Why this offseason is crucial for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs

For the first time in Patrick Mahomes’ era, there’s some adversity.

The Kansas City Chiefs failed to win the AFC West for the first time in nine years. Even more surprising, the Chiefs failed to make the playoffs.

To compound all of this, Mahomes tore his ACL in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers and missed the remainder of the regular season.

Now comes a crucial offseason for Mahomes and Kansas City. As it stands from the outside looking in, there are more questions around this franchise than answers on both sides of the ball. Thankfully, we’ll try to get some answers from Chiefs Kingdom.

We go “behind enemy lines” to get a feel for the Chiefs heading into NFL free agency with Maurice Elston from Arrowhead Pride.

MHR: How are Chiefs fans feeling at this point now that the season is concluded? Has there been enough time to get over how it ended?

Maurice: For the most part, things have settled. The initial frustration has worn off, and fans are now fully focused on the offseason. There’s real excitement about picking in the top 10 and having a chance to land an immediate impact player — something this franchise hasn’t had in years. The way the season ended still stings, but the draft position has shifted the energy toward optimism.

MHR: Why is this offseason so crucial for the franchise?

Maurice: This offseason is crucial because it essentially starts the second half of Patrick Mahomes’ career. The Chiefs have to get this reset right. It’s imperative that they surround him with the right pieces to alleviate some of the pressure he’s had to carry.

They also need to prepare for the future on the defensive line. Chris Jones is still elite, but planning for eventual decline is smart roster management. Adding a young, disruptive defensive lineman should be a priority to keep that unit strong long-term.

MHR: What are the main priorities for the Chiefs heading into free agency? Of those, what is the most important?

Maurice: The main priorities should be running back, a true X receiver who can win against man coverage, a high-level pass rusher, and a dynamic safety.

Of those, pass rusher is the most important. The Chiefs struggled to consistently create pressure with just their front four last season. That inability to generate organic pressure hurt them defensively and exposed the secondary at times. Fixing that changes the entire defense.

MHR: What position do you want KC to address, and who do you want them to sign?

Maurice: I’d love to see them address running back in free agency. If possible, targeting someone like Kenneth Walker or Breece Hall would be ideal.

The Chiefs are in dire need of a proven, explosive running back who can break off long runs and change games. They haven’t had that kind of true game-changing presence at the position since Kareem Hunt’s rookie season. Adding that element would completely reshape the offense.

MHR: How is Patrick Mahomes rehabbing, and what will the Chiefs do with Travis Kelce?

Maurice: Andy Reid recently addressed both situations in his most recent press conference. He said Mahomes has been in the building every day for around seven hours rehabbing, and everything is trending in the right direction. The team is still hopeful he’ll be ready for Week 1.

As for Travis Kelce, if he wants to continue playing — and signs point toward that — the Chiefs are likely to bring him back on a one-year deal. A decision is expected in the next couple of weeks, likely before free agency opens.