Non-Pro Bowlers on the Kansas City Chiefs who could help swing a few wins their way in the 2026 season
The Kansas City Chiefs have a much better roster in 2026, and a few non-Pro Bowlers could help swing some wins their way.
The Kansas City Chiefs enter the 2026 season with something to prove after a disappointing campaign. Training camp is right around the corner, and the franchise believes it can return to dynasty form.
For that to happen, Kansas City will need big contributions from players beyond the usual headliners. These aren’t Pro Bowlers or established stars. They’re role players whose individual leaps could be the difference between a close loss and a signature win. Three names stand out: left tackle Josh Simmons, wide receiver Xavier Worthy, and defensive end George Karlaftis.
Josh Simmons can lock down Mahomes’ blind side
This one feels obvious, but it needs to be said. Simmons is one of the best left tackles in the entire league, and most people outside of Kansas City don’t even know his name. He was a rookie last year, dealt with some adversity, and still showed flashes of elite play. Now he’s heading into 2026 looking like he’s in the best shape of his life.
The left tackle position protects Patrick Mahomes’ blind side. When that spot is locked down, it changes everything about the passing game. A dominant left tackle can neutralize an opposing team’s best pass rusher and give Mahomes the time he needs to find receivers downfield. Simmons has proved he can play at an elite level. The question is whether he can sustain it across a full 17-game season. The tools and the talent say yes.
Xavier Worthy needs to become the go-to receiver
Some fans wrote off Worthy after a second-year slump, but that’s premature. Sophomore struggles happen all the time in the NFL, and they don’t define a career. Worthy remains the fastest player ever recorded at the NFL Scouting Combine, and that kind of speed creates opportunities no other skill set can replicate.
The Chiefs need Worthy to be a legitimate downfield threat and to produce after the catch in the middle of the field. With Rashee Rice possibly missing a significant chunk of training camp after already sitting out OTAs and minicamp, Worthy is positioned as the clear No. 1 wide receiver in this offense. Rice is probably the better receiver right now, but Worthy has every physical tool to be Mahomes’ primary target among the wideout group. Travis Kelce will always be the go-to guy, but someone has to emerge as his successor.
It all comes down to separation. Worthy has the speed to blow past defensive backs, but he has to consistently create space and win at the line of scrimmage. If he can put those pieces together, there’s no ceiling on what he can become for Kansas City’s offense.
George Karlaftis has to rediscover his 2023 pass rush
The Chiefs are heading to the defensive side of the ball for the third name on this list. Kansas City has historically been a strong pass-rushing team during its dynasty run, but last season was a step backward. Getting consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks will be one of the most important factors in 2026, and Karlaftis is the player who can tip that scale.
Karlaftis has never made a Pro Bowl, but he’s already shown he can dominate. In 2023, he recorded 10.5 sacks and 47 total tackles. Last season saw a dip to six sacks in 16 games, though he posted 48 tackles, 10 tackles for loss (a career high), and 23 quarterback hits, five more than his 2023 total. The pressure was there. The sacks just didn’t follow.
The Chiefs need the 2023 version of Karlaftis, the one who finished plays and brought quarterbacks to the ground. He is the clear edge one now, and what happens on the other side of the defensive line is out of his control. He just needs to handle his own responsibility and be the consistent pass-rush threat this defense is built around.
Kansas City’s path back to contention won’t hinge on Mahomes or Kelce alone. It will come down to whether players like Simmons, Worthy, and Karlaftis can elevate their games and turn close contests into wins.