One Reason Why the Chiefs Should Go All In This Offseason

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It feels as though we are living in the multiverse. The Kansas City Chiefs, one of the most dominant teams of the last 20 years, missed the playoffs—they didn't come anywhere close to reaching it, eliminated weeks before it began.
Yet, it seems as though a weight has been lifted off the team's shoulders. They're looking to start fresh in 2026, retool key areas of the roster, and move forward with consistent playoff contendership for seasons to come, eventually winning another Vince Lombardi Trophy in the Super Bowl. However, there is a feeling of relief amongst Chiefs Kingdom with appreciation toward past successes, hoping to build on unique failures from 2025.

The Chiefs aren't going anywhere. In fact, general manager Brett Veach could create another $60 million-plus in salary cap space with three moves, and it could open the door for a team with a high draft pick and potentially newly-acquired money to go all in for Super Bowl LXI. The reason is simple: they still have Patrick Mahomes.
Why Mahomes is the reason the Chiefs could still go all in

It seems pretty simple to me: Mahomes is the best quarterback on the planet when healthy, and his eventual return to the field would be greeted by the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and additions to the backfield and skill positions overall. Not to mention, the roster has several core pieces to build around, including four of the five starting offensive linemen from left tackle to right guard.
Mahomes is a rare talent, and has carried Kansas City to at least two Super Bowls during his career, including his last two appearances in the big game. His football IQ, paired with his generational physical gifts, gives the Chiefs a chance to win every Sunday or to make deep runs in the postseason.

However, the Chiefs must nail the backup quarterback role this offseason to keep the offense afloat if Mahomes is to miss some time while continuing his rehab from a torn ACL. There is a real chance Mahomes may not play in the first month of the season if his rehab is "best case." Plus, the Chiefs are in the middle of a serious restructuing of their roster at key positions.
Even so, Mahomes' presence when on the field gives Kansas City a chance not only to win but to win big. This is a future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback who could win another Super Bowl or two before his career is over. He alone is the reason the Chiefs argue to go all in during free agency and the NFL Draft.

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Jared Feinberg, a native of western North Carolina, has written about NFL football for nearly a decade. He has contributed to several national outlets and is now part of our On SI team as an NFL team reporter. Jared graduated from UNC Asheville with a bachelor's degree in mass communications and later pursued his master's degree at UNC Charlotte. You can follow Jared Feinberg on Twitter at @JRodNFLDraft