The season for the Kansas City Chiefs has come to an end, and it’s been, well, less than ideal. Fans are understandably upset about missing the playoffs for the first time in ten years. On top of that, there’s this ongoing worry about Patrick Mahomes possibly needing surgery for his ACL, which adds to the uncertainty about how he’ll come back.
This could be a pivotal time for Kansas City, actually. They have a chance to reassess things and take some steps forward to rejoin the ranks of top teams. The silver lining for Chiefs fans is that there’s a clear way for that to happen.
Defensively, the Chiefs have shown strength. After years of adjusting their offense and focusing on defense, their priorities seem to have shifted. Once Mahomes is back and fully healthy, he’ll need some solid support, and there are multiple avenues to achieve that.
2026 NFL Draft: Start the Love Train
The Chiefs might want to consider losing a few more games to position themselves better for the 2026 Draft. By finishing the season with a record of 6 wins and 11 losses, they could potentially land in the top 10 picks, with a realistic chance of hitting the No. 7 spot, which could be useful for targeting key players.
I get why people think the Chiefs should focus on shoring up their offensive line. They definitely need that kind of support. However, I’m not fully convinced that should be their top priority in 2026. Kansas City has a knack for finding good linemen through free agency and later draft rounds, so it might be wiser to pursue a standout player instead.
Enter Love, the top running back in the upcoming draft. He could really change things up in the backfield, moving the Chiefs away from their current mix of running backs. His 6-foot, 214-pound stature makes him perfect for tough runs, and while his receiving skills weren’t fully exploited at Notre Dame, he’s skillful enough to be effective in that area as well.
It’s been way too long since Kansas City had a truly elite three-down running back. They hoped Clyde Edwards-Helaire would fill that role, but they kind of floundered in their choices and ended up missing out on better options who were picked later.
I personally love a touch of nostalgia, and Jeremiah Love has a bit of a Priest Holmes/Larry Johnson feel that I find hard to ignore. He could take some pressure off a returning Mahomes, allowing them to possibly target solid offensive linemen like Isaiah Worlds or Jennings Dunker in the second round to boost their blocking.
2027 NFL Draft: Get the knockout punch
The 2026 season might feel a bit like a gap year—there’s really no rush to bring back Patrick Mahomes. If he needs 9 to 12 months to recover, the Chiefs could find themselves starting out at 0-5 or even 0-6 while waiting for him to come off IR.
If there’s a need to tank, it could actually be strategic. I mean, drawing on the idea of mocking you know who—yeah, perhaps it’s too obvious, but who cares? Find a way to land Jeremiah Smith from Ohio State, be it through a good draft position or a trade, just make it happen.
One major issue for the Chiefs’ offense in the past has been their lack of top-tier, versatile receivers that would ease the burden on the quarterback. When Tyreek Hill was on the field, he opened things up for Mahomes to create opportunities.
Jeremiah Smith is a distinct type of receiver. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 223 pounds, he boasts an impressive build for the position, and there’s a chance he might grow even more before entering the draft. He’s been compared to Marvin Harrison Jr. and DK Metcalf for his size and physical playing style.
The Chiefs have found themselves in a tough spot during the Mahomes era, often not having a favorable draft position to snag a top receiver. This could be their chance to turn that around.
come out the other side
Transforming the Chiefs isn’t just about acquiring draft picks; it’s about making their offense more diverse and effective while Mahomes is under pressure. Players like Jeremiah Love and Jeremiah Smith could really play key roles in achieving that. This strategy aims to help the team optimize its strong defense and modernize its offense, ensuring that Mahomes can do what he does best.
There’s a more tedious route to this. That would mean continually focusing on offensive linemen and consistently following that path. Still, the risk is worth taking if it can lead to something truly special. It’s probably better to aim for the latter whenever possible.
