Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. With the 2026 NFL Draft just around the corner, things are going wrong for them.

Behind Patrick Mahomes, the team is old, thin, and losing important players. Now, one of the most respected national media voices, Matt Miller from ESPN, has called them out.

Miller didn't think twice about going straight at the Chiefs.

"We have to look at a team and ask who is the Right Tackle long-term because Jaylon Moore is on a 1-yr deal? Who's replacing Chris Jones who is 32? Who's replacing McDuffie & Watson who are now with the Rams? This is a team that is devoid of talent so deeply throughout their entire roster. Let's not even get into Tight End," Miller said on the ESPN show.

Miller's worries are important.

The Chiefs' offensive line has been one of the worst at protecting the quarterback over the past two seasons. While Mahomes was sacked 36 times in the 2024 season, last year the number was 34.

Losing both McDuffie and Watson to the Rams at the same time takes away two of the Chiefs' most dependable coverage players from an already weak secondary.

The Chiefs' front office has always been focused on being lean and efficient. This strategy worked when the team was young, but now it is facing its biggest stress test.

Brett Veach has a tough offseason ahead of him, and the choices he makes will decide if this dynasty has another chapter.

That margin for error wasn't always this small, and the only reason The Chief has a dynasty to protect is that one scout refused to back down in a crowded draft room.

The Night Ryne Nutt Convinced The Chiefs To Draft Chris Jones

A heated argument in the Chiefs' draft room almost ten years ago changed the team forever.

Ryne Nutt, who was an area scout at the time and is now the vice president of player personnel, remembers everything. He didn't hold back on how divided that room really was when he talked about it on the Running It Back podcast.

"There was a big argument," Nutt recalled. "People had reservations about Chris."  

The Chief has three Lombardi trophies in a case today because of that one argument and the man who was willing to fight it. Since his debut, Jones has recorded 222 solo tackles, 87.5 sacks, 3 forced recoveries, and a couple of interceptions for the Chiefs.

But Nutt wasn't done; he went back to the tape and made his case again.

"I watched all of their tapes. I've done both. This is the better player," he added later.

Dorsey traded down, got the 37th pick from San Francisco, and used it to get Jones. Jones went on to win three Super Bowls, was named to the Pro Bowl seven times, and is considered one of the best to play for the Chiefs.

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Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Kalp Thaker