The Kansas City Chiefs have ownership of the AFC West.
Since the 2016 season, Kansas City has ripped off eight consecutive division titles, the second-longest such streak in NFL history behind only the New England Patriots’ AFC East run of 2009 to ’19.
This offseason saw the Chiefs largely maintain their championship roster as they aim for a three-peat, while the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos will try to catch them.
In Denver, the rebuild is on after the Broncos released Russell Wilson and selected Bo Nix in the first round of the draft. Meanwhile, the Raiders are trotting out a new coach-quarterback combo in Antonio Pierce and Gardner Minshew II.
For the Chargers, Jim Harbaugh takes over as head coach, but does so without receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
So which team did best this offseason and which teams fell further back in the AFC West? Let’s get to the grades.
Kansas City Chiefs
Offseason grade: B
Key additions: WR Marquise Brown, WR Xavier Worthy, QB Carson Wentz
Key losses: CB L’Jarius Sneed, LB Willie Gay, OT Donovan Smith, G Nick Allegretti
The two-time defending champions didn’t do a ton this offseason in terms of adding talent. However, and most importantly, they made sure not to lose much, either.
GM Brett Veach did well to retain superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones and linebacker Drue Tranquill. Then, in free agency, the Chiefs signed Brown to a one-year, $7 million deal to upgrade the weapons for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who won the Super Bowl last year with Rashee Rice on the perimeter and little else.
However, Kansas City lost a few important defensive pieces, led by Sneed. After placing the franchise tag on Sneed, he was eventually traded to the Tennessee Titans for a 2025 third-round pick. Without Sneed, the Chiefs still have All-Pro corner Trent McDuffie, but he’s surrounded by lesser-known talents in Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams.
Between free agency and the draft, the Chiefs netted a first-round receiver in Worthy, and remain a favorite to win it all again.
