The Kansas City Chiefs are facing the highest level of scrutiny the franchise has been under since the Patrick Mahomes era began. This is due to the quarterback coming off an ACL tear and the first losing season of his career. Previously, the floor for the Chiefs was playing in the AFC Championship game. A fact that many pundits have rushed to overlook in an effort to doubt a team that appears to be headed back to the top of the AFC.
However, it would be disingenuous not to acknowledge the obvious questions and concerns facing Kansas City as we close in on training camp. With this in mind, let's look at the four biggest questions that Chiefs fans hope to see answers to at the end of the summer and heading into the regular season.
1. Will the Receiver Room Support Patrick Mahomes?
The Chiefs opted to pay Tyquan Thornton after a season that saw the pass-catcher produce more yardage (438) and touchdowns (3) than he had in his first three seasons combined. Rashee Rice is an elite weapon, but a terrible liability when it comes to his actual ability to stay on the field. Leading us to Xavier Worthy, who is coming off an injury-plagued 2025 season and is yet to take the expected leap when it comes to being a consistent presence within Kansas City's offense.
Clearly, the Chiefs are betting a lot on the offseason coaching changes, believing that this will help wipe away the above questions. However, it makes it difficult to buy in, not only because of the concerns but also because if just one of these players goes down or doesn't live up to expectations, you're turning to either Jalen Royals or Cyrus Allen for answers, two young, day-three draft picks who remain unknowns.
2. Will Andy Reid's Coaching Changes Work?
The return of Eric Bieniemy was far from the only offensive coaching tweak as Reid reset his staff. After three straight years of offensive struggles, it was a fitting decision for a head coach whose entire career has been built on creative offensive attacks that get the most out of his players. This version of the coach has been nowhere to be found over the last two seasons.
It was clear that the blame was laid at the feet of the offensive coaching staff, and the expected answer was changing this group and leaning on Bieniemy to police the unit. However, we are yet to see this deliver the expected changes, and until fans see it with their own eyes, it is understandable to have some level of concern.
3. Can the Chiefs Rely on Harrison Butker?
The Atlanta Falcons are a great example of why this question is relevant, as the franchise went into last season with Younghoe Koo as their kicker. Prior to last season, Koo held a top-four all-time field goal percentage and was historically accurate; this lasted only a few weeks, as the veteran imploded and is now jobless, as we are only weeks away from training camp. While this isn't to suggest Butker is walking this path, it is a reminder of just how volatile the position remains and how quickly things can change.
Butker has been money throughout his career, but missed five field goals and four PATs a season ago. This was completely unexpected and far from the reliable player the clutch scorer has previously been. When looking at current concerns or questions, there is none more potentially impactful than wondering if this was an outlier or a sign of a more concerning trend.
4. What Will Kansas City's Defensive Line Look Like?
The starters might be known, but the concern remains whether or not there are enough pass-rushing options. Ashton Gillotte is expected to take a year-two leap, while rookies Peter Woods and R Mason Thomas are being counted on in important roles. Leading us to Chris Jones, who had zero impact when the season was on the line in the 2025 season. Notably, the moments that Jones jumped off the screen early in the year were profoundly impactful mistakes that allowed game-winning plays from Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert.
Is the elite version of Jones returning in the 2026 season? Do the Chiefs have enough edge rushing options? These are two pressing questions that fans hope to see answers to early in training camp and the preseason.
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