Chiefs’ top 5 remaining holes on the roster ahead of OTAs

2. Swing Tackle

The Chiefs also need to ensure there is competent depth at offensive tackle. While Kansas City avoided reaching for a tackle early in the draft, the board never really fell in favor of selecting one later on, either. Caleb Lomu from Utah would have made sense at the end of the first round, but New England traded ahead of the Chiefs and took him off the board. There also wasn’t a strong run of tackles in the second round, and landing someone like Jude Bowry from Boston College would have required an aggressive move up later in the draft. That leaves the tackle room in a somewhat risky position entering the season. Josh Simmons played excellent football as a rookie, but there are still durability (and reliability) questions after multiple absences last year. One absence was due to personal reasons, and another to a dislocated wrist, so there is optimism that those issues won’t become long-term concerns. His knee holding up was encouraging, a lingering issue from college that may have caused him to fall down the draft board last year, but availability remains something to monitor. Jaylon Moore may be an even bigger question mark. He enters his age-28 season without ever starting a full NFL season. The Chiefs are projecting him into a much larger role than he has previously held, and there’s still uncertainty about whether he can stay healthy and consistently perform over a full year. The depth behind them is also shaky. Esa Pole and Chu Godrick — a roster exception as a player from the International Pathway Program (IPP) — both saw action late last season, and neither looked ready for meaningful snaps. One of them could improve this offseason, but Kansas City would still benefit from adding veteran competition. Even with a weak free-agent market, players like Cam Robinson, Yosh Nijman, or Kelvin Beachum would improve depth and provide insurance against injuries.

3. Defensive end depth

The Chiefs added R Mason Thomas in the draft, but defensive end depth is still a concern, as noted by our contributing editor Ron Kopp Jr. on Monday. George Karlaftis and Ashton Gillotte project as the starters, with Thomas rotating in behind them. That trio gives Kansas City some young pass-rush upside, but the depth beyond that becomes questionable quickly. 2023 first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah would currently be in line for rotational snaps, and he still hasn’t shown enough consistency to fully trust in that role. The Chiefs also lack a bigger-bodied defensive end in the rotation. Thomas and Gillotte both win more with burst and athleticism than size or length. While that can create pass-rush value, there are legitimate concerns about how well they will hold up against the run on the edge. Kansas City could use a veteran who brings more power and physicality to the room. Someone who can set the edge, defend the run, and collapse the pocket would complement the current group well. That’s why veterans like Cameron Jordan or Jadeveon Clowney make sense as potential additions. Jordan is nearing the end of his career, but he still offers value as a run defender and interior rusher on passing downs. Clowney could provide a similar role with more size and edge-setting ability than the Chiefs currently possess.

4. A third linebacker for base defense

One underrated offseason loss was now Washington Commanders linebacker Leo Chenal. Chenal wasn’t a full-time three-down linebacker, but his versatility gave the Chiefs flexibility in their defensive fronts. He could align in the box, play on the line of scrimmage, and contribute heavily against the run. Kansas City never filled that role in free agency or the draft, despite a deep linebacker group in the 2026 class. Right now, the likely candidates to fill those snaps are 2025 fifth-round pick Jeffrey Bassa, Cole McDonald, or Jack Cochrane. Cochrane has the most experience of the group, but his skillset is more coverage-oriented and doesn’t fully replace Chenal’s physical presence against the run. Bassa may be the closest stylistic fit if the Chiefs want someone who can play downhill and contribute near the line of scrimmage. If Kansas City looks outside the organization, free agent Elandon Roberts could make sense as a veteran addition. Roberts is older and not quite as powerful as Chenal, but he still plays well downhill, blitzes effectively, and could restore some of the front versatility the Chiefs lost.

5. Blocking tight end

The final major need is a blocking tight end. This draft featured several strong blocking tight ends, but Kansas City missed out after trading its third-round pick to move up for cornerback Mansoor Delane. Prospects like Oscar Delp from Georgia and Will Kaczmarek from Ohio State would have fit nicely in the Chiefs’ offense, but both were off the board before Kansas City could realistically target them. As a result, the Chiefs still lack a true in-line blocking tight end behind Travis Kelce. Noah Gray remains a useful receiving option, but he has never been an impact blocker due to his size limitations. Jared Wiley has better physical tools for that role, but he has struggled to earn consistent playing time. Kansas City’s coaching staff has repeatedly emphasized wanting to run the ball more effectively in 2026. Adding Kenneth Walker and Emmett Johnson should already help the ground game behind an improved offensive line. However, adding a true blocking tight end could elevate that rushing attack even further by helping seal defensive ends and climb to second-level defenders. There are limited free-agent options available, but Will Dissly stands out as a logical fit. Even if he doesn’t provide much as a receiver, he would immediately improve the blocking ability of the tight end room and better support the Chiefs’ stated offensive identity.