Should Kansas City Chiefs “Run It Back” For 2023?

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The term “run it back” is often used by teams that are coming off of a championship victory. For the Kansas City Chiefs, they already said they were fine with doing this after winning Super Bowl LIV a few years back. And at the conclusion of the Super Bowl LVII parade, more Chiefs players were saying they wanted to “run it back” for 2023. However, living up to that mantra may be easier said than done entering next season.

As Kansas City begins to inch closer to executing their 2023 offseason plan, the team may not be able to “run it back” as crisp this time around. You have the usual roster questions about older veterans on the roster. Meanwhile, this team could arguably be even better in certain areas next year, compared to what they received in 2022.

Overall, the Chiefs may be wise to avoid the simple notion of “run it back.” Kansas City possibly has to be even more strategic with their upcoming plans after the most recent Super Bowl win, unlike the prior one. Let’s kick it off.

Staying Ahead Of The Curve

It is no secret that the Chiefs adjusted their style a bit in 2022. First and foremost, Kansas City must continue to add more into their arsenal, so to speak. Rather than living by the same old tricks that got it done last year, 2023 will be another test in continuing to find growth. The Chiefs saw some of their stars have one of their best career seasons.

On the other hand, Kansas City saw some improvements, in terms of mental toughness and instincts. The Chiefs may not have blown a lot of teams out in the 2022 regular season. Yet, you could almost see this team get more comfortable and confident in tight situations where the game was on the line. There is something to be said for being battle-tested. Though, there is also something to be said for finding new ways to come through in crucial moments. That growth of mental toughness, instincts and becoming more clutch should inspire the Chiefs to add more of those same qualities to the 2023 roster.

Do Not Stop Adding To Premium Positions

Obviously, the Chiefs set out to overhaul a couple of premium positions in 2022. The wide receiver position was completely revamped, while the cornerback room relied on immediate results from incoming rookies. Even with all of those changes, it would not be surprising to see Kansas City continue to make alterations to those two spots. Wide receiver may be more likely to see increased moves, compared to cornerback. Simply put, the Chiefs have more contracts officially locked up at cornerback than they do wide receiver for 2023.

Elsewhere, the Chiefs are likely to continue adding to the trenches on each side of the ball. The most important position on the offensive line, offensive tackle, may need to be addressed on each side. When it comes to the free agent case of Orlando Brown Jr., there are many different paths that Kansas City could take. Being incredibly strategic and smart with that player will be monumental, as any decision will create numerous ripple effects.

Finally, the Chiefs could simply be forced to get much younger on the defensive line. That could be similar to what they did at cornerback last offseason. Kansas City received boosts from names like Frank Clark and Carlos Dunlap, when necessary. Nonetheless, the Chiefs know that those two have a very distinct shelf life left in the NFL. Kansas City did have the second most sacks in the league in 2022. They cannot rest on their laurels because of that, however.

Are Major Gambles In The Cards?

As Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has always said, the team is always looking at moves that could possibly make them one percent better. That has led to strategic gambles in recent years. Namely, the trade for Kadarius Toney, re-signing of Jerick McKinnon and going out and paying Justin Reid paid major dividends last year. There could be some similar type of moves made by the Chiefs in 2023. Be that as it may, KC may be more involved in bigger names, so to speak.

Say the Chiefs are unable to make immediate moves that they want at wide receiver. Could they look to make a splash with a trade for a veteran pass catcher? Or, will the Chiefs persuade a premiere pass rusher to join the young George Karlaftis? Kansas City could throw plenty of money at an elite defensive lineman. By giving them a clear shot at a Super Bowl and a chance to lead the pass rush, one cannot rule it out. All told, more stars could be a part of the plans, instead of “running it back.”

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles and analysis throughout this week. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.