The Kansas City Chiefs may not have anything left to play for this season, at least in terms of playoff seeding. If anything, they might benefit from losing and doing what is necessary to have as high a draft pick as they possibly can.
That being said, the final three games can still allow this team to evaluate its options. Head coach Andy Reid hinted at making some personnel changes if things didn't improve, and several players would benefit from some additional playing time to showcase their skills. Of them, maybe Tyquan Thonrton needs it the most.
The Chiefs Need to Unleash Tyquan Thornton
The Chiefs turned to Thornton earlier in the season when Rashee Rice was suspended, and Xavier Worthy was injured. He responded by outplaying Marquise "Hollywood" Brown and looking like the deep-play threat Patrick Mahomes hadn't had since Tyreek Hill left.
Then, he became a non-factor. Despite his production, chemistry with Mahomes, and unique skill set, Andy Reid dealt with him as an afterthought and a rotational piece. He's going to be a free agent at the end of the season and might not want to return after that, which is why these three games could help both the Chiefs evaluate whether they want to keep him while also finally doing right by him.
Thornton played as many as 77% of the snaps earlier in the season. Then, as the Chiefs got back to full strength, he fell behind in the pecking order. He's fifth on the team with just 368 snaps, yet he made the most of his chances.
He turned 37 targets into 19 receptions for 438 yards and three touchdowns, averaging a whopping 23.1 yards per catch and being just short of the goal line two more times. For context, Marquise Brown played more snaps (449), had more targets (62), and receptions (42), yet he has nearly as many receiving yards (494) and touchdowns (5).
Brown, Thornton, and Smith-Schuster will all be free agents, and the Chiefs will need to figure out whether Rashee Rice is worth an extension. As for Xavier Worthy, he's looking more like a bust than an actual star. Thornton is an intriguing option with big-play potential, and given the way he performed in the first half of the season, not giving him a chance to make a case for himself would be borderline organizational malpractice by the Chiefs.