Ranking the 10 Best Players on the Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV on the back of an extremely explosive offense and very opportunistic defense. While the fireworks of Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are mesmerizing, they often overshadowed what was a loaded team at nearly every position that would beat up the opposition in all three phases of the game.

This team is packed to the brim with star power, and these 10 stand head and shoulders above the rest.

10. K Harrison Butker

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker / Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

If you think a kicker isn't worthy enough of being on this list, ask the New England Patriots what Adam Vinatieri and Stephen Gostkowski meant to those teams. Butker has made at least 89% of his kicks in every season that he's been with the Chiefs, and led the league with 34 made field goals on 38 tries last season. Butker provided a field goal and four extra points in Super Bowl LIV, and has established himself as one of the best kickers in the game.

9. OT Eric Fisher

Kansas City Chiefs tackle Eric Fisher / Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Some thought Fisher was trending toward bust territory, but he has salvaged his career lately. Fisher was a Pro Bowler in 2018, and the play of the line as a whole decreased in the eight games he missed this season. When healthy, the Central Michigan alum is an extremely reliable blindside protector.

8. WR Sammy Watkins

Kansas City Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins / Focus On Sport/Getty Images

If Richard Sherman made this list, we're sure Watkins would be a few notches higher. Watkins had just 673 yards in the regular season, but he came alive in the playoffs, putting up 288 yards in three games, including 114 yards against the Titans in the AFC Championship and 98 yards against the 49ers. When the chips were down, Mahomes went after Watkins often.

7. DE Frank Clark

Kansas City Chiefs pass rusher Frank Clark / David Eulitt/Getty Images

Swapping out Dee Ford for Clark as the team's featured pass rusher was a massive success for the Chiefs, even if it cost them a first-round pick (and more). Clark played in just 14 games, but recorded eight sacks while playing the run much better than Ford ever did. Explosive off the edge and strong when engaged with a blocker, Clark is everything Steve Spagnuolo wants out of a defensive end.

6. DT Chris Jones

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones / Peter Aiken/Getty Images

Over Jones' last 29 games, the former Mississippi State star has recorded 24.5 sacks, and he was getting those numbers without a dynamic rusher inside to take some of the attention away from him. While Jones might be in the middle of a pretty nasty contract dispute with the Chiefs, you can bet that Brett Veach will do anything and everything to bring the heartbeat of the front seven back into the fold for years to come.

5. WR Tyreek Hill

Kansas City Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill / Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

Hill might be No. 5 on this list of "best" players, but he is No. 1 on the list of most feared or most dangerous players. His rare speed is simply too much for some defenses to handle, and his ability to line up anywhere on offense and run any route has unlocked a whole new dimension for this Kansas City offense. When Mahomes needed to go deep on that third and long in the Super Bowl, it was the speed demon Hill that he hooked up with to keep Kansas City alive.

4. DB Tyrann Mathieu

Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Tyrann Mathieu / Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Mathieu might be generously listed at 190 pounds, but he plays like someone who is 240. Not only was the Honey Badger one of the best safeties in all of football last year -- if not the outright best -- but he was able to line up in the box, split out wide and play corner, or lock down slot receivers inside. He even rushed off the edge frequently. Mathieu's versatility is what helped the Kansas City defense take that next step, and they couldn't have won a championship without him.

3. OT Mitchell Schwartz

Kansas City Chiefs right tackle Mitchell Schwartz / Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

You could make a very strong argument that Schwartz is the best pure right tackle in football today, as the stalwart former All-Pro didn't allow a single pressure in the playoffs, a testament to his ability to both neutralize pass rushers on the edge and handle the strength of hand-in-the-dirt defensive linemen. If KC wants to keep Mahomes protected, bringing back Schwartz every year is a must.

2. TE Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce / Andy Lyons/Getty Images

You can argue Kelce is the best tight end in the game right now because nobody has the receiving chops No. 87 does. The five-time Pro Bowler has hit 1,000 yards in each of the last four seasons, establishing himself as Mahomes' go-to target. Kelce's unique ability to create mismatches in the passing game is emblematic of someone who is destined for the Hall of Fame if he keeps this terrific play up.

1. QB Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes / Focus On Sport/Getty Images

No surprise here. Mahomes' comeback in Super Bowl LIV established himself as a champion and the most statistically proficient quarterback in the league right now -- filling both sides of that stats/wins divide like so few have before him. At just 24 years old and with plenty of seasons in Andy Reid's offense ahead of him, Mahomes' reign at the top of the NFL is going to last much longer than anyone thought it would when he was drafted,