What the Chiefs’ need to improve on in the offseason

After a disappointing Super Bowl performance, the Chiefs should and will look to improve the roster next season.

The Kansas City Chiefs couldn’t complete their ‘Run it Back’ tour in a 31-9 blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But this team was arguable the most productive team in franchise history.

With a 14-2 regular-season record, even when they had a championship target on their back. Along with that, no position played noticeable bad consistently, they didn’t show too many weaknesses prior to Super Bowl Sunday.

They were a team that didn’t necessarily need to rely on one key player on either side of the ball. They were balanced, but now the future seems unclear for free agents and injuries.

Offensive line rebuild

This offensive unit clearly struggled during the Super Bowl. The offensive line was diminished from day one for the Chiefs.

To start off, their starting right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif opted out to be on the front lines battling COVID-19, according to KWCH. As the season went on, key lineman continued to go down with injuries.

After playing just five regular season games, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz suffered a back injury in Week 6. Schwartz never saw the field again this season after starting every game prior in his career.

The final major nail in the coffin was left tackle Eric Fisher. He was sidelined with a torn Achilles in the AFC Championship game, leaving the line completely battered heading into their final game.

After quarterback Patrick Mahomes was pressured 29 times against the Buccaneers, it may be time for a rebuild. Especially since the Chiefs may lose starters Andrew Wylie and Austin Reiter to free agency.

Serious injuries to Fisher and Schwartz could see the Chiefs be forced to pull the trigger this offseason and draft night to build a more youthful barrier for No. 15.

Wide receiver options

When it came to receiving talent, the Chiefs had one of the best and most complete units. But free agency from one-year contracts are up in the air again for the franchise.

With Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson on those short deals to repeat, contracts may not be reached given neither have played incredibly well in an offense stacked with firepower at every level.

Wide receiver Byron Pringle began to turn head for the Chiefs, as he started for the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. But don’t be surprised if the Chefs move on from all these pieces and focus on free agency and the NFL Draft.

In free agency there are several places the Chiefs could end up. Wide recevier Corey Davis stood out to me as a player to look out for this offseason.

Davis played for Tennessee Titans the last four seasons and is coming off a career-high 984 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Expect the Chiefs to either make a splash in free agency or draft from the deep wide receiver draft pool.

Cornerback situation

The cornerbacks may look a little different come next season, with both Bashaud Breeland and Chauvarius Ward’s contracts expiring.

After missing the first four games to suspension, Breeland started 11 regular-season games. Breeland struggled and committed several penalties during the Super Bowl, at 29-years-old, the cornerback more than likely played his final game as a Chief.

Now to Ward, who has been a consistent starter since late into the 2018 regular season. With all the production seen out of him as the outside corner, the Chiefs may look to keep Ward if they can get him for cheap.

Of course, the Chiefs could look toward the draft to acquire their replacements. But with the offensive line as the should be the top priority, expect the team to keep either Breeland or Ward for next season.