Three Important Questions for the Chiefs Entering 2023 Season

The Chiefs are attempting to repeat as Super Bowl champs, but what things still need to be sorted out along the way?

Just seven months ago, the Kansas City Chiefs were hoisting the Lombardi Trophy as Super Bowl champions and didn't have a care in the world about much else. Following another offseason featuring a new crop of NFL Draft selections, plenty of new faces acquired from free agency and some internal development during OTAs and training camp, Andy Reid's bunch is ready to chase a potential repeat season.

In order for Kansas City to win a second consecutive championship, a lot has to go right. While the best team in the league may not always come away with a ring, the Chiefs must once again prove that they're the cream of the proverbial crop in not just their conference but also the league at large. Additionally, the club must have luck on its side both on the injury front and on the field throughout its playoff run. Winning one Super Bowl is hard enough, and there's a reason there hasn't been a back-to-back champ in roughly 20 years.

With all of that in mind, is it safe to say that general manager Brett Veach did enough to put his franchise in an ideal spot for more success in 2023-24? That answer is likely a yes, as the Chiefs project to return to the playoffs and remain a top contender. What areas could hamstring the team if things go south, though? Let's take a look at three burning questions for Kansas City as the season officially arrives. 

How will the Chris Jones saga continue to unfold?

As of the publishing of this article and in advance of the Chiefs' season opener against the Detroit Lions, star defensive tackle Chris Jones is still holding out from the team. The 29-year-old, who is coming off a career year, didn't participate in any advanced stage of the offseason program and didn't report after everyone broke camp and returned to Kansas City. Jones has threatened to drag his holdout all the way to Week 8 and while some contract numbers have finally been leaked, there's no sign that points to this situation being a quick fix. 

If that's the case, how can the Chiefs' defense fare without its best player? This isn't the same context as Tyreek Hill being traded; Steve Spagnuolo's unit doesn't have an Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce to help offset the loss of an All-Pro player. Jones is the Mahomes or Kelce of the defense, and Charles Omenihu's suspension also leaves the defensive front without yet another pass-rush aficionado for the first six weeks of the season. If Jones indeed does hold out for several more weeks, can a notoriously slow-starting Spagnuolo defense pick up the slack? Considering some of the early offenses the Chiefs will face, they're hoping the answer is yes. 

Is Kansas City's investment at receiver enough to win big again?

When the aforementioned Hill trade took place and in the months following it, many wondered whether Kansas City's offense would be able to maintain its standing among the NFL's best. Over the course of the 2022 season, no Chiefs wideout logged 1,000 or more receiving yards and only one — JuJu Smith-Schuster — passed the 50-reception mark. It was truly a receiver-by-committee effort, and one that helped the team win a championship despite multiple members being banged up during the playoffs. With Smith-Schuster and Hardman now on other teams, can Mahomes replicate his success with this year's group?

Returning at the top are Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. The former is a high-level talent with durability concerns, the second is a sophomore looking to make more of an impact and the latter should finish right around where he was at the end of last year as a solid contributor. Behind them, there are intriguing pieces to choose from such as rookie Rashee Rice and second-year man Justyn Ross. 

The depth here is serious, and so is the ceiling, although the floor is also concerning. Mahomes is fantastic and should be able to get this unit deep into the playoffs but if one could look into the future and see a crushing loss, it wouldn't take a leap of faith to assume the non-Kelce pass-catchers let him down. 

Can the secondary avoid showing its youth?

One of the main storylines of the Chiefs' magical season was the emergence of Veach's 2022 draft class. On the defensive side of the ball, specifically in the secondary, multiple players stepped up and played roles during the championship run. From first-rounder Trent McDuffie and all the way down to seventh-rounder Jaylen Watson, cornerbacks and even safety Bryan Cook looked like anything but rookies by the season's end. While the development curve suggests that continued progression is one option, a sophomore slump could also be in the cards for one or more of those former rookies.

McDuffie is likely the safest bet to keep playing well due to his pre-draft profile and expectations. He was supposed to "pop" early on and be a long-term piece. Cook, albeit impressive during training camp, is attempting to fill a starter's shoes and might experience some growing pains along the way. The Watson and Joshua Williams duo is comprised of two Day 3 draft picks, which can prove to be volatile in terms of year-to-year consistency (at a position with poor year-to-year consistency, no less).

There's absolutely a world in which Veach continues to get away with this minimal cash investment strategy at cornerback — and maybe it's still this world — but there's also one with regression knocking on the door. With Cook also factored in, perhaps folks are taking the secondary for granted just a bit. 

Read More: Brett Veach Delivers Big Update on Chris Jones Contract Situation