Can you believe it? The Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning champions for what felt like forever, actually finished last season with a dismal 6-11 record. It was their first time missing the playoffs since 2014 and their first losing season since way back in 2012. Wild, right? But don’t let that awful record fool you, because the Chiefs made some serious moves this offseason, and they are gearing up to kick off their 2026 campaign defending their AFC West title against their longtime rivals, the Denver Broncos, on Monday Night Football.
The Chiefs Are Stocking Up (and We’ve Got a Familiar Face)
Despite that shocking 6-11 finish in 2025, Kansas City didn’t just sit on their hands. Their biggest bombshell addition? They just signed the Super Bowl MVP from last year, Kenneth Walker III, in free agency! He inked a huge 3-year, $34 million deal this offseason, clearly aiming to supercharge their rushing attack. They also brought back cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who spent the past two years with the Tennessee Titans, and traded a late 2027 draft pick to grab former first-round quarterback Justin Fields as backup to Patrick Mahomes. On the flip side, they said goodbye to two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, who got traded to the Los Angeles Rams, and lost corner Jaylen Watson and defensive lineman Charles Omenihu to the Washington Commanders in free agency. With those extra picks from the McDuffie trade, KC shored up their defense big time, snagging Mansoor Delane at the sixth slot in the 2026 NFL Draft. This former LSU standout was touted as the best cover corner, and they also added versatile Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods late in the first. To boost their pass rush, they picked R Mason Thomas out of Oklahoma in the second, and I gotta say, their fourth-round pick, Oregon slot cornerback Jadon Canady, looks like a smart move too. Keep an eye on fifth-rounders running back Emmett Johnson and wide receiver Cyrus Allen, who could be situational players as rookies.
K-9: The X-Factor That’ll Make the Broncos Sweat
All eyes will naturally be on Patrick Mahomes and how he bounces back from his ACL injury last season. If he gets back to his old self, the Chiefs are instantly title contenders. But my Week 1 X-Factor for them has got to be Kenneth Walker III. This guy was Super Bowl MVP last year for a reason, and his 2025 stats speak for themselves: a monster 221 rushes for 1,027 yards, plus 5 touchdowns. And he’s not just a runner; he added 31 receptions for 282 yards out of the backfield. Andy Reid’s creative playcalling combined with Walker’s insane skillset is going to be a huge challenge for the Broncos defense. They better be ready for him.
Meanwhile, our Hawks just pulled off a gritty 13-10 victory against the New England Patriots! It’s early in the season, and seeing those Ws stack up is what it’s all about for us in the Emerald City. The Chiefs have their work cut out for them against the Broncos, but one thing is clear: with Kenneth Walker III running wild, that Chiefs offense is going to be a problem. We’ll be watching how that AFC West battle unfolds, but for now, let’s keep riding that wave, Seattle!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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