The Kansas City Chiefs are reloading for the 2025 season. While most teams have added players to bolster their roster this spring, the Chiefs have been in the process of shuffling things around. Joe Thuney was traded as a cap casualty and several other players, including defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton and safety Justin Reid departed in free agency, leaving Kansas City to pick up the pieces.
All of this may not matter as long as Patrick Mahomes is playing quarterback, but it puts everyone in the locker room on notice entering the NFL Draft. With a chance to grab young talent, it could leave a few players on the chopping block and a pair could be gone from Kansas City by May.
1. RB Isiah Pacheco
At this time last year, Isaiah Pacheco was firmly entrenched in the Chiefs’ backfield. He ran for 1,765 yards and 12 touchdowns during his first two seasons and appeared to be a steal coming out of the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. But things shifted when Pacheco broke his fibula in Week 2 and he didn’t look like the same player when he returned, averaging 3.6 yards per carry in five regular season games and gaining 37 yards on 13 carries during the run to the Super Bowl.
An optimist would say that a healthy offseason will help Pacheco get back on track. But Pacheco picked the wrong time to have a down year. The Rutgers product is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and the Chiefs have decided to bring back Kareem Hunt and add Elijah Mitchell in free agency. With general manager Brett Veach praising the current draft class, it’s possible Pacheco could be dangled in trade talks during or after the draft, leaving his future in doubt.
2. WR Skyy Moore
Moore was the receiver who was supposed to soften the blow of Tyreek Hill’s departure in 2022. But his production hasn’t warranted that praise as he’s battled injuries and ineffectiveness during the first three years of his career.
A second-round pick (54th overall) in the 2022 draft, Moore caught 43 passes for 494 yards and a touchdown in his first two seasons. He then landed on injured reserve with a core muscle injury last October and didn’t record a reception in six games during the regular season.
Like Pacheco, Moore picked the bad time to have a down year. Rashee Rice’s return from injury should be a shot in the arm for a passing offense that had its lowest production since Mahomes took over as the starter in 2018. The Chiefs also brought back Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and are looking for Xavier Worthy to build on a promising rookie season.
With all of these factors, it’s unlikely that Moore’s fifth-year option will be exercised in the coming weeks, and he could be a candidate for trade or release as Kansas City works through the NFL Draft.
