Chiefs could still go Black Friday shopping for a few more roster items

The holiday season is here. Football, food and family will be at the forefront of everyone’s minds. But with the holidays, giving out gifts will also be special for everyone. We will be giving out our own gift ideas for the Kansas City Chiefs.

What are the most pressing items that Kansas City may need to go out and buy? Finding something new, something reliable, and something that increases production could benefit the Chiefs in various ways. With that in mind, here are three things that we think the Kansas City Chiefs should be looking for on their Black Friday shopping list. Decisions that will be made during the 2025 offseason are the focus here.

Outside of Trent McDuffie, the play of the Chiefs’ secondary has been fairly suspect ever since Jaylen Watson went down with an injury. Some guys are playing out of position or at spots that does not feature them correctly. As a result, it appears clear that Kansas City can only trust so many guys over others in the defensive back room.

Multiple fresh faces in the secondary is near the top of the shopping list when looking into the offseason checklist. Overall, the Chiefs could benefit by adding at least a couple of new faces at cornerback. It also would not be surprising to see at least one addition at safety, either. With McDuffie, Watson, Joshua Williams, and Nazeeh Johnson all set to be in the final year of their rookie deals, restoring more youth is a possibility at cornerback with at least one draft pick. K.C. could also look to sign a veteran with experience, to boot.

Finally, the safety spot features Bryan Cook entering the last year of his rookie deal in 2025. We also do not know if Justin Reid will be retained in free agency. All told, reinforcements and new options will be necessary, not just wishful thinking, when it comes to adding fresh faces in a spot that can offer volatile results from year to year.

The Chiefs can confuse opposing quarterbacks with their various blitzes and when bringing extra pressure. But when it comes to getting home with just four pass rushers, Kansas City has been nonexistent in that area for the last handful of games. Teams are double-teaming Chris Jones. And outside of that, we have not seen anyone else materialize as a threat in one-on-one chances. Getting Charles Omenihu back from injury soon could easily help.

But when you look at a shopping list, finding some sense of actual production would go a long way to boosting the Kansas City pass rush. Can the Chiefs afford to sign a defender who has the concrete numbers as a pass rusher? Over The Cap projects K.C. with roughly $20 million in salary cap space for 2025. If the Chiefs can utilize some of that on a name who has routinely produced pressures and sacks, giving them a new opportunity with a good team in Kansas City could be tantalizing for a possible free agent. Finding actual production at defensive end is the main key.

Wide receiver was supposed to be a source of improvement in Kansas City this year. While drops and a lack of performance hurt them last year, outside of Rashee Rice, injuries have been a disappointing part for the group this year. Hollywood Brown was hurt right away in the preseason. Though, we could see him return soon. Rice was taken out on a weird play with a knee injury. And even JuJu Smith-Schuster missed a few weeks with a hamstring injury.

The trade acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins has certainly helped in specific moments. But with that move, it further proves that having a known commodity at wide receiver is going to benefit Mahomes. With how much trust and comfort Hopkins has provided, perhaps the Chiefs look to bring him back in 2025. But regardless of if Hopkins is retained, securing a known commodity or two at wide receiver is crucial for the Chiefs in the coming years.

All of Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson, and Mecole Hardman will be free agents this upcoming offseason. Skyy Moore only has one year left on his rookie deal after this year. Who knows if he will even make the team next season? Rice will be back, and Xavier Worthy will be entering year two in 2025. But if Kansas City can secure a known commodity or two at the position, the offense can remain efficient and versatile. Another portion of the offseason being made up of wide receiver moves awaits the Chiefs.