For the first time in years, there is real uncertainty surrounding the NFL’s most successful franchise of the past decade: the Kansas City Chiefs. They are coming off a forgettable season and, for the first time since 2016, surrendered the AFC West crown – a division they had won nine consecutive seasons.
This didn’t come as a complete surprise. Even though they reached the Super Bowl in the 2024 season, their offense had already shown signs of stagnation. That became evident in the Vince Lombardi Trophy game, when they failed to respond to the dominant performance delivered by the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans.
This past season, the Chiefs lacked explosiveness and finished ranked 21st in the NFL in points per game. They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014, and to make matters worse, in Week 14 Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. He is now racing against time to be ready for next season.
The AFC West is only getting tougher
Some believe – myself included – that as long as the Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes, they can never be counted out. After all, he is a quarterback with three Super Bowl rings in five appearances. However, reality suggests that competition in the AFC West is growing stronger every year.
The Denver Broncos finished as the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The Chargers are considered favorites to win the division in 2026. And the Raiders are expected to select Fernando Mendoza.
The Raiders’ rebuild will take time, but Mendoza has the profile of a quarterback capable of making an immediate impact in the NFL. Analyst Colin Cowherd said on The Herd: “I think that this guy is – I don’t want to say ‘can’t miss’ – but man, I think he’s absolutely going to succeed in the National Football League.”
If Mendoza lives up to expectations, the AFC West will become even more difficult for Kansas City – especially if the Chiefs fail to surround Mahomes with more talent. The Broncos will enter Year 3 with Bo Nix. The Chargers have Justin Herbert and could add Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator. And the Raiders would prioritize protecting and developing Mendoza.
That’s why the Chiefs’ front office cannot afford to miss in the upcoming Draft. They are expected to pick high – No. 9 overall – and could target offensive reinforcements such as Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate or Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
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