Starting next week the blog will be focused on the playoffs even though everybody’s favorite team won’t be in it. But since the Chiefs are already eliminated and some of the emotions have worn off that as well as their move to stupid kansas, let’s dive into what they need to do this offseason in no particular order to make 2026 better than 2025.

Cut Jawann Taylor

This one is the move I am most certain will happen. It won’t be tough to say goodbye to the injury prone penalty machine. If we don’t cut him, his cap hit is 27 million. If we cut him it is 7 million. Pretty simple choice here. He can go be someone else’s problem for much cheaper.

Get new running back and receiver coaches

Preferably ones that have coached the position before. Our receivers don’t seem to be getting better and even though our running back room lacks talent they also seem to take bad angles and run straight into people. Following Mitchell Schwartz on twitter has taught me that part of the issue is coaching and he knows more than I do, so I’m going to believe him.

Trade Trent McDuffie…if we can get a first round pick

I like McDuffie. But we can’t pay everyone. However, he isn’t worth trading for less than a first rounder when we can just tag him if we can’t sign him to a reasonable deal. If we trade him, then perhaps we can sign Watson. But we can only afford one of them at most.

Get a new Offensive Coordinator

Matt Nagy seems like a nice guy. Andy likes him a lot and thinks he should be a head coach. If he doesn’t get a job, he could risk getting an OC job somewhere else and calling plays directly. If he does neither, I am 100% sure he will be back. Despite what most of us think, and the numbers show, Andy does not think Nagy is the problem. But the numbers tell a different story. Mahomes and the offense had significantly better numbers when Bienemy was the OC. While, I don’t think it is fair to completely blame Nagy, there are some glaring differences and lot of them are mental issues. Penalties, drops and bad routes were not part of the offense from 2018-22 under EB. But all have been problems under Nagy. Since he isn’t the one calling the plays then the OC has to put together a great game plan and more importantly make sure the team is being held accountable. EB would be available or they could bring back Kafka or even better an outside voice would be great. Really at this point, anyone but Nagy.

Rebuild the running back room

Pacheco was a cool story and helped us win a couple of super bowls. But since coming back from his injury, he has not been great. In fact he has been quite bad. And he isn’t explosive at all and never has been. Kareem Hunt is great at short yardage but I don’t think you can have a roster spot just for that. If he is the 4th back, then great. But he should not be part of the overall plan. Smith is a rookie and seems to be their answer to the McKinnon role which is fine. But we need to either draft a running back in the first 3 rounds or get a free agent or both. Lets not believe Dameon Pierce is the answer especially after the Texans didn’t want him. There should be plenty of free agent running back options like Rico Dowdle, Tyler Alliger, maybe Breece Hall, Javonte Williams and more. And we will likely have a top 10 pick and I am fine with drafting the Love kid from Notre Dame. But all the good teams have two dudes that they roll out there every other series and we don’t have one dude.

Time for some new schemes

We need to reset the playbook. I really believe that 80% of the current playbook right now is everyone run around and get open and Pat will run around until you get open and throw it to you. This is extremely hard on everyone not named Travis Kelce. There are no easy schemed throws to help Pat. Not everyone can do what Travis does. Hell, I’m not even sure Travis can do it anymore. Also we need a new run scheme. The RPO stuff just doesn’t get it done anymore. All the good teams are going under center 40-50% of the time and doing all sorts of things from those formations. We are so predictable. If we are under center it is 90% run, 9% play action and 1% straight drop back. If it is shot gun, then it is 80% pass, 20% run that is slow developing with slow backs that no one is scared of and never works. We got to get some new ideas and adjust to how football in the league is being played now.

Lets talk receiver changes

Hollywood is cool and all but he isn’t coming back. I’m fine with JuJu coming back if he doesn’t play so much. If we don’t get an impact free agent which I think is unlikely, we should draft a receiver who is against man defense. I am also a big supporter of resigning Thornton. I never understood why he played less when Rice came back. Rice should have taken JuJu’s snaps, not Thornton’s. I’m honestly okay with rolling out Rice, Thornton and a healthy Worthy out there most of the time and seeing what happens. I know some people are down on Rice. But he was coming off a significant injury and has to go to jail for 30 days which I am sure was on his mind. I expect him to have big bounce back year next year. But stop running guys in and out every play. Let’s roll with our guys and see what happens. Also, can we see a ball thrown to Jalen Royals this year? I’m not sure what he has to do to stay on the field for more than 5 plays.

draft, sign and then draft again edge rushers

We literally have no one who can win one on one besides Chris Jones and he is always double teamed. We have to get enough guys so that we don’t have to blitz just to get pressure. Everyone knows we are going to blitz. Everyone has seen every single Spags blitz because he has had to use every single one of them the last 4 years. No one has won one on one since Frank the shark Clark was on the roster. Hell, sign him for all I care. This is maybe the most important thing we can do.

Play the players with the most upside, not the guys you “trust”

Conner playing over Hicks is just stupid. Who cares if the player does the assignment right if they aren’t talented enough to make any plays. It’s the Dan Sorensen issue on defense paired with the CEH issue on offense. I mean why did we call up CEH from the practice squad twice instead of Elijah Mitchell? Mitchell has already proven to be the better player. If your scheme is so complicated that a running back can’t pick up the blocking scheme or a young receiver can’t figure out the play book or your most talented safety can’t succeed, then maybe it is time to change the scheme. Bottom line, no more CEH, JuJu and Conner and more Pierce or Smith, Royals, and for the love of all things, put Jaden Hicks out there at safety!

Get more reliable O line swing guys

It took about 5 plays to realize Pole was better than Morris. So keep him. But honestly I like our starting line when healthy. Its the back ups who suck. Caliendo has been terrible. Morris is not good. Drafting a right tackle makes some sense and then Moore can be a swing tackle or the new guy can be the swing guy. I don’t care but go get a solid guard incase Smith gets hurt again.

Fix the Salary Cap or get better at cheating

Everyone does weird things with the cap. I mean how do the Eagles have all the dudes they have? How were the Rams able to sign Davante Adams? I don’t pretend to know how everyone is doing it, but that’s also not my full time job. Figure it out. Cut people, restructure people, give people signing bonuses or whatever, just fix it. Break the rules, I don’t care. We need more talent.

Pat rehab success

We need Pat week 1. And I think we will have Pat week 1. Everything should be based upon Pat not having to do as much regardless if he is 100% or not. He is 30 years old and the best QB in the league. Let’s set him up for some success for a change.

Draft for talent, not for fit

We will have the earliest draft picks we have had since we drafted Patrick. I don’t care if the edge rusher is “Spags type of guy”. I care whether or not he is talented. Same with running back, safety, linebacker, etc. Go get some guys who can move the needle. Not guys who are going to do the right assignment but still suck at it.

Travis Kelce should retire…I think

If he comes back, I won’t be mad at him or about it. I just think he is old and the amount of work he would need to put in to come back might not be worth it to him. I also think with him gone, it will be easier to have a more structured offense. He and Mahomes have a special connection like nothing I have ever seen in the game before. But not everyone can work within such a free lance offense. The younger guys need more structure and I think that will come if Kelce isn’t on the field. Although if he comes back he can easily get into the top 5 all time in receptions which would be pretty cool. And he is still a top 5 tight end in the league. So if he wants to put in the work and come back for one more ride, I can get on board with that.

Resign Leo Chenal

Of all our impending free agents, I think he is the most important. He does so many things. I think there is a good chance they release Tranquill for cap purposes and if so then you definitely got to bring him back.

And there you have it, that is my 2026 wish list for the Chiefs. We will see how much of it comes true over the coming months. Until then, happy new year ! And get ready to enjoy one last awful Chiefs game this year when our 3rd stringers take on the raiders on Sunday.