2024 offseason primer: Chiefs gunning for NFL’s first Super Bowl three-peat

It’s safe to say that winning three Super Bowl championships with four Super Bowl appearances in five seasons and making six straight AFC Championship Game appearances qualifies the Kansas City Chiefs (11-6 in 2023) as a dynasty.

Having lost four of six games from Week 11 to Week 16, many doubted whether the Chiefs were the same feared team they once were. But once they got into the playoffs, they ran through the gauntlet, knocking off the Miami Dolphins (11-6), Buffalo Bills (11-6), Baltimore Ravens (13-4) and San Francisco 49ers (12-5) en route to back-to-back Super Bowl titles.

Now, the Chiefs have an offseason to reload in pursuit of the NFL’s first Super Bowl three-peat. They took the first step toward that goal in franchise-tagging cornerback L'jarius Sneed, keeping arguably their best defensive back in the fold for at least one more season. Star defensive tackle Chris Jones also needs a new contract, as do a few other of the team’s defensive stalwarts, who helped anchor the No. 2 defense in the league.

Here’s what you need to know about Kansas City’s offseason:

PROJECTED 2024 CAP SPACE:  $3.42M (ninth-worst in NFL)

FREE AGENTS | Offense: QB Blaine Gabbert; RBs Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon; WRs Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mecole Hardman and Richie James; TEs Blake Bell and Jody Fortson; OTs Donovan Smith and Prince Tega Wanogho; OGs Nick Allegretti and Mike Caliendo; Long snapper James Winchester

Defense: DEs Tershawn Wharton, Michael Danna and Malik Herring; DTs Chris Jones and Derrick Nnadi; LBs Willie Gay Jr., Drue Tranquill and Jack Cochrane; CB Nazeeh Johnson; Safeties Mike Edwards and Deon Bush

Special teams: Punter Tommy Townsend

Outlook: Kansas City will have to create some cap flexibility in order to keep some of their free agents-to-be, but the team can free up nearly $25M by restructuring the deals of offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor, guard Joe Thuney and tight end Travis Kelce. Obviously, Jones is at the top of the team’s priority list. He’s a top-five DT and the Chiefs defense can’t afford to be without him.

Kansas City likely wants to retain a running back to backup Isiah Pacheco, and retaining either Valdes-Scantling or Hardman is probably in the best interest of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Smith was a solid left tackle this season, but he’s likely too expensive to keep around.

2024 DRAFT PICKS: Round 1 (No. 32 overall) | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 (via Dallas) | Round 7

TOP DRAFT NEEDS (in order): WR, OT, DT, RB, CB — Rashee Rice had an under-the-radar rookie season, but Mahomes still needs a bonafide No. 1 wideout. LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. or Florida State’s Keon Coleman could fit that bill if either is still on the board. With Smith hitting the market in a few days, finding his replacement makes a lot of sense as opposed to trying to sign a big-name free agent. BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia or Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton could be solid options opposite of Taylor on the left side.

DRAFT PROSPECTS TO WATCH: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU; Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State; Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina; Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan; Brandon Dorlus, DT, Oregon; Leonard Taylor, DT, Miami; Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma; Graham Barton, OT/OG, Duke; Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU; Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas; Trey Benson, RB, Florida State; Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee; T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State; Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri; Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan

THREE 2024 STORYLINES TO WATCH:

Is this Travis Kelce’s final season?

Who is Mahomes’ No. 1 receiver heading into training camp?

Can anyone knock the Chiefs off as Super Bowl favorites?