Rebuilding the Dynasty: Potential Trade Targets to Keep the Chiefs on Top in 2025

The Kansas City Chiefs’ quest for a three-peat fell short in Super Bowl LIX, with a 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs finished the 2024 season with a 15-2 record. Now, as the page turns to 2025, the question isn’t if they’ll contend, but how they’ll fortify their roster to reclaim their throne. With Patrick Mahomes still in his prime, and Andy Reid at the helm, the Chiefs have the foundation to remain a dominant force. However, strategic acquisitions are crucial to address key areas and ensure another Super Bowl run.

Offensive Line Overhaul: Protecting the Franchise

The Super Bowl LIX loss exposed a glaring weakness: the offensive line. Mahomes was sacked six times. The interior offensive line struggled significantly, and with Joe Thuney traded to the Chicago Bears, the Chiefs must prioritize protecting their star quarterback.

Potential Trade Targets:

Ronnie Stanley (Baltimore Ravens): Set to become a free agent, Stanley could be the answer at left tackle. His arrival would allow Joe Thuney to shift back to his natural guard position, solidifying the interior.
David Bakhtiari (Green Bay Packers): If the Packers move on from their veteran left tackle, the Chiefs could swoop in to improve Mahomes’ protection.
Cam Robinson (Minnesota Vikings): If the Chiefs miss out on Stanley, Robinson could provide a similar solution. He’s younger and could thrive under Andy Reid’s coaching.
Jaylon Moore (San Francisco 49ers): The Chiefs signed Moore to a two-year, $30 million deal to protect Mahomes’ blindside.

Draft Options:

Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota Golden Gophers): According to Pro Football Network, Ersery would be a solid pick for the Chiefs. The 6’6″, 330-pound offensive tackle is a powerhouse and a stalwart in pass protection.
Josh Conerly Jr.: Jacob Infante’s mock draft for Pro Football Network has the Chiefs taking Conerly Jr. in the first round.
Wyatt Milum: Infante’s mock draft also has the Chiefs taking Milum in the second round. He is described as a heavy-handed lineman with solid footwork in pass protection.
Josh Simmons (Ohio State): Simmons has been linked to the Chiefs, but an injury he sustained may cause him to fall down draft boards.
Grey Zabel: Zabel is another offensive lineman prospect the Chiefs could target.

Wide Receiver Reinforcements: Adding Explosiveness to the Passing Game

While Travis Kelce remains a focal point of the offense, the Chiefs need to inject more explosiveness and reliability into their wide receiver corps. The Chiefs’ wide receiver room is flooded with talent but has several question marks including some off-field issues and injury concerns.

Potential Trade Targets:

Stefon Diggs (Houston Texans): Diggs is a free agent, and while he’s coming off of a season-ending injury, he would be the best wide receiver addition in Kansas City in some time. He could pair with Xavier Worthy as the top two wideouts in Kansas City on a short-term deal.
Tee Higgins (Cincinnati Bengals): The Bengals may have to choose between paying Higgins or Ja’Marr Chase. If Higgins becomes available, the Chiefs should make a play for the physical receiver.
Brandon Aiyuk (San Francisco 49ers): The 49ers might not be able to afford Aiyuk’s contract extension. If he becomes available, the Chiefs should make an aggressive push.

Draft Options:

Tai Felton (Maryland): Felton is a well-rounded receiver who can make an impact on day one. In just the first four games of the season, he put up mind-boggling numbers with over 600 yards, five touchdowns and 41 receptions.
Kyle Williams (Washington State): Williams tallied 70 catches for 1,196 yards and 14 touchdowns in a career year, and 10 of his scores came from big-time plays, of which he had 19 total.
Dont’e Thornton Jr.: Although Thornton saw only 34 targets in 2024, eight turned into big-time catches.

Defensive Edge: Complementing Chris Jones

Chris Jones remains an elite force in the middle, but the Chiefs need a dominant pass rusher off the edge to take pressure off the secondary.

Potential Trade Targets & Free Agents:

Haason Reddick (New York Jets): Reddick is coming off of a down season that featured a trade from the Eagles to the Jets and a lengthy contract dispute that resulted in him missing a chunk of the season. He could be a perfect short-term, bounce-back candidate for Kansas City in this spot.

Secondary Reinforcements: Addressing Potential Departures

L’Jarius Sneed is set to become a free agent, and while Kansas City wants to re-sign him, they may not have the cap space to do so. If he leaves, the Chiefs could target a top cornerback via trade or in the draft.

Draft Options:

O’Donnell Fortune (South Carolina): Fortune has a great all-around skillset with length and quickness to be a consistent outside corner in the NFL.

The Kelce Factor: Managing the Legend’s Workload

Travis Kelce’s impact on the Chiefs’ offense is undeniable, but as he enters his age 35-36 season, managing his workload becomes crucial.

Strategic Adjustments:

Reduce Targets: Kelce hasn’t been a 1,000-yard receiver in two seasons. It might be time to decrease his targets and make his receptions more impactful. Last season, Kelce was targeted 133 times, yet he was only able to bring in 97 of those receptions.
Increase Noah Gray’s Role: Tight end Noah Gray could see more action to alleviate Kelce’s workload.

2025 Opponents

The Chiefs’ opponents in 2025 include their AFC West rivals (Broncos, Raiders, and Chargers), as well as the entirety of the AFC South (Texans, Colts, Jaguars, and Titans) and NFC East (Eagles, Commanders, Cowboys, and Giants). They will also face the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens. The Chiefs will have nine home games and eight road games.

The Road Ahead

The Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was a setback, but not a knockout. By strategically addressing their needs through trades and the draft, the Chiefs can rebuild their dynasty and remain a top contender in 2025.