We're just days away from the 2025 NFL Draft, and the Kansas City Chiefs' 90-man offseason roster has just 16 open spaces. 

Based on the current composition of the 90-man roster, the Chiefs have several clear needs. They'll use eight draft picks to address some of those holes and fill the rest out through undrafted free agency. 

Below is a quick breakdown of the players rostered by offense, defense, special teams, and position group. The extra spaces in each chart account for vacant spots from the first iteration of the 90-man offseason roster during the 2024 offseason. Roster composition varies yearly, but this gives us an idea of where the roster is currently lacking. 

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Chiefs Offense: 36

Last season, the Chiefs had 45 players on offense with their first complete 90-man offseason roster. That includes OT Chu Godrick, who received an international roster exemption and could again this year. 

It's probably a safe bet that the Chiefs are done at quarterback outside of some rookie minicamp invites (Central Missouri QB Zach Zebrowski & Eastern Kentucky QB Matt Morrisey are good bets). 

At running back, K.C. has a distinct lack of bodies this year compared to last year. Even with Pacheco, Hunt, Mitchell, and Steele providing a good start, they need quality depth at a position that has a higher rate of injury. I'd expect a running back selection for Kansas City within the top 150 picks in this draft, and I'd also expect a few players to come through undrafted free agency. 

Regarding the wide receiver position, I think the Chiefs add a player as insurance, given some off-field situations with WRs Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. I also expect the team to add some competition to push guys on the bottom of the roster. 

Tight end only needs an addition if Wiley's knee injury keeps him off the field for an extended time or if the Chiefs want to get a head start on figuring out life after Travis Kelce. I could see a late addition with a blocking background to add a skillset Kansas City currently lacks.

Brett Veach has emphasized that the Chiefs aren't done adding to the offensive line, especially at the tackle position. You want guys to compete to push Moore for the left tackle job, or even Wanya Morris and Ethan Driskell for swing tackle roles. However, this isn't the strongest class, and tackles are expected to come off the board rather quickly in Round 1 (as they always do). Kansas City might have to target some top-end traits guys in the middle-to-late rounds. 

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Chiefs Defense & Special Teams: 38

Last year, the Chiefs' initial defensive 90-man roster had 42 players, which means they need at least seven more players on the defensive side of the ball to hit those numbers. 

The Chiefs need a few bodies on the interior defensive line. Notably, they still lack a gap-shooting three-technique like Tershawn Wharton. They could also probably use another run-stuffing nose tackle type as well. Given the lack of experience outside of Jones, Pennel, and Tillery, I expect to see two to four more additions here.

At the edge rusher position, a few factors play into Kansas City's "needs." Is B.J. Thompson going to play in 2025? We've not received many updates on him since his cardiac arrest last offseason. Charles Omenihu and George Karlaftis could be free agents in 2026. I expect K.C. to pick up Karlaftis' fifth-year option, but will they have the funds to extend him, given where the edge rusher market has gone this offseason? You need at least one body added to this group during or after the draft, even without considering the above.

The linebacker position looks rather set as far as numbers are concerned, but with Leo Chenal a pending free agent in 2026 and Drue Tranquill having an "out" year in his contract, maybe Kansas City looks ahead. 

Kansas City's cornerback group needs more bodies, not just from a depth perspective this season but also because McDuffie, Watson, Williams, and Johnson are each pending 2026 free agents. The Chiefs will almost certainly pick up McDuffie's fifth-year option and extend him, but the team's cornerback depth could take a serious hit in just a year.

Finally, at safety, the numbers look good as things currently stand. Value in the 2025 NFL Draft could prompt another addition to this position group at some point, given that Bryan Cook and Mike Edwards are pending 2026 free agents.

The Chiefs could add a punter as Mr. Irrelevant (pick 257) or a UDFA to compete with Matt Araiza, but that unit is potentially set as is.

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