The vibe around Arrowhead right now is... weird. Honestly, it's a bit unsettling. For the first time since 2014, the Kansas City Chiefs are watching the playoffs from their couches. That’s not a typo. The dynasty hit a massive speed bump in 2025, and now the kc chiefs depth chart looks like a giant jigsaw puzzle that someone accidentally kicked across the room.
If you’ve been following the news this January, you know the injury bug didn't just bite the Chiefs—it devoured them. Patrick Mahomes is currently working his way back from a nasty ACL and LCL tear suffered in Week 15. Then you have Gardner Minshew on IR, leaving Chris Oladokun as the "last man standing" under center for the finale. It’s a mess. But as we look toward the 2026 season, the roster isn't just about who is healthy; it's about a fundamental shift in how Brett Veach is building this thing.
The Mahomes Factor and the 2026 Quarterback Room
Everything starts with #15. Obviously. But the kc chiefs depth chart at quarterback is more precarious than fans want to admit.
Mahomes is targeting a Week 1 return, which is great, but behind him? It’s a ghost town. The team recently waived Shane Buechele, and with Minshew's future uncertain, the backup spot is a massive neon sign of a need. You can't just cross your fingers and hope a 30-year-old Mahomes recovers with no backup plan. They’ve already started tinkering with futures contracts, but expect a veteran addition or a mid-round draft pick to land here soon.
Skill Positions: Is the Kelce Era Actually Over?
Look, nobody wants to say it out loud, but Travis Kelce is 36. He’s still the alpha on the tight end list, followed by Noah Gray and Jared Wiley, but the production took a dip. There is a lot of chatter that 2025 might have been his "last dance."
If Kelce hangs them up, the pass-catching hierarchy flips on its head. Right now, it looks like this:
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- Rashee Rice: The de facto WR1, assuming his off-field status stays stable.
- Xavier Worthy: The speedster who needs to prove he can do more than just run vertical routes.
- Marquise "Hollywood" Brown: Likely a secondary option if he stays on a team-friendly deal.
- Jalen Royals: The young gun people are sleeping on.
The team just signed Andrew Armstrong, a big-bodied receiver out of Arkansas, to a futures deal. He’s 6'3", which is a profile the Chiefs have lacked. They also brought in Jimmy Holiday. These aren't "saviors," but they show the front office knows the current room is too small and too fragile.
The Ground Game Struggle
Isiah Pacheco is still the heart of the backfield, but he’s lost some of that "angry run" juice after his recent injuries. Kareem Hunt is still there for those 3rd-and-short "bruiser" carries, but let’s be real—he’s not the 2017 version of himself.
The interesting name on the kc chiefs depth chart for 2026 is ShunDerrick Powell. He’s 23, undrafted in '25, and runs a 4.40. If the Chiefs want to get back to being explosive, they need someone who can take a screen pass 60 yards. Powell is that lottery ticket.
Rebuilding the Trenches: The O-Line Identity
If you want to know why the offense sputtered, look at the medical reports for the linemen. Josh Simmons, the rookie left tackle, missed nine games. Trey Smith missed five. Jawaan Taylor missed five. It’s hard to protect a superstar QB when your tackles are revolving doors.
For 2026, the projected starting five looks solid—if they stay on the field:
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- LT: Josh Simmons (The blindside protector they’re betting the house on)
- LG: Kingsley Suamataia
- C: Creed Humphrey (The literal anchor)
- RG: Trey Smith
- RT: Jaylon Moore (Battling with the massive Matt Waletzko)
Waletzko is a 6'8" project they just signed. He’s "clay," as the scouts say. If Andy Reid and the staff can mold him, he might push for a starting role, especially if they decide Jawaan Taylor's contract and penalty issues are too much to stomach anymore.
Spagnuolo’s Defense: The One Bright Spot?
While the offense was in the ER, Steve Spagnuolo’s defense actually held things together. The kc chiefs depth chart on defense is much more settled, but free agency is looming like a dark cloud.
The Defensive Line
Chris Jones is still the King of the Hill. Period. But around him, it’s getting interesting. George Karlaftis is a locked-in starter on the edge. Mike Danna and Charles Omenihu are the veterans, but Omenihu is hitting free agency and Danna might be a cap casualty. This is why they signed Marcus Harris (the Auburn product) to a futures contract. They need cheap, disruptive depth.
Linebackers and Secondary
Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill are the brains of the operation. Leo Chenal is the hammer. This unit is probably the strongest part of the entire roster.
In the secondary, Trent McDuffie is an All-Pro caliber corner, but there’s a wild rumor floating around that the Chiefs might trade him for draft capital because they’re so tight against the cap. It sounds crazy, but Brett Veach has traded stars before (remember Tyreek?). Nohl Williams and Kristian Fulton are currently the primary guys alongside McDuffie, with Jaden Hicks and Bryan Cook patrolling the deep safety spots.
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Key Takeaways for the 2026 Offseason
The kc chiefs depth chart isn't just a list of names; it’s a map of where this team needs to go. They have a top-10 draft pick (currently sitting around #9), which is uncharted territory for the Mahomes era.
What should you watch for?
- The Draft: Many experts, including those at Sporting News, think Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson is the target. He’s a route-running technician who could finally give Mahomes a true No. 1 target.
- The Cap: They need to find a way to keep Trey Smith or Nick Bolton. Keeping both feels impossible.
- The Health: Mahomes’ rehab is the only thing that matters. If he isn't 100% by August, the rest of this chart doesn't matter.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're trying to track how the Chiefs get back to the Super Bowl, stop looking at the stars and start looking at the "Futures" signings. Names like Kam Arnold (LB) and Matt Waletzko (OT) aren't household names, but they represent the depth that was missing in 2025.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the NFL transaction wire during the first week of March. That is when the "real" 2026 kc chiefs depth chart will begin to take shape as the team decides which veterans to cut to save space for a Mahomes-friendly rebuild.
The dynasty isn't dead, but the 2026 roster is going to look a whole lot different than the one that won back-to-back rings. It's younger, leaner, and—honestly—a bit more desperate.