The Kansas City Chiefs had a down season for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, forcing the franchise to undergo a reset of sorts.
With the dynasty now over, the Chiefs have to figure out how they will get back to the top of the mountain in 2026.
And there are several ways to do it. Do they want the fast way? Or a slower path, that then might mean they could have more years of sustained success?
For The Athletic's Jesse Newell, the way he would do it is through the draft.
"The greatest work to reopen their Super Bowl window, though, will have to come through the draft," Newell writes. "They have a rare luxury, “earning” the ninth pick — their last top-10 selection was a trade up for Mahomes in 2017 — while also getting subsequent picks near the top of each round."
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Chiefs have to nail draft pick
As Newell points out, it has been a while since the Chiefs have had such a high draft pick.
And it is because of that that Andy Reid and the front office have to nail this pick.
They have to get a player who can slot in straight away in Week 1 and be productive from the first snap.
There can't be a breaking-in period; Kansas City's first-round pick has to hit the ground running and prove their worth from the get-go.
The last time they had this high a draft pick, it ended with the franchise getting Mahomes.
This time around, something similar would be perfect.
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