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By Pete Sweeney
We’re at a bit of a standstill in terms of fresh stories involving the 2025 Kansas City Chiefs. Free agency has passed – and now we patiently wait for the start of the annual “Camp Pat” workouts (which usually happen in mid-April) followed by the NFL Draft at the end of the month.
In my view, general manager Brett Veach and his personnel staff have done it again, once again assembling a 90-man roster and depth chart that could confidently line up right now.
After the announcement of compensatory picks, the Chiefs now have eight selections to use throughout draft weekend. For a quick reference, they have a first-rounder (No. 31 overall), a second-rounder (No. 63 overall), two third-rounders (Nos. 66 and 95), a fourth-rounder (No. 133) and three seventh-rounders (Nos. 226, 251 and 257).
Recent history might suggest Veach will trade up multiple times and end up with somewhere around six selections. However, given Kansas City’s great number of needs, we might see the team trade back once or twice and secure a deeper class.
Even with the roster in good shape, Kansas City still has some lingering questions. In today’s newsletter, I’ll present the best and worst-case scenarios regarding those questions.
Will Trey Smith play on the franchise tag?
Best-case scenario: No. And I’ll share a phrase that transcends football: Deadlines make deals. The Chiefs and Smith have a deadline of July 15 to get a long-term contract done, and so far, both sides have made some leverage plays. Smith has already signed his $23.4 million tag, signaling good faith and avoiding a holdout, while the Chiefs created cap flexibility by restructuring Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones – restoring some leverage in negotiations. Now, it’s up to the deadline.
Worst-case scenario: Yes. And this particular worst-case scenario isn’t that bad. Smith plays one season on that number, motivated to position himself for an even higher contract next offseason. The two sides kick the can down the road, and if he plays great, perhaps there is more room to operate then. The two sides delay completing a deal until the cap rises further, which could actually help them get something done later rather than sooner.
What else is in this edition?
Pete presents two more of the biggest scenarios still facing the Chiefs this offseason.
Our John Dixon provides a full breakdown of a clear shift in the direction of Kansas City’s mock drafts.
A link to the full hour-long episode of the “Editors Show” (preview below).
The Editors Show
Here is a preview of this week’s Editors Show featuring Pete Sweeney and John Dixon.
What else is included in a subscription?
During the offseason, we provide a weekly update on Wednesday, with additional coverage on major events, such as free agency and the NFL Draft. During the season, You can expect 3 weekly newsletters, as outlined below:
In our game preview newsletter on Thursdays, Pete shares his three thoughts heading into the game, Rocky Magaña highlights a pivotal matchup to watch — and John Dixon shares some background on one of the upcoming game’s biggest storylines.
In our post-game newsletter, Pete shares his three thoughts stemming from each performance, Ron Kopp delivers his very first look at the film — and Jared Sapp captures everything being said about the turning point of the game.
Brandon Kiley is our in-season Arrowhead Pride Premier Tuesday columnist.
How to sign up for Arrowhead Pride Premier
Subscribe today through this link for even more Chiefs coverage this season — and right now, we have a coupon code to give you 25% off for the entire year.
Enter coupon code PODCAST25 to receive 25% off your annual subscription.
