The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to rediscover their offensive firepower after back-to-back seasons that didn’t quite live up to the Patrick Mahomes standard.
Mahomes still put up strong numbers in 2023, throwing for 4,183 yards (sixth in the NFL) and 27 touchdowns (eighth). But the 2024 campaign was a step back—Mahomes’ passing yardage dipped to 3,928, and his touchdown total fell to 26.
While most quarterbacks would take those stats in a heartbeat, they were underwhelming by Mahomes’ lofty standards.
Even more concerning was Kansas City’s scoring output. The Chiefs have finished just 15th in total points scored in each of the past two seasons. Quietly, they’ve morphed into a team that leans on its defense—a far cry from the offensive juggernaut they’ve been under Andy Reid.
Expect that to shift in 2025.
Mahomes has made it clear he’s tired of dialing up duds on offense. “I think the offense has a chance to be really, really good,” he said earlier this week. “The goal is to try to build on it and get even better—and try to get back to some of the explosive passing plays we’ve done in years past.”
The foundation is already in place, but the Chiefs should be eyeing another explosive receiver in the upcoming NFL Draft to round out their arsenal.
Marquise Brown signed a one-year prove-it deal earlier this offseason and is looking to reignite his career. He missed most of 2024 with a shoulder injury but still offers top-end speed that can take the top off a defense.
Rashee Rice is also returning from a knee injury that cut his promising 2024 campaign short. In just four games, he hauled in 24 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns—a scorching pace before he went down.
Then there’s Xavier Worthy, a rising star with game-breaking ability. As a rookie, Worthy posted 59 receptions for 638 yards and six touchdowns while adding another three scores on the ground. Every time he touches the rock, defenders hold their breath.
With Brown, Rice, and Worthy in the mix—plus Travis Kelce still doing Travis Kelce things—the Chiefs have the framework of a dangerous passing attack. Still, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they dipped into the early rounds of the draft to add another receiver.
And if they do, JuJu Smith-Schuster might be the odd man out.
Smith-Schuster rejoined the Chiefs on a one-year deal, but that doesn’t guarantee him a roster spot. His $1.2 million cap hit is barely a blip on Kansas City’s financial radar, meaning the team could cut ties without thinking twice.
He’s coming off a disappointing season and seems to be losing steam at just 28 years old. In 14 games last year, he posted career lows (in seasons where he played more than five games) in receptions (18), yards (231), and touchdowns (2). That’s not the kind of production that earns job security in a crowded receiver room.
Right now, he sits fourth on the depth chart—and it’s a slippery slope from there. If the Chiefs add another receiver with real upside, Smith-Schuster’s blend of declining production and off-field flair may become more trouble than it’s worth.
That’s why he’s skating on thin ice heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. And if Kansas City makes another move at wide receiver, that ice might crack beneath him.