The Kansas City Chiefs enter 2026 without a lot of public expectations after going 6-11 and missing the playoffs. They received good news Tuesday as quarterback Patrick Mahomes is expected to be under center for Week 1 just nine months removed from a torn ACL and LCL in his knee. A big question, though, is who he is going to throw to?
Rashee Rice enters the season as the top dog at receiver. He’s coming off an interesting offseason that included cleanup surgery on his knee that he had to rehab during a 30-day jail sentence. He has played just 12 games in the last two seasons, and the team is really counting on him to solidify himself as a WR1.
Xavier Worthy is the second receiver, and he has combined for 1,170 receiving yards in two seasons. He dislocated his shoulder in Week 1 last season and really wasn’t the same. He suffered an injury to that same shoulder this preseason, which really adds concerns for his long-term ability to stay on the field. After that, the rest of the receiver room has combined for 60 NFL catches, and Tyquan Thornton has 58 of them in four seasons.
They have help at tight end and running back, but this offense is really counting on Rice to prove he’s a No. 1 receiver, and they’ll need one – maybe two – receivers to ascend after him. Otherwise, they’re going to struggle to move the chains consistently.
Shaky Secondary
The Chiefs had the luxury of cornerback Trent McDuffie really shutting down one side of the field the last few years. He was entering a contract year, and with the team up against the salary cap, they opted to move him and draft LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane in his place. Delane looks the part. He’s instinctive, athletic and has the ability to lead a secondary. He’s still a rookie, though, and he missed most of the preseason with a shoulder injury. He’s already behind the curve.
Opposite of him, the Chiefs welcomed back L’Jarius Sneed, who was great in his first four years in the league with KC. He moved on to Tennessee, and he combined for just 12 games in two seasons due to injuries. Now 29, he’s going to have to revert back to that starting-caliber corner he was in 2023. The Chiefs have very little depth behind those two.
The safeties are good, not great. Free safety Alohi Gilman had 90 tackles between the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers last season. That was just his second season of his six-year career he didn’t miss time. Strong safety Chamarri Conner had a breakout 2025 with 117 tackles and two sacks. Entering his fourth year, he’ll remain the anchor of a secondary with considerable questions.
