Kansas City Chiefs Depth Chart 2018 Chiefs Depth Chart

Chiefs Need Consistency

If there is one word to describe the 2017 Kansas City Chiefs, it's inconsistent. Sandwiched between a 5-0 start and 4-0 finish was a 1-6 stretch, which likely cost the Chiefs the top seed in the AFC playoffs. However, the 10-6 record was still good enough to win the AFC West, although the season ended prematurely with a 22-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans in an AFC Wildcard game. But as the 2018 season approaches, change has come to Kansas City. Gone are starting quarterback Alex Smith and Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy, who have found new homes as the starting QB in Washington and the head coach of the Chicago Bears, respectively. As a result, there are more questions than answers in 2018.

Leadership Void

For any NFL team to succeed, it must have strong leadership in the locker room and on the field. For the Chiefs, losing Smith and Nagy, along with longtime fixtures at linebacker Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson, creates a leadership and experience void that may be hard to fill initially. However, as new offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy settles in, and other players such as second-year QB Patrick Mahones take charge of the offense, the gap in experience and leadership may close as the season progresses. With head coach Andy Reid long being a disciple of the West Coast offense, the Chiefs relied on Alex Smith's ability to throw short passes underneath coverage to move the ball. However, with Patrick Mahones having a much stronger arm, and having a potential All-Pro wide receiver in newly-acquired Sammy Watkins, rumor has it that Reid is considering making the vertical game a bigger part of the offense. With Mahones displaying a knack for picking up the offense quicker than many expected, Reid and Bienemy may give him more freedom than many young quarterbacks get at this stage of the game.

"No-Name Defense" 2018

With Derrick Johnson going to the hated Raiders in free agency, the Chiefs defense will need to work hard to establish an identity. To do so, they are expected to rely on a group of young players, and a defensive philosophy that will be much more aggressive than in seasons past. Much will be expected of second-round pick Breeland Speaks, who played tackle, linebacker, and end while at Ole Miss, as well as cornerback Kendall Fuller, who arrives via the Smith trade. However, while demonstrating his skills playing in the nickel package at Washington, Fuller will need to prove he can be a true shutdown corner week to week, as well as be effective in run coverage and against three-wide offensive schemes. With the AFC West looking to be very competitive in 2018 due to the Broncos signing Case Keenum, the Raiders expecting David Carr to bounce back from various injuries, and the L.A. Chargers building upon their late-season success, the youth movement of the 2018 Chiefs will be the determining factor in whether the Chiefs can win a third straight AFC West title.