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The Chiefs are set up to tank, and there’s 2 players they should target in NFL Draft | SB Nation
2026 NFL Draft: Start a Love train
The Chiefs could (and should) lose out, tanking the rest of 2025. It would require losing three games and finishing at 6-11 on the season, but critically would mean engineering a way to climb into the top-10. The most realistic floor the Chiefs could reach would be the 7th pick, which is totally fine for who we’re targeting here:
Jeremiyah Love.
I absolutely understand the
rationale behind mocking the Chiefs offensive line help, because they definitely need assistance in the trenches — but I’m just not sold on it needing to be their top pick in 2026. Kansas City has always been gifted at finding quality linemen through free agency and in later rounds, so an impact player makes a lot more sense to me here.
The top running back in the draft this year, Love is everything the Chiefs need in their backfield to diversify their offense and move away from their island of misfit toys at the RB spot. A tempo setter in the backfield, his six-foot, 214 pound frame is perfect to either pound the rock off the a-gap, while also having enough speed to work outside. There have also been glimpses of ability as a receiver, which weren’t really utilized at Notre Dame — but he has more than enough ability on screen plays or designed swings to make the first man miss.
The Winners and Losers of the NFL Week 15 | The Ringer
The Chargers controlled this game like so many Chiefs opponents have this season, especially down the stretch. Since Week 9, Kansas City has run just 16 offensive plays while holding a lead in the fourth quarter, per TruMedia. That’s tied for last place with the Jets and is behind teams like the Raiders, Titans, and Browns. It would be easy to chalk this lost season up to bad luck in one-score games—the Chiefs are now 1-7 in close games after Sunday’s loss—but it’s not like they’re blowing leads late. They’ve had to scratch and claw just to stick around in games, and this recent 1-5 skid seems like a just result for how they’ve played during it.
The 2025 Chiefs weren’t a bad football team, but they weren’t a good one, either. They were a mediocre team being propped up by the league’s best quarterback. And now he’s out, and the playoffs are out of reach. The only thing left to watch is how far this team sinks without its savior.
A Chiefs dynasty on pause, and the inspirational Philip Rivers: Pick Six | The Athletic
1. The Chiefs lost more than a game Sunday. They also lost their future Hall of Fame quarterback. Did they gain a rare opportunity?
Brace yourself for incessant debate over whether the Chiefs’ dynasty is dead.
Sure, Tom Brady suffered a torn ACL at about the same point in his career (regular-season start No. 111, compared to No. 126 for Mahomes; both in their ninth season), and he dominated into his 40s. But these are very different players. What if Mahomes, who turned 30 in September and led Kansas City in rushing through Week 6, can no longer move as well? What if Kansas City never adequately replaces aging stars Travis Kelce and Chris Jones?
Who will be the Chiefs’ backup or stand-in?
Gardner Minshew will have a three-week audition to prove he can be the stand-in if Mahomes isn’t ready to go to start 2026. His interception to seal Sunday’s loss was a poor start.
Minshew has been a rollercoaster through his career, showing flashes of playmaking but turning the ball over in droves. At this point, he is who he is. The question is whether Reid trusts him to run the offense during camp and open the season if Mahomes isn’t ready. Minshew signed a one-year contract in the offseason, so K.C. could look elsewhere for a veteran option.
Russell Wilson, Marcus Mariota, Jimmy Garoppolo, Carson Wentz (a former Chief), Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers are the top veterans slated for free agency who aren’t also coming off an injury (Daniel Jones). A veteran like Kirk Cousins could also be cut loose in the offseason.
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Jets trade up for Fernando Mendoza, Vikings land Jeremiyah Love | PFF
11. Kansas City Chiefs: EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Not only is this the first time in 11 years that the Chiefs have missed the playoffs, but it is also the first season since Patrick Mahomes took over as the starter in 2018 that Kansas City has failed to reach the AFC championship game.
As they begin a reset, the Chiefs address the defensive line with the selection of Keldric Faulk — a toolsy, ascending prospect who is still developing as a pass rusher but has posted an 89.0 PFF run-defense grade since 2024.
The 2026 Kansas City Chiefs: A New Beginning | The Feed
3. The Defining Offseason of Brett Veach’s Career
This will be the most important offseason of Brett Veach’s young GM career. The truth is uncomfortable, but it’s necessary:
This roster is not good enough.
Tough decisions have to be made, and sentimentality cannot get in the way.
Trading Trent McDuffie
If I were Veach, I would seriously explore trading Trent McDuffie for a high draft pick.
McDuffie is probably the best slot corner in the NFL. He is elite inside. But he is merely good as a boundary corner and the Chiefs consistently played him outside this year. That matters.
Here’s the reality: McDuffie will get paid like an elite boundary corner. The market will view him that way. His trade value may never be higher.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs need premium assets to address far more pressing issues, specifically pass rush.
Kansas City desperately needs an edge defender who can win consistently without forcing the defense to manufacture pressure through linebacker and secondary blitzes. A high draft pick acquired via a McDuffie trade could make that possible.
The Chiefs should bring back Jalen Watson and commit to developing Nohl Williams. Williams is an extremely talented, physical corner who reminds me a lot of L’Jarius Sneed early in his career. There is real upside there if they’re patient.
Around the NFL
NFL Week 15: Biggest questions, takeaways for every game | ESPN
Can the Steelers run defense repeat this performance against the Lions? Led by a stout run defense, Pittsburgh held Miami in check as its offense put together its most complete performance of the season with four consecutive touchdown drives for the first time since the 2018 season. Not only were the Steelers missing T.J. Watt (lung), but they also took the field without rookie first-round pick Derrick Harmon (knee) for the third week in a row. And yet, they held De’Von Achane to 60 yards on 12 carries. But now, the Steelers will face an even tougher test Sunday in Detroit against the tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
Jets fire DC Steve Wilks in one of their worst defensive seasons | ESPN
Coach Aaron Glenn, in his first staff shake-up, named defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Chris Harris the interim coordinator. Harris will call the plays for the final three games, with the defensive-minded Glenn assisting him during the week in game-planning.
“Listen, I just thought that from last week going to this week, the improvement wasn’t there and I thought it was time to make a change,” Glenn said on a Zoom call with reporters.
“I’m going to make the decision that’s best for this organization at all times, and it’s my job to make sure I continue to evaluate everything that’s going on,” he continued. “That’s my job as the head coach and I just thought this was the time for me to make that decision.”
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
5 things we learned from Chiefs Kingdom’s worst nightmare in Week 15
1. 2025 is officially the most depressing year in Chiefs history
Is this the worst Chiefs team in franchise history? No. Not by a long shot.
They say it’s the hope that kills you.
This was supposed to be the best set of wide receivers in the Mahomes era.
This was supposed to be Travis Kelce’s opportunity to go out on top.
This was the year the offensive line was supposed to be fixed.
This year, we were supposed to contend for another Super Bowl.
This season was supposed to be a lot of things — but it wasn’t supposed to be this.
They say it’s the hope that kills you— and they are right.
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