The Kansas City Chiefs just played in their third straight Super Bowl while seeking the first three-peat of the Super Bowl era, only to have their hopes dashed when they got absolutely boat-raced by the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles dominated the trenches with their defensive line, leading to former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck to implore the Chiefs to fortify their offensive line on a recent appearance on ‘NFL on ESPN.’
“[Patrick Mahomes] is their largest investment. You need to protect him. … It’s about his future which I’m sure they feel like is hopefully at least another decade.” @tthasselbeck on why the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line is the No. 1 issue this offseason ✍️ pic.twitter.com/0vv5fKsBGw
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 18, 2025
In the video, Hasselbeck says “he’s [Patrick Mahomes] their largest investment. You need to protect him, you need to keep him healthy.” Hasselbeck also went on to say that his advice isn’t just about the next couple of seasons, but rather, about the remainder of Mahomes’ playing career, which he notes the Chiefs are likely hoping encompasses at least the next decade.
Why the Kansas City Chiefs’ Top Priority Should Be Offensive Line
Per PFF (subscription required) the quarterbacks with the highest average time to throw in 2024 were Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, and Sam Darnold. It’s likely no coincidence that the same trio finished as the Super Bowl MVP, a regular-season MVP runner-up, and the leader of a shockingly successful Vikings team, respectively.
In terms of Pro Football and Sports Network’s QB+ metric, Jackson finished No. 1 (99.8, A+), Hurts slotted in at No. 5 (88.7, B+) and Darnold checked in at No. 12 (79.0, B), further corroborating that time to throw correlates pretty well with good quarterback play.
In comparison, Mahomes finished with the 16th-best average time to throw per PFF and finished 10th in Pro Football Network QB+ metric (84.4, B).
As for Hasselbeck’s comments on keeping Mahomes healthy, there’s certainly plenty of weight behind that statement. Mahomes had a down season in 2024 by prior standards, and part of that decline could also be attributed to the fact that he played with a high-ankle sprain down the stretch run of the regular season and the entirety of the postseason.
High-ankle sprains are notorious for costing players multiple weeks, and while Mahomes didn’t miss any games, he became a mainstay on the injury report due to the issue.
The injury originally occurred on a Week 15 play in which Mahomes was under pressure by not one, but two Cleveland Browns defensive linemen. While one player wrapped up his legs, the other hit him near the shoulders, resulting in an awkward twist of Mahomes’ body.
That sequence alone serves a textbook argument for why the Chiefs should be prioritizing offensive-line help this offseason.
How Can the Chiefs Bolster Their Offensive Line?
Hasselbeck continued to make his case with the following remarks:
“It’s all about Patrick Mahomes, everything is. How well you’re gonna play, how far you’re gonna go and how you’re gonna protect your investment going forward. So at every stop, that needs to be what they are focused on.”
The key words in that statement are “at every stop.” NFL free agency begins with the franchise-tag period that started Feb. 18 and runs through March 4. The Chiefs have three offensive lineman that are pending free agents: D.J. Humphries, Mike Caliendo, and Trey Smith.
Humphries and Caliendo served primarily as backups in 2024, but Trey Smith played 1,288 snaps for the Chiefs and allowed just 34 pressures in 829 pass block attempts across the regular season and playoffs per PFF.
Nate Taylor of The Athletic recently confirmed that per a league source, the Chiefs are not expected to put the franchise tag on Smith but will likely push to retain him.
Beyond the franchise-tag period, the NFL’s legal tampering period starts on March 10, two days before free agency fully opens on March 12.
In addition to Smith, other noteworthy offensive linemen slated to become free agents include 10-year veteran Zack Martin and Trent Brown. Therefore, there are upgrades to be had in free agency for the Chiefs, in addition to the possibility of retaining last season’s starting right guard.
Naturally, there’s also the 2025 NFL Draft, which takes place in Green Bay from April 24-26 and sees the Chiefs holding the 31st overall pick in the first round. Given the team’s clear need, Kansas City certainly wouldn’t be maligned for investing that selection on an offensive lineman.
The Chiefs could also explore a trade for an established lineman, although those can sometimes be more challenging to pull off in the NFL compared to other sports.
No matter what route they choose to take, Hasselbeck’s assessment that the Chiefs need to invest in the protection of Mahomes is an accurate one.
