No team is perfect, even if they just won a second consecutive Super Bowl.
The Chiefs have the best coach, quarterback and tight end in the NFL as well as one of the best defenses from the 2023 season. But that doesn't mean their quest for a three-peat won't be difficult.
Kansas City made some big moves this offseason — both by addition and subtraction. The Chiefs traded away cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, let starting offensive tackle Donovan Smith walk in free agency and signed wide receiver Marquise Brown and Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit.
But those moves still left some major question marks for the roster heading into the 2024 season. The draft could provide some answers, but for now, the Chiefs have a couple of big holes to figure out during the rest of the offseason.
Here are the five biggest issues facing Chiefs general manager Brett Veach a month before the 2024 NFL draft:
Find Sneed's replacement at cornerback
The loss of Sneed is massive, as he led the Chiefs in defensive snaps this past season. Trent McDuffie is a good starter, but the depth behind him is full of inexperience. Jaylen Warren and Joshua Williams are the only cornerbacks on the roster with any NFL starts under their belt and they've combined for 14 starts in two seasons.
Now, the Chiefs might have enough confidence in their secondary depth to not make any groundbreaking moves at cornerback. That could have been why they were willing to part with Sneed for just a third-round pick. But that doesn't mean Kansas City should rest on its laurels when there are experienced players on the open market and quality talent in the draft.
Figure out starting left tackle
Donovan Smith, the team's 2023 starter, is still a free agent. That leaves a huge hole on the left side of the offensive line unless the Chiefs have a plan to fill it before the 2024 season. This position has been a revolving door in Kansas City since 2020 and one Veach needs to solve on a more long-term basis sooner rather than later.
The draft is rife with talented tackles, some of which could fall to the Chiefs with the No. 32 pick. Otherwise, Kansas City could look to bring Smith back or sign a different veteran with the extra money saved in the Sneed trade.
Patrick Mahomes' protection is the No. 1 priority for the Chiefs' quest for a three-peat, but right now Kansas City is missing a huge piece of the offensive line.
Add running back depth
Isiah Pacheco is the only viable running back on the roster right now unless the Chiefs re-sign Clyde Edwards-Helaire and/or Jerick McKinnon.
La'Mical Perine and Keontay Ingram are options but neither offer the same production as a backup as CEH or McKinnon did. Kansas City signed Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit as a possible running back, but he doesn't figure to be a true backup-caliber player.
The Chiefs leaned heavily on Pacheco in 2023, so a starter-level player isn't necessary here. Perine was effective in his lone start, too, but that came in a meaningless regular-season final. Another quality player who could take over in a pinch — like Edwards-Helaire did twice this past season — would go a long way.
Bring in more pass rushers
The Chiefs have two incredible pass rushers in defensive tackle Chris Jones and defensive end George Karlaftis. The duo tallied 10.5 sacks apiece and combined for 46 quarterback hits. The rest of the unit, though, is either injured or a free agent.
Defensive end Charles Omenihu wracked up seven sacks and 11 quarterback hits himself but his status for 2024 is uncertain after he tore his ACL in the AFC title game. Fellow lineman Michael Danna, who had 6.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits, is a free agent.
Two pass rushers aren't enough — especially when one is coming from the interior of the defensive line. Kansas City would do well to bring in at least one more, either in the veteran market or in the draft.
Fill out the wide receiver room
Marquise Brown won't solve the issues the Chiefs had at wide receiver in 2023, especially since Brown's biggest deficiencies are the same ones that plagued the offense this past season. Second-year wideout Rashee Rice could be in a bit of legal trouble as well after Dallas police reportedly want to speak with him about a car accident.
So apart from Brown and Rice, the Chiefs' next-best wide receiver would either be Justin Watson, Skyy Moore or Kadarius Toney — none of whom inspire much confidence.
Travis Kelce is the de facto No. 1 target for Mahomes every week, but he alone won't deliver week in and week out. Kansas City needs a third starting wide receiver to fill out the room and give Mahomes as many weapons to work with in 2024.
