Kansas City Chiefs 2023 Roster Preview: Quarterbacks Entering Training Camp

Outside of No. 15, there's even more intrigue for Kansas City's quarterback unit in 2023.

The Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback room is likely the best in the NFL, and it only needs one reason to qualify as such: Patrick Mahomes.

The depth of Andy Reid's quarterback unit was put to the test, however, when Mahomes got injured during the Divisional Round of the playoffs and veteran Chad Henne was forced to temporarily step in and replace him. Mahomes's status undoubtedly shoulders the load, but it's still important for Kansas City to maintain at least one steady option behind him.

As 2023 Chiefs training camp approaches, Arrowhead Report will be previewing each of the team's position groups. This will precede a roster projection once training camp is in full swing, allowing for in-depth analysis and observations of the roster general manager Brett Veach has put together. The series kicks off with quarterback, the position that sets the organization's floor and raises its ceiling. 

The starter: Patrick Mahomes

Mahomes experienced the closest thing possible to a "down" year in 2021, posting the lowest full-season passer rating and QBR of his career. He then lost wideout Tyreek Hill via trade, yet he bounced back by soaring above his peers en route to an MVP and Super Bowl-winning 2022-23 campaign filled with highlights and triumphs. The NFL's best quarterback is the favorite to defend his throne this coming season, and he has a committee of weapons at his disposal. The Chiefs have always gone as far as Mahomes was capable of taking them, and that isn't changing now. 

The backup: Blaine Gabbert

Henne joined the ranks of the retired following Super Bowl LVII and in his place, Kansas City signed former first-round pick Blaine Gabbert to serve as Mahomes's backup. Gabbert, now 33 years old and having backed up Tom Brady recently, has played sparingly in recent seasons. A few Mahomes injuries during key regular and postseason moments, though, have shown that the NFL truly is an "anything can happen" league. Gabbert is entrenched as the primary backup and should do fine, although the team will hope his combined 35 pass attempts since 2020 don't get added to in 2023.  

The intriguing pieces: Shane Buechele, Chris Oladokun

Shane Buechele has had some flashy moments during the preseason for the Chiefs, and the team opted to keep him on the active roster all year despite not making him active for game days. It also signed Gabbert to back up Mahomes when there was a clear path for Buechele to take over. With that said, it's highly possible that Kansas City could once again roster Buechele during the year and designate him as an emergency third quarterback now that the NFL has installed that rule for 2023.

Oladokun, who is now entering his second year with the Chiefs, was a seventh-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers last spring. He's a prime practice squad candidate once again and if Gabbert wasn't in the picture, he could have been a possible emergency quarterback option. Barring anything unforeseen happening during the year, however, Oladokun should merely be a competitive camp body and practice piece. 

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