The Chiefs, winners of two Super Bowls over the past five seasons, are a budding dynasty. Kansas City has made five consecutive trips to the AFC title game. None of this means the team doesn’t have hot seats. Here are three of the hottest:
1. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy
After former OC Eric Bieniemy left for the same position in Washington, Nagy replaced him. He served as Chiefs QB coach/offensive assistant last season. In five seasons under Bieniemy, Kansas City ranked sixth or better in the NFL in yards and scoring.
As Chicago head coach, Nagy went 48-55 in four seasons, and his offenses ranked 20th or worse in yards and scoring in three seasons. Of course, he didn’t have Patrick Mahomes running the offense there.
Like Bieniemy, Nagy won’t call plays — that’s HC Andy Reid’s domain — but if there is a drop-off in the offense, he could be made a scapegoat.
2. WR Skyy Moore
A rookie in 2022, the second-round pick wasn’t a focal point in the passing game, but that could change in 2023.
JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman are free agents. Smith-Schuster, a former Pro Bowler, will be challenging to re-sign. Per Sportrac, his market value is a four-year deal worth $14.9 million annually. The Chiefs have $17M in cap space, per Spotrac.
In 16 games, Moore only had 22 receptions for 250 yards, 56 fewer than Smith-Schuster, who played in the same number of games.
3. DE George Karlaftis III
The Chiefs are expected to release DE Frank Clark, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, clearing $21 million in cap space.
Clark, who made three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2019-21, is a two-time Super Bowl champion who turned his game up a notch in the playoffs. Per Pro Football Reference, he’s third all-time in postseason sacks (13.5).
In 2022, Karlaftis III showed promise as a rookie, recording six sacks in 17 games, but the former first-round pick has huge shoes to fill.
