7 Kansas City Chiefs players not named Patrick Mahomes who can change the 2024 NFL season

Whether they've gone under the radar being a rookie, missing time with an injury, or have yet to get significant playing time, there are always plenty of players from across the NFL who unexpectedly take on large roles for their team. Some guys who did that for the Kansas City Chiefs last year were wide […]

Nick Roesch — NFL Trending News Writer

Jun 17, 2024 8:40 PM EDT

Some guys who did that for the Kansas City Chiefs last year were wide receiver Rashee Rice, linebacker Drue Tranquill, and defensive end Michael Danna. Even as the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Chiefs have plenty of opportunities at multiple positions in 2024.

Here are seven players who people may be sleeping on that could make a huge impact for the Chiefs this season.

WR Xavier Worthy

As Kansas City's first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Worthy will be plugged in immediately on both offense and special teams. Worthy set the all-time 40-yard dash record at the NFL Combine at 4.21 seconds. That is something that coach Andy Reid can be deadly with.

With Worthy's speed and the NFL's new kickoff rules, he'll have the chance to be a huge X-factor as a return specialist. He'll have plenty of opportunities on offense as well, especially with the looming suspension of Rice. With fellow receiver and speedster Hollywood Brown commanding plenty of attention from opposing defenses, there will be plenty of plays to be made for Worthy.

S Bryan Cook

Cook was having a very good year in 2023 until he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 13, posting 42 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and one interception. He is a hard-hitting enforcer in the secondary and he also possesses cornerback-like skills in pass coverage.

Cook's return will bring back an edge to the Chiefs' defense. His versatility to play in the box or deep in coverage gives defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo the flexibility that he loves to play with. A Pro Bowl-caliber season is in reach for Cook.

DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah

Another first-round pick for the Chiefs, Anudike-Uzomah spent most of his rookie season in 2023 riding the bench. It wasn't necessarily indicative of his skills, but rather having a lot of talented veterans in front of him such as Danna, Charles Omenihu, and George Karlaftis. That is still the case as Anudike-Uzomah enters 2024, but Omenihu's injury will open the door for more playing time early on.

With Omenihu likely off the field throughout training camp, preseason, and the first month of the regular season, Anudike-Uzomah will be in line for more snaps. If he makes an impact, he'll rotate in more even when Omenihu returns. You can never have too many good pass rushers, and being able to rotate those guys and keep them fresh will be a huge advantage for the K.C. defense.

OT Kingsley Suamataia

The Chiefs selected Suamataia in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, which according to many was a steal as he was linked to the Chiefs as early as the first round. He is a strong, athletic lineman who has all the tools to succeed in Reid's style of offense.

As a rookie, Suamataia certainly has a big learning curve to undergo. However, he'll have every opportunity to be the Chiefs starting left tackle as he competes for the job against second-year player Wanya Morris. While Morris could potentially be the safer pick, Suamataia has the higher upside. If Suamataia is able to develop quickly, the Chiefs will have one of the best offensive lines in the league.

CB Nazeeh Johnson

Johnson was poised to have a breakout second season in 2023 before tearing his ACL in training camp. Up until that time, Johnson was getting consistent reps with the first-team defense. Johnson is now recovered, and he was once again running with the starters during the Chiefs' minicamp.

With L'Jarius Sneed leaving in free agency, there is an open opportunity for a starting cornerback opposite Trent McDuffie. If Johnson can pick up where he left off last year, which it appears he has, the job could be his. He possesses top-end speed and good man-to-man coverage ability.

S Chamarri Conner

When Cook went down last season, Conner stepped up in a big way. He played well right off the bat and looked like a seasoned veteran. Appearing in all 17 regular season games, Conner recorded 36 tackles, one pass broken up, and one interception. Even with Cook returning, Conner still has a chance to see a lot of snaps.

As McDuffie is expected to now play mostly out on the boundary with Sneed gone, Conner is the logical choice to take McDuffie's role at nickel cornerback. He'll still be listed as a safety and play some at safety, but as he showed last year, he can play very well as a slot defender. Conner made Pro Football Focus' 2024 All-Breakout Team.

TE Jared Wiley

The Chiefs took Wiley in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and the Travis Kelce comparisons were immediate. Those are obviously huge shoes to fill, but Wiley could be a potential matchup nightmare with his size and pass-catching abilities. He played in a vertical, pass-heavy offense at TCU.

Wiley has impressed during minicamp and even saw some work with the first team, particularly in the red zone. Noah Gray has been a solid No. 2 tight end over the last few years, but he's not likely to be much more than that. Wylie could immediately be a red-zone weapon and a quick understudy for Kelce.