Kansas City Chiefs: 5 Current Stars Who Could Be Irrelevant by 2014

Before every NFL season, there are expectations for each teams' star players that can be set at a very high level.

When a player reaches this level of success for one or even multiple seasons in a row, many begin to look further down the road and imagine how great they could become for their respective team.

Unfortunately injuries, age and overall poor play cause many players to stray from the once successful track that they were on in their career.

Looking ahead, here are five Chiefs that could be on this road to becoming irrelevant by 2014.

Enjoy.

Brian Waters

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KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 21: Brian Waters #54 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during the game against the Miami Dolphins on December 21, 2008 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The five-time Pro Bowl offensive guard has been one of the best at his position in Chiefs history.

However, he has shown some signs of slowing down, as he struggled on and off last year for KC.

At 34 years old heading into this season, Waters certainly isn't getting any younger, and he might only have a season or two left in him anyway, considering the NFL life of most offensive lineman.

I don't see him even being around for the '14 campaign, as I believe he will possibly retire by the '13 season, leaving behind a legacy that makes him one of the best offensive lineman that the franchise has ever had.

Dexter McCluster

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 12: Dexter McCluster #22 of the Kansas City Chiefs returns a kick against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 12, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

McCluster was drafted by the Chiefs in '10 with one of their second-round picks and was immediately viewed as more of a luxury pick than anything.

He had his moments during his rookie season where he looked great, but also missed five games due to an injured ankle.

His role with the team appears that it will be limited even more in '11, as he will likely be a third-down RB behind star Jamaal Charles and veteran Thomas Jones.

The next couple seasons will be telling for McCluster, and if he can't stay on the field and produce on a consistent basis, he might be an afterthought by the time the 2014 season rolls around.

Matt Cassel

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 09: Quarterback Matt Cassel #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up prior to playing the Baltimore Ravens in their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 9, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip

Cassel made the Pro Bowl last season, as he looked like the quarterback that the Chiefs envisioned he would be all along.

However, it was just one season, and things change quickly from year to year in the NFL.

KC just drafted former Iowa standout Ricky Stanzi in the fifth round of this year's draft, who could be Caseel's possible replacement down the line.

Judging by how many QBs that Kansas City has used over the past 10 seasons, it would not surprise me at all if Stanzi was the starting signal-caller for the Chiefs by 2014.

Tamba Hali

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 02: Linebacker Tamba Hali #91 of the Kansas City Chiefs rushes the quarterback in a game against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Tim Umphrey/Getty Images)

Tamba Hali is easily the best player on the Chiefs defense and is a rising star in the NFL.

He made the Pro Bowl by leading the AFC with 14.5 sacks last season, doing all of this with several injuries that he played through during the year.

This is a big concern to the Chiefs, as they have not locked him up to a long-term deal as of yet.

If his injuries continue to persist this season, it might significantly affect his overall game and he could become just a shadow of his former self by 2014.

Brandon Carr

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 12: Brandon Carr #39 of the Kansas City Chiefs waits at the line of scrimmage against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 12, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Carr had arguably his best season of his young NFL career in 2010.

He led the team with 25 pass deflections and helped the young Chiefs take another step forward in the process.

The former Grand Valley State star did manage to get burned in coverage many times throughout the year, which has to be a concern for Chiefs management going forward.

This could be part of the reason that they drafted former University of Colorado CB Jalil Brown in April's draft, so he might have Carr's job by the time the '14 season rolls around.