Picking Kansas City Chiefs' midseason MVPs for 2023

The Kansas City Chiefs carry a 7-2 record into the bye week and midseason mark. They faltered in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season, and they scuffed up their winning streak against the Denver Broncos. Other weeks have been a struggle for this team as well, but they've seen some great performances in all […]

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor

Nov 7, 2023 12:47 PM EST

Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWOR

The Kansas City Chiefs carry a 7-2 record into the bye week and midseason mark.

They faltered in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season, and they scuffed up their winning streak against the Denver Broncos. Other weeks have been a struggle for this team as well, but they've seen some great performances in all phases of the game to be tied for the best record in the AFC at this point in the season.

Below we'll name our midseason MVPs in each phase of the game, including a salty veteran on offense, a young ascending player on defense, and an underrated performer on special teams.

Offense MVP: TE Travis Kelce

I’m going a bit against the grain here by choosing anyone other than Patrick Mahomes as the team’s offensive MVP. However, the offense hasn’t been up to standard this year and Mahomes knows that. What has been up to standard is Travis Kelce at the ripe old age of 34.

No. 87 is entering the twilight of his career and he should be slowing down, but this man's game is aging like a fine wine. After missing Week 1 with a knee injury, Kelce is averaging 74.6 yards per game in his eight games played this season. He's pacing for nearly 1,200 yards in what would be his eighth consecutive season of over 1,000 receiving yards. He's also pacing for 114 catches, which would be the most in a single season of his career.

The fact that he's doing all of this while the offense is out of sorts and struggling to find a consistent No. 2 receiving option makes it that much more impressive.

Runner-up: QB Patrick Mahomes

Defense MVP: CB Trent McDuffie

There were a lot of people who felt that had he played a full season in 2022, McDuffie could have challenged for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. In 2023, he’s having a surefire All-Pro season. His versatility and all-around game is really what’s shining through.

He can play both inside and outside, but among players who have appeared in 9 games this season, he's allowing the second-fewest yards per coverage snap in the slot according to PFF.

He's one of the best run-stopping cornerbacks in the league. Only Colts CB Kenny Moore (24) has more defensive stops this season than McDuffie (20).

Through Week 9, McDuffie has seven total pressures. That's the most in the NFL by a cornerback.

McDuffie also has the most forced fumbles among cornerbacks in the NFL with four. That number ties for the league lead with defensive ends like Myles Garrett and Bradley Chubb.

He's making his impact felt in all facets of the game, and his play is changing the outcomes of games without question.

Runner-up: DE George Karlaftis

Special Teams MVP: K Harrison Butker

It’s remarkable that there aren’t more people talking about Harrison Butker’s season right now, especially given how the offense has underperformed commensurate to expectations.

Butker has been absolute nails for the team with a 100% success rate on both field goals (18-of-18) and extra points (22-of-22). Only one other kicker in the NFL, Titans K Nick Folk, can say the same at this current juncture of the season. He has eight fewer kicks than Butker, though. When the Chiefs have needed him to pull through this year, he has. It's a far cry from the struggle he had in 2022 after injuring his ankle in Week 1.

With eight games left to go, Butker has a chance to become just the fourth kicker in NFL history to complete a full regular season without missing a field goal or extra point.

Runner-up: None