The Kansas City Chiefs’ hopes of making history in Super Bowl LIX came crashing down after their stunning 40-22 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles. Their dreams of a three-peat were crushed on the biggest stage in the sport, leaving them to pick up the pieces after the dust settled. Now Kansas City has to shift its focus toward the upcoming offseason. With free agency set to begin on March 10, and the NFL’s free-agent negotiating window opening one month from today, it is time to look at the roster decisions coming as the front office evaluates key players.
Kansas City enters this offseason with many of its core players still under contract for 2025 including Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones, and Travis Kelce. However, there is an equally long list of free agents pending which means change is coming. The Chiefs currently have limited salary cap space making it impossible to keep everyone. Now the question is: Who stays, and who goes?
Key Free Agents Set To Hit the Market
Several impact players will become free agents, and Kansas City will not be able to re-sign them all. Some of the top names include Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, DeAndre Hopkins and Juju Smith-Schuster. The Chiefs are likely once again going to be undergoing a wide receiver overhaul heading into next season.
On the other side of the ball, Linebacker Nick Bolton and Safety Justin Reid are both set to hit the open market. Since being with the Chiefs, Bolton has been the defense’s playcaller while also being one of the leaders. Reid has provided experience and stability in the secondary during his time with Kansas City. Finding a way to retain both of these players would be ideal. However, given KC’s cap limitations, they will probably have to decide which of the two they will keep.
The offensive line is another area of concern with Guard Trey Smith and Tackle DJ Humphries also reaching free agency. Protecting Mahomes has to become the top priority, but the Chiefs might have to replace key linemen. If Smith or Humphries depart, Kansas City must look to the draft or free agency for reinforcements.
Who Will Likely Stay In Kansas City?
While it is expected the Chiefs will lose some of these players, they will not lose everyone. At the top of their priority list of keeping in Kansas City will likely be Bolton and Smith. If necessary, Smith could be franchise-tagged in order to ensure the Chiefs keep their interior trio of offensive linemen of Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, and Smith intact.
Defensive End Charles Omenihu is another candidate to return, given his impact on the pass rush. Kansas City’s defense took major strides in 2024, and retaining Omenihu would help sustain that progress. His versatility along the defensive line makes him valuable for Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
Another player that could likely be back in Kansas City next season is Justin Watson. During his time with the Chiefs, he has been a reliable deep threat for Mahomes. If the Chiefs can bring him back on an affordable deal, they will have a veteran presence in the receiver room to pair with their young players. Regardless, they will look to find a way to rebuild their receiving corps in free agency and the draft.
Potential Moves In Free Agency
The Chiefs must be shrewd in free agency, which is nothing new for this team given their recent success. They enter this offseason with just $11.5 million in cap space which limits them on what they can do. However, there are still opportunities out there to find value, and with General Manager Brett Veach leading the way, he has a proven track record of doing just that.
Addressing their offensive line will likely be the top priority this offseason, especially with the chance they might lose Smith or Humphries. Some potential names to replace them could be Ronnie Stanley, Alaric Jackson, or Morgan Moses, among others, who could be on their radar at the right price.
If Kelce retires, then acquiring a new tight end becomes an urgent need. While no one can fully replace Kelce’s production, a pass-catching tight end like Juwan Johnson or Austin Hooper could help fill the void. They are two players that could help raise the floor of this tight end room while bringing in athleticism and versatility.
The Chiefs may also explore the wide receiver market, especially with Hopkins, Brown, and Smith-Schuster all set to leave. While Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice offer promise, Kansas City could still go after a veteran receiver for added depth, or look to add another receiver in the NFL Draft. The front office will need to find the right balance of experience and upside to make sure an offensive performance like that of Super Bowl LIX never happens again.
Final Thoughts
Kansas City had hoped to enter this offseason filled with celebration and glee of continuing their dynasty. Instead, they had everything come crumbling down and now have to retool their team once again. They will be in a similar spot to the other 31 teams that fell short of winning a championship. With key contributors set to depart, the Chiefs have to be creative with their roster building. The main focus will be on retaining core players like Bolton and Smith while finding the right value players to add from the open market.
Despite there being some uncertainty ahead, the Chiefs still remain in a favorable position heading into the 2025 season. With a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes at the center of everything, the Chiefs will always be in the mix and have a stable foundation that has been built by a front office that has proven it can put together a championship-level roster.
