Patrick Mahomes Is Recovering from a Torn ACL. Here’s How the Rest of the Chiefs Stack Up.

The Kansas City Chiefs have spent the better part of a decade making the rest of the NFL look like they’re playing a different sport. Three rings in seven years will do that. But last season felt different. They missed the playoffs entirely for the first time since Patrick Mahomes took over, and a lot of familiar faces have moved on. Now Mahomes is rehabbing a torn ACL, and the roster around him has been retooled in ways that could either extend the dynasty or send it into a slow fade.

So where does this team actually stand as training camp approaches? Let’s run through every position group, because the answer is a lot less clean than it used to be.

Quarterback: Still the Best Player in Football, Probably

Players: Patrick Mahomes, Justin Fields
Rating: 10

Mahomes tore his ACL late last season, and nobody is pretending that’s nothing. But the guy has 35,939 passing yards and 267 touchdowns in his career, and every report out of the team’s facility suggests he’ll be ready for Week 1. Even if he isn’t, Justin Fields is one of the best rushing quarterbacks the league has ever seen and has starting experience. The Chiefs are in good hands either way.

Running Back: More Balance This Year

Players: Kenneth Walker, Emari Demercado, Emmett Johnson, Brashard Smith
Rating: 7

The Chiefs have always been a pass-first operation, but they quietly added a Super Bowl MVP at running back. Kenneth Walker won that award with Seattle and then signed with Kansas City. That almost never happens. Emari Demercado came over in free agency, and Emmett Johnson is a rookie from the 2026 draft. The backfield has more juice than it’s had in years.

Wide Receiver: Top-Heavy but Trusted

Players: Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, Cyrus Allen
Rating: 6

Rashee Rice has had off-field trouble, but on the field he looks like a true No. 1. Xavier Worthy is lightning in a bottle. After that, the depth is shaky. But Mahomes has made chicken salad out of worse receiving corps before, so nobody in Kansas City is panicking.

Tight End: The Last Ride?

Players: Travis Kelce, Noah Gray
Rating: 8

Kelce almost retired this offseason. He came back, but it’s probably his final season. He’s lost a step, sure. But he’s still Travis Kelce. He gets open. Noah Gray has been waiting in the wings for years, and the team has plans at the position beyond this season.

Offensive Line: Two Elite Interior Guys

Players: Trey Smith, Creed Humphrey, Kingsley Suamataia, Josh Simmons, Jaylen Moore
Rating: 8

The Chiefs lost Super Bowls when their offensive line collapsed and Mahomes had to run for his life. That hasn’t been an issue lately. Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith are two of the best interior linemen in football, and the tackles are solid enough. This group gives Mahomes time.

Defensive Line: Chris Jones Is Still Here

Players: Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, Khyiris Tonga, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Ashton Gillotte, Peter Woods, R Mason Thomas
Rating: 7

Chris Jones is a game-wrecker. He stops the run and pressures the quarterback from the interior, which is as valuable as it gets. George Karlaftis is a high-effort edge player, and rookie R Mason Thomas adds some pop. The rest are role players, but Jones makes everyone around him better.

Linebackers: Solid but Unspectacular

Players: Drue Tranquill, Nick Bolton, Jeffrey Bassa, Cole Christiansen, Jack Cochrane
Rating: 5

Leo Chenal is gone, and nobody in this group is a star. Drue Tranquill and Nick Bolton are smart, reliable players. They just aren’t difference-makers. The depth is fine, but there’s no one who scares opposing coordinators.

Secondary: Major Question Marks

Players: L’Jarius Sneed, Nohl Williams, Chamarri Conner, Mansoor Delane, Alohi Gilman, Kader Kohou
Rating: 3

Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson both left for the Rams this offseason. That’s a brutal loss. L’Jarius Sneed is back after a couple of years in Tennessee, and if he returns to his peak form, that helps a lot. First-round rookie Mansoor Delane has promise, but he was considered a reach in the draft. Kader Kohou is one of the best slot corners in the league. Still, this group looks shaky on paper.

Special Teams: Elite Production, Controversial Names

Players: Harrison Butker, Matt Araiza
Rating: 9

Harrison Butker and Matt Araiza are one of the best kicker-punter duos in the NFL. Both are talented. Both come with off-field baggage that makes some fans uncomfortable. But the kicking game is in excellent shape.