For the first time since Patrick Mahomes took over as their starting quarterback in 2018, the Kansas City Chiefs failed to reach double-digit wins and they missed the playoffs.
But the good news is Mahomes isn’t expected to miss all of next season, tight end Travis Kelce is coming back for one more season, the team finally added running back support in Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, and KC added two impact defensive players in Round 1 of the 2026 draft in Mansoor Delane and Peter Woods.
Most of the Chiefs’ offseason moves came on the defensive side of the ball. They signed free agent defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, cornerback Kaiir Elam, and safety Alohi Gilman, and drafted edge-rusher R Mason Thomas (Round 2) and safety Jadon Canady (Round 4).
Outside of Walker and quarterback Justin Fields, KC added little to bolster its offense, which is why former NFL QB Tim Hasselbeck thinks the team didn’t do enough to improve around Mahomes, who is coming off a torn ACL and may miss some time at the beginning of the season.
“[I’m reluctant] to say offensively they’re going to be better,” Hasselbeck said. “Clearly, they’ve given some attention to the running back position with the investment in Kenneth Walker, but with the moves being primarily on the defensive side of the ball — especially through the draft — it just seems a little odd to me that they’re banking on that receiving group with Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton to play better than they have in past years.
“And obviously, just some off-the-field concerns with Rashee Rice. And you’re doing that all while Patrick Mahomes is coming off of a major knee injury. … I’m a little bit surprised there wasn’t more moves on the offensive side, but I do think that Andy Reid is probably banking on he and Eric Bieniemy to get things back to the way they were, really, probably three years ago.”
Hasselbeck has plenty of reason to be skeptical.
Even if Mahomes starts in Week 1, keeping the same supporting cast around him (save for Walker) doesn’t exactly inspire much hope for 2026.
Mahomes was having a down year in 2025 before his injury, averaging 256 yards passing per game with 11 interceptions and an 89.6 passer rating — the lowest of his career.
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