3 Players Chiefs Must Target in Offseason to Maximize Patrick Mahomes' Potential

The Kansas City Chiefs 2023 season feels like it's been an experiment to see just how little help they can give Patrick Mahomes and still have an elite offense.

Going into the season the Chiefs were light on experienced receivers. Travis Kelce is the de facto No. 1 receiver in the offense, but the only true veteran in the receiving corps was Marquez Valdes-Scantling and he has always been a one-dimensional role player.

Between Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, Rashee Rice and Justyn Ross, the Chiefs were hoping Mahomes, Andy Reid and Kelce could engineer a game-winning passing attack without much help.

As it turns out, they can still win games with the young receivers, but it isn't easy and it might not be enough for them to add another Lombardi to the trophy case. The Chiefs lead the league in dropped passes with 34 on the season.

Mahomes' numbers have taken a dip as well. His 93.2 passer rating is the lowest it's been in his career as a starter. He's fifth in EPA per play, but he's been first or second in each season since 2020.

If the Chiefs are going to get the most out of Mahomes and get back to being one of the most feared offenses in the league then there is work to be done in the offseason. Here are three players they should be targeting to get back to the top.

Sign: WR Marquise Brown

Ric Tapia/Getty Images

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 26: Marquise Brown #2 of the Arizona Cardinals runs a route during a game against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

The Chiefs receiving corps has been frustrating, but it does look like they have found a future No. 1 receiver in Rashee Rice. The SMU alum is third among all rookie receivers in yards (758) this season and tied for second in touchdowns with seven.

Rice has looked particularly good over the last four weeks, averaging 9.5 targets per game with 32 catches, 334 yards and three touchdowns. Extrapolated over a 17-game season that would be 136 receptions, 1,419 yards and nearly 13 touchdowns. That's a pretty far leap, but it shows just how good he's been recently.

What the Chiefs really need in free agency is a receiver with experience who can be the No. 2. Releasing Marquez Valdes-Scantling would free up $12 million in cap space, which opens the door for the Chiefs to get a little bit aggressive.

Targeting a No. 1 receiver like Tee Higgins or Mike Evans might be a bit aggressive, but going down a tier to get Marquise Brown would make a lot of sense. The 26-year-old could play a similar role to MVS as the vertical threat with the speed to get behind defenses, but a better track record of coming down with them.

Brown has tried and failed to be a top option. Despite opportunities to be the top receiver in Baltimore and Arizona he has just one season with more than a 1,000 yards. Still he would be a high end No. 2 for the Chiefs and give them the vertical threat they don't have right now.

Sign: OT Trent Brown, New England Patriots

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Trent Brown

The Chiefs attempted to find their left tackle in free agency this offseason.

They originally signed Jawaan Taylor with the intention of moving him from the right to left side, but ended up keeping him there when they signed Donovan Smith who became available because the Buccaneers released him.

It was the right idea, but Smith has not lived up to the expectation that he could hold down Mahomes' blindside. Instead, he has struggled with 28 blown passing blocks in 12 games this season, per Sports Info Solutions.

Meanwhile, Trent Brown is playing really well for a bad Patriots team in a contract year. The 30-year-old has just 12 blown passing blocks in 10 games and has given up three sacks on the year.

Wanya Morris has since taken over the starting left tackle job in Kansas City. However, it would be good to allow him to become the swing tackle and provide much-needed depth at the position next year to give him more chances at development before becoming a full-time starter.

Rolling into 2024 with Brown and Taylor as the starting tackles would give the Chiefs a really good tackle duo.

Draft: TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas

AP Photo/Eric Gay

Texas tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (0) is tripped up just short of the goal line by BYU cornerback Jakob Robinson, bottom, during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Travis Kelce has been an integral part of Patrick Mahomes success throughout his time in Kansas City. He took on added importance when Tyreek Hill left, but Kelce is a unique player who has formed elite chemistry with Mahomes.

He's also 34 years old and has admitted to thinking about retirement a lot lately.

The Chiefs aren't going to find another Kelce, but it would still be a good idea to go out and find his replacement before he hangs up the cleats. If the Chiefs are lucky, that won't be until 2025.

The star tight end has two more years left on his contract. Bringing in a rookie now would give them an opportunity to see how Kelce operates and has built his relationship with Mahomes.

Ja'Tavion Sanders would make sense as an understudy. The Longhorns tight end comes in at No. 91 on our current big board. He's proven to be a little more explosive this season for Texas going from averaging 11.4 yards per catch in 2022 to 15.6 this season.

At 6'4", 243 pounds, he's going to have to prove that he can put on some weight and improve his blocking, but his receiving chops make him worth the investment.