Chiefs training camp preview: Mahomes leads quest for three-peat

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs enter the 2024 season as back-to-back Super Bowl champions. Their quest to become the first NFL team to win three in a row began when they opened training camp Sunday.

Here's a closer look at the biggest questions and storylines for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs:

Biggest question: Can the Chiefs become the first NFL team to three-peat?

Their chances appear as good as any of the league's previous repeat champions -- if not better. Most of last season's essential players are back for another try, the exception being cornerback L'Jarius Sneed , who was traded to the Tennessee Titans . Otherwise, the Chiefs re-signed the player who makes everything work on defense, tackle Chris Jones , and gave a fresh contract to their leading receiver and energy-giver, tight end Travis Kelce .

Mahomes is coming off the worst statistical season of his career but much of that had to do with the often abysmal play of the wide receivers, and didn't stop him from leading the Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory. The Chiefs went for an upgrade at wide receiver by signing Marquise Brown and drafting Xavier Worthy in the first round.

The most compelling position battle: Left tackle.

The Chiefs drafted Kingsley Suamataia in the second round this year and Wanya Morris in the third round in 2023, and one of the two players will become their third starting left tackle in the past three seasons.

Morris started four games last season in place of the injured regular, Donovan Smith , and did some things well. He had a pass block win rate of 90.3%, which would have been good enough to place him in the NFL's top 20 had he played more. But he wasn't consistent enough for the Chiefs to feel comfortable handing him the job. Suamataia is just 21 and started only two seasons at BYU, so his challenge at training camp will be to prove to the Chiefs that he's ready.

Player with the most to prove: Kadarius Toney .

It's a reflection on Toney more than any of the Chiefs receivers that the team felt compelled to make a wideout the biggest free agent signing (Brown) and another one with their first-round draft pick (Worthy). Had Toney delivered last season the way the Chiefs anticipated, it's likely either Brown or Worthy would be playing elsewhere this season. But Toney was a profound disappointment in 2023.

His three most notable plays were two easily catchable passes that he deflected to an opposing defender for interceptions and an offside penalty to nullify what would have been a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter of a close game. Showing the Chiefs he is reliable would be a good way for him to start rebuilding their trust. He was listed on the team's weekly injury report for 19 of their 21 games last season.

Most impactful offseason addition: Worthy.

The Chiefs are hopeful the big play returns to their passing game in big numbers, and drafting Worthy in the first round was squarely aimed at making that happen. Worthy ran a 4.21 40-yard dash, the fastest such time ever recorded at the NFL's scouting combine. Adding Worthy and Brown, who once ran the 40 in 4.27 seconds, could give opposing defenses fits in terms of planning coverage against the Chiefs.

"It's a speed game," general manager Brett Veach said. "The more speed you have on the field the harder it is for defenses to take away different elements of the game."