KC Chiefs' Quest for Three-Peat Could Hinge on Returning Players
The quest for back-to-back-to-back Super Bowl Championships is already underway for the Kansas City Chiefs.
With the 2023-24 season ending in mid-February, there isn’t a lot of time before offseason shenanigans go full-steam ahead. There are plenty of moves to be made, but what can be done to keep a majority of the band together for an attempt at a three-peat?
Every championship team will have a different makeup and DNA, and tough decisions will be made in the offseason. It happens every year but when a team like the Chiefs is trying to make history, their offseason will be under an even bigger microscope. One big move that’s already shaken up Chiefs Kingdom was the team announcing the signing of punter Matt Araiza. This effectively signaled the end of the Tommy Townsend era in Kansas City. Willie Gay essentially announced his goodbye on social media before the season even ended.
Meanwhile, players like defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed have expressed their desire to come back. Jones had his now-infamous parade speech where he declared he “ain't going nowhere” and would be here “this year, next year and the year after.” Sneed let the world know he wanted the Chiefs to pay him.
Both Jones and Sneed are deserving of sizable raises, but could the Chiefs keep both franchise players? Many were speculating they would only be able to bring back one of those cornerstone players from one of the best defenses in the NFL. However, with the recent announcement that the NFL’s salary cap will be jumping up just north of $30 million, things could get interesting regarding keeping both men to anchor this top defense.
The Chiefs also have a few players who could finagle their salaries and a player or two who could be cut to free up even more space. There is still some time to hammer things out, but there is a legitimate chance Jones and Sneed are both back in red at the start of the 2024 season with new contracts. If that happens, the Chiefs will have two of their premier defensive players back in place and the window for more Super Bowl trophies in this version of the Chiefs dynasty would be propped wide open once again.
Who else would the Chiefs consider bringing back, even if on a one-year contract? Linebacker Drue Tranquill, left tackle Donovan Smith and wide receiver Mecole Hardman could maybe be gotten on team-friendly deals. Tranquill showed big production and has shown a desire to remain with the Chiefs. Smith had some ups and downs but would be a suitable offensive line piece. Wanya Morris could still be the left tackle of the future, but having both guys together and competing would help solidify a key position for the Chiefs.
Hardman was very boom-or-bust (mostly bust if we’re being honest) but made some key plays during the season, including the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs shouldn’t sign a player because of one play or good memories made. However, he knows the offense and is still one of the fastest wide receivers in the league. He can make plays, but the inconsistency is why he could be brought back as a cheap option.
The Chiefs currently have six draft picks and if they are able to retain Jones, Sneed, Tranquill, Smith and Hardman, they will be in a good position to not be pigeonholed into focusing on one position with pick No. 32 in the 2024 NFL Draft. My preference would still be to add a playmaker, likely a wide receiver, at the end of the first round. It fills a need, and this draft class is deep at the position.
As the offseason begins to heat up, it’s only a matter of time until we get some answers. Bringing back key pieces from last year’s championship squad while filling in the rest of the team through the draft could make the first three-peat in NFL history a reality.
