that will give him a distinct advantage now playing on the inside of the line.
In Week 18 of last year, the Chiefs elected to rest the majority of their starters, giving them a perfect test run to throw Kinglsey into left guard and see how he handles it. And he answered the bell, allowing just one QB pressure in 24 pass-blocking snaps. Keep in mind, too, that around Kinglsey were all Chiefs backups, playing against a Denver Broncos d-line that had to play all of its starters to secure their own team's playoff spot. I’m sure that Suamataia will be given lots of run in the preseason to help him feel more comfortable, and it will give us Chiefs fans a chance to get excited about this new-look offensive line.
3. LB Leo Chenal
2024 stats: 60 tackles (40 solo), 1 Sack, 4 TFL, 3FF
Chenal is the one player on my list who is not entering his second season but rather in the last year of his four-year rookie contract. That makes this season all the more important for Chenal to make it his best, as he will be seeking a larger contract next offseason. First off, Chenal is a core special teamer for the Chiefs, making his value to Dave Toub that much bigger. He is also the Chiefs' best linebacker in coverage, especially after Drue Tranquill took a bit of a dip last year in that department.
Chenal’s snaps have held steady over the last two years at 40%. I feel very comfortable saying that if Tranquill continues to regress just a tad more, Chenal will swoop in and take over not Tranquill’s job but perhaps 20% of his snaps. If Chenal can muster 60% of game action, his numbers would increase to 70-plus tackles, 2-3 sacks, and a couple of forced turnovers, more than warranting a breakout season, in a contract year.
4. S Jaden Hicks
2024 stats: 29 tackles (23 solo), 3 TFL, 3 Interceptions, 5 Passes Deflected
Lead safety for three years, Justin Reid hit free agency this offseason, and the Chiefs didn’t seem to blink an eye, and it all has to do with Jaden Hicks. The 22-year-old out of Washington State is set to take on a huge role on this Chiefs' defense, both as a leading player and a communicator. Everything I hear from both the Chiefs and media personnel around the team, Hicks looks the part. He’s hoping to build off his rookie season, which saw him play only 31% of the snaps.
From Week 13 on to the Super Bowl, Hicks was on the field 63% of the time, overtaking Bryan Cook’s role when the Chiefs went to two safety coverages. In those nine games, Hicks paced out for a full season to 57 tackles and four interceptions. Good numbers, but that’s basing off of the limited snaps he played last season. In Reid’s time with KC, he was on the field for 97% of the snaps. That is going to Jaden Hicks this year, in which case he averages out to 88 tackles and six interceptions, numbers much more in line with Chiefs lead safeties over the years.
Hicks might be the biggest bet the Chiefs are making on defense this year, and I think he’ll step up to the plate in more ways than one.