Michael Jordan’s invincible 6-0 record in championship games has cast a shadow over every great athlete since. At least within mainstream discourse, the godly feat of never coming short in the biggest spot has made the masses think it’s the standard. In reality, it’s an outlier. Every great player has blemishes on their resume. Mike did too. After all, those who are bestowed the GOAT moniker are really just humans, and humans are anything but perfect. For Patrick Mahomes, this imperfection came to transpire in the most inopportune of settings. Don’t mean to flare your PTSD Chiefs fans, but let’s take it right back to that fateful evening in NOLA. A dreamy evening that promised a potential passing of the baton from Tom Brady to Mahomes. But ended up delivering a nightmare. The Chiefs’ front office is making sure they fix the main reason that happened.

The harsh truth is that the Super Bowl ended before Kendrick Lamar even showed face at half-time. Andy Reid‘s KC Chiefs were never really close to the elusive three-peat. An unprecedented feat in the Super Bowl era. It’s ironic how getting indulged in the intricacies of modern football tactics and convoluted schemes can mean you gloss over the most important aspect of the sport. One that’s stood the test of time, and always will. The game is won and lost in the trenches. Win the battle at the line of scrimmage, and you shall win the war. Well, the Eagles’ D-line absolutely ran through the Chiefs’ offense. Even a QB of Mahomes’ stature was rendered hapless. The Chiefs’ offensive line was bad, and it’s somehow taken a step backward this off-season. But only winding a toy car backward makes it zoom forward, right? 

The Chiefs have just traded guard Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears. A move that makes sense from a cap and business standpoint. After all the quality of defense directly affects the signal caller’s performance. Also, those sacks in the Super Bowl weren’t a one-off. Mahomes had the highest sack rate of his career in 2024. This is a problem that can fester itself into something much worse than losing games. It puts their franchise QB’s health at risk. And it only makes sense the Chiefs draft an O-lineman in round 1. But picking at #31, is the requisite quality and physicality needed to plug straight into the NFL going to be available? Well, if this Draft is anything then it’s deep. As such, Mel Kiper – the originator of the mock drafting phenomenon – has KC picking a stellar offensive tackle in his latest mock. 

Mel Kiper tipped the Chiefs to draft Texas Longhorns’ Kelvin Banks Jr. “Banks has the traits to help fortify Patrick Mahomes‘ protection.” wrote Kiper in his assessment. He proceeded to elaborate upon these traits, as well as which spot in the O-line Banks Jr. would be suited for. Let’s just say Kiper thinks he’s versatile. “Perhaps Banks wins the left tackle job over [Jaylon] Moore.” he claimed. Moore has just come over to KC after being a second-string player with the 49ers. Good body to have, but someone who can be improved upon. Kiper proceeded to write “Maybe he replaces Jawaan Taylor on the right side. And maybe he even kicks inside to Thuney’s vacated guard spot. Regardless of where he plays, Banks’ experience (42 college starts), quickness and power would be welcomed in Kansas City.” 

A Texas native, Kelvin Banks Jr. has the frame at 6’4, 320lb. He was a 5-star recruit out of high school so getting to the NFL is no fluke. As aforementioned, he has plenty of snaps under his belt having played 42 games over his collegiate career. That translates into experience. Ready-made, just as Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs need him. Banks was a unanimous All-American last year and a First-team All-SEC player. This is someone who’s shown quality and grit every step of the way. Coming from a blueblood school, the bright lights at Arrowhead shouldn’t hinder him either. This shall be a massive coup for Coach Reid, who’s already adding help for Mahomes elsewhere.

Andy Reid bolsters Patrick Mahomes’ receiving corp before potentially adding Kelvin Banks Jr.

Fans have been yearning for Patrick Mahomes to link with a proper WR1. Every since the Tyreek Hill trade, the offense just hasn’t hummed on the same level. It’s almost as if Mahomes has been playing with one foot on the brake, prioritizing winning over an offensive light show. We thought this was going to change with the emergence of Rashee Rice. However, off-field issues and injuries have halted his progress. Kelvin Banks Jr.’s former Texas teammate Xavier Worthy is still finding his footing in the receiving corp. Hollywood Brown’s also had injuries, and DeAndre Hopkins isn’t the same player he was. Unfortunately, a big-name WR doesn’t seem to be on the menu, but that’s not a bad thing.

Not every player is supposed to be a star. When you’re a modern dynasty looking to expand the battalion, you need your glue guys. Guys who keep emotions in check, who know what kind of dressing room breeds success. The Chiefs have a plethora of such players. Andy Reid has been a proponent of continuity, bringing back players who helped them become the juggernaut they are – no matter how big or small their contributions. Well, they’ve just brought back a wide receiver who understands the KC culture as well as any pass-catcher in the league.

The Chiefs are officially bringing JuJu Smith-Schuster back for another year. Those timely catches and yardage in the 2022 Super Bowl live on. JuJu isn’t the most exciting receiver in the league, but he has a pre-existing chemistry with Mahomes. His ending his second stint with KC with a blowout loss wouldn’t have felt right. He, alongside everybody on the team and in Chiefs Kingdom, will hope they can right their wrongs next season. A player like Kelvin Banks Jr. will certainly help the cause.