After a dominant stretch that saw them appear in five of six Super Bowls, the Kansas City Chiefs are entering territory that feels completely foreign. The 2025 season unraveled into a 6-11 disappointment, marking their first missed playoff appearance since trading up to draft Patrick Mahomes in 2017.
Now, for the first time in the Mahomes era, Kansas City holds a top-10 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Head coach Andy Reid faces arguably the toughest offseason of his tenure. In an effort to spark a turnaround, Reid brought back a familiar figure, hiring Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator for the 2026 season. The reunion signals a return to familiarity – but stability remains far from guaranteed.
The largest concern looms over Mahomes‘ health. The superstar quarterback is rehabbing a torn ACL and LCL, with no certainty surrounding his availability for Week 1. Even if he’s cleared, the offense could look dramatically different. Future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce is weighing retirement, potentially removing Mahomes’ most trusted weapon.
Financially, the situation is just as troubling. The Chiefs currently sit roughly $54 million over the salary cap, the worst position in the league. Before general manager Brett Veach can even consider free-agent additions, Kansas City must shed significant payroll.
The most logical solution? Restructuring Mahomes’ 10-year, $450 million contract. By converting base salary into signing bonuses, the Chiefs could clear more than $35 million in immediate cap space – a maneuver they’ve used before. But with an aging roster and mounting injury concerns, this offseason carries higher stakes than ever.
MVP Odds Reflect Growing Skepticism
As if the physical and financial hurdles weren’t enough, Mahomes is also facing external doubt.
According to early MVP odds reported by Alex Brasky, Mahomes is currently tied for fifth at +1100 – a surprising placement for a player who has defined the league’s quarterback standard for years. He sits just ahead of Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams.
Leading the pack is Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills at +600, followed by Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Drake Maye of the New England Patriots.
The gap reflects concern over Mahomes‘ recovery timeline. Multi-ligament knee injuries often require close to a year for full return to form, and medical experts caution that explosiveness and mobility can take 18 months or longer to fully stabilize.
Still, Mahomes remains optimistic.
“I want to be ready for Week 1,” he said via the New York Post. “The doctors said I could, but I can’t predict what happens throughout the process.”
His goal is clear: return without limitations and give Kansas City its best chance to compete. Mahomes noted that his rehab has remained on schedule and expressed hope of participating in OTAs and training camp.
But the clock is ticking. Reid and the front office must solve the salary cap crisis before the new league year opens in mid-March.
How aggressively they restructure contracts – especially Mahomes‘ – will determine whether this is a brief reset or the beginning of a longer rebuild.
For a franchise unaccustomed to instability, the coming months may define the next chapter of the Mahomes era.
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