There are so many of the usual pillars to the Kansas City Chiefs’ success still leading the way into the 2026 season, even if quarterback Patrick Mahomes takes his time in recovering from injury. Whether it’s him, head coach Andy Reid, tight end Travis Kelce or defensive tackle Chris Jones, the core of the three-time Super Bowl champion organization is still likely the biggest factor towards claiming a fourth.
However, a new wave of difference makers must emerge to fill in the holes around the well-known All-Pros, especially with many of the previous supporting roles departing this offseason, like cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, or linebacker Leo Chenal.
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The Chiefs need a handful of players to “breakout” in 2026, taking talent that is clear to see and sharpening it to become more foundational pieces in the team’s quest to return to the playoffs. These are four that are in position to do so:
1. WR Xavier Worthy
When Kansas City selected Worthy with the 28th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, it was an exciting pick, given his record-setting speed, which made him a high-floor prospect in the Chiefs’ offensive scheme, and the realization that he has so much room to grow as a player, being just 21 years old on draft night.
I made the comparison to a former Chiefs speedster at the same position, calling Worthy a “souped-up” Mecole Hardman for being more fine-tuned in his route-running and receiving, while also having the same game-breaking long speed.
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So far, Worthy’s career has not met even the production of Hardman’s first two years in the NFL, but Worthy has an excellent chance to further prove himself in 2026. Last season was marred by a Week 1 collision with Travis Kelce; Worthy suffered a dislocated right shoulder and a torn labrum, and he waited until after the season ended to get surgery.
That’s worth noting in the 14-game sample from last season, where Worthy only racked up 532 yards and one touchdown after nine scores in his rookie campaign. He will also be coached by veteran wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea this season, who has headed and developed NFL receivers room since 2007.
If he and quarterback Patrick Mahomes can simply strengthen the chemistry on downfield routes, that alone could give Worthy a real shot at reaching the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career.
If you want to consider last season a breakout year for Thornton, that’s fine, but he is in a position now to level up even higher.
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In 2025, Thornton proved he belonged in the active rotation of receivers for the Chiefs, but this offseason has slotted him in as the third starter alongside Worthy and Rice, who is now recovering from clean-up surgery on his knee with a two-month recovery timeline.
Ideally, Thornton was to be the fourth receiver, with a defined role to stretch the defense vertically with downfield routes, à la former Chiefs wideout Justin Watson or Demarcus Robinson.
However, if Thornton can prove himself as a more well-rounded X-receiver, beating press coverage and getting open on quicker-hitting routes than the long ball, he could make Kansas City’s front office look like geniuses for not only re-signing him, but also trusting him as a true starter.
He could quickly be in line for an extension next offseason; with the $5.5 million average salary of the deal he signed this spring, he would be incredibly inexpensive if he does play legitimate starting snaps.
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The flashy defensive end will enter his second season with little standing in his way of becoming a nearly every-down player for the Chiefs, starting on the opposite edge from George Karlaftis. There has been no veteran addition to the room so far this offseason, and the second-round defensive end pick, R Mason Thomas, could be reserved for just certain personnel packages to start.
It leaves Gillotte with a lot of responsibility on the early downs or neutral situations, doing the dirty work of setting a hard edge against the run, but he came on strong down the stretch of 2025 as a more frequent part of the team’s four-man pass rush. In Week 14 against the Houston Texans, Gillotte registered five pressures and a sack; he also got in on a sack in the following game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
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For whatever Gillotte needs to work on refining about his game, he showed a tenacity and energy that make him a handful for offensive linemen from down to down. If he continues on the trajectory he was on to end his rookie year, he could register closer to the sack total former Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna did at his peak (6.5 sacks).
Out of the four names, the Chiefs’ offseason actions may have set up Williams the best for a true breakout year.
First of all, he watched two key starters at his position move on in McDuffie and Watson, but he also benefits from Kansas City being aggressive in acquiring the draft class’s top cornerback, Mansoor Delane.
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If the Chiefs’ belief in Delane comes to fruition, he will be the shutdown cornerback that Kansas City got a glimpse of when cornerback L’Jarius Sneed showcased that ability during the 2023 season. He can dissuade quarterbacks from throwing his direction, and lead them to trust non-No. 1 receivers with more targets.
That should be music to Williams’ ears, who was a ballhawk in his college days, earning an FBS-leading seven interceptions during his final year at the University of California. He also broke up seven passes as a rookie despite playing just 44% of the snaps.
If he can play disciplined coverage and wait for his opportunities, there could be more than enough for him once Delane earns the reputation that most players chosen that high at cornerback achieve.
