KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-6)
OPEN CAMP: July 20, St. Joseph, Mo. (Missouri Western State University)
LAST YEAR: A season-opening loss, worry about TE Travis Kelce’s health (knee) and wonder if the Chiefs put enough weapons around Patrick Mahomes were headlines around Kansas City until Andy Reid and Mahomes leaned all the way into a dominant defense and mowed down doubters right back to the Super Bowl. Reid eschewed rumors of retirement for a bid at a threepeat and Kelce picked up the world’s most famous fan as the bandwagon reloads around No. 15.
KEY ADDITIONS: P Matt Araiza, WR Marquise Brown, S Jaden Hicks, TE Irv Smith Jr., OT Kingsley Suamataia, QB Carson Wentz, TE Jared Wiley, WR Xavier Worthy
KEY LOSSES: TE Blake Bell, S Mike Edwards, QB Blaine Gabbert, LB Willie Gay Jr., RB Jerick McKinnon, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, OT Donovan Smith, CB L’Jarius Sneed, P Tommy Townsend
CAMP NEEDS: Speed was a theme for GM Brett Veach in rounding out the receiver corps, signing free agent Brown and using the 28th pick (via trade) to select Texas WR Worthy. Roles could reset if Rashee Rice’s offseason car accident and arrest bring legal punishment or NFL suspension. Dealing franchise-tagged corner Sneed subtracts the player in the secondary that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo credited with making his scheme possible.
2024 EXPECTATIONS: Super Bowl or bust, that’s the clear sentiment from Mahomes in the first days of workouts. Winning isn’t the expectation — winning it all is the new benchmark. Kansas City’s defense will be working in multiple first-year starters and the offense didn’t survive free agency unscathed, but the Chiefs have the potential to be a better team on paper.
PRESEASON SCHEDULE:
at Jacksonville Jaguars, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 10
vs. Detroit Lions, 4 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17
vs. Chicago Bears, 8:20 p.m. ET, Thursday, Aug. 22
–Field Level Media
