Arrowhead Pride
Going into any season, there are certain players on an NFL roster feeling more pressure than the rest. That could be due to contract status, availability concerns, or the team lacking depth behind a player, making one player even more important.
Here are the Kansas City Chiefs players who face the most pressure on them to perform in 2026 and why:
Simmons was outstanding in his snaps as a rookie, showing the potential to become one of the best left tackles in the NFL.
The pressure on Simmons comes from the need to prove he can stay in the starting lineup for a full season.
It’s not his fault that he has missed time over the last two seasons. He left the team for personal reasons and got injured twice. Regardless, the Chiefs do need Simmons to stay healthy and available for 17 games to reach their ceiling. Kansas City’s front office didn’t do anything to address tackle depth this offseason; that feels like a significant bet on Simmons to stay healthy.
Through all the excitement about the new offensive coaching staff, only one move was made to boost the unit’s personnel. There is a heavy weight on Walker’s shoulders to be a next-level difference maker due to the team’s recent ruts in the run game.
The Chiefs have very, very rarely created explosive rushes in three seasons, and signing Walker is the direct fix to that issue. Walker is one of the top big-play backs in the league with his speed and agility in space.
Gashes of 10 or more yards are necessary for a Chiefs offense that still has pass-game personnel limitations.
Kansas City also needs Walker to stay consistent for 17 games. Walker’s highlights are some of the best in the NFL, but he can be inconsistent. His vision can be up and down, and he will unnecessarily bounce runs outside. Even for the majority of last season, Walker wasn’t the most dependable running back for the Seattle Seahawks. However, he ironed out most of his issues during the championship run.
The Chiefs will be looking for that postseason run to carry over into the 2026 campaign; offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy could be one of the biggest factors in raising Walker’s consistency.
Worthy’s 2025 season was a step back from what he did as a rookie. He was clearly impacted by the shoulder injury he suffered at the start of the season, which led the coaching staff to avoid targeting Worthy in short areas of the field where he could face contact.
Worthy was also put in a bad role for his skill set once Rashee Rice returned from suspension. The Chiefs often had to play Rice and Travis Kelce in the slot, forcing Worthy to play on the boundary. He struggled to make an impact in that role, as longer cornerbacks were able to get into his frame and prevent him...
