What If the Chiefs Drafted Chimere Dike? Imagining a Different 2025 Season

The 2025 season was a nightmare for the Kansas City Chiefs. For the first time in years, the team stumbled through the schedule, finishing 6-11, missing the playoffs, and witnessing their star quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffer a torn ACL. It was a season fans and analysts alike will want to forget.

Much of the offseason chatter now revolves around the NFL Draft, and how different decisions might have altered the course of a historically disappointing year for the Chiefs.

In reality, Kansas City selected Josh Simmons, an offensive tackle, at the end of the first round. Simmons is a talented prospect, but in hindsight, some argue that the Chiefs’ roster needs might have called for a more immediate playmaker on offense rather than protection on the line.

A Re-Draft Vision

Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski recently published a re-draft for 2025, speculating on how teams might have approached selections differently. In his scenario, Simmons is picked earlier by another team, forcing the Chiefs to pivot. Sobleski suggests that Kansas City could have drafted Chimere Dike, the wide receiver who originally slipped to the fourth round with the Tennessee Titans.

Dike, whose collegiate career featured offensively limited programs, quietly demonstrated the skills that would make him an NFL standout. Sobleski writes:

“Dike didn’t produce at a huge clip while playing for two offensively challenged collegiate programs. But he was clearly an explosive threat, which emerged during his first season as a professional. As the season progressed, Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward trusted Dike more and more. Plus, the fourth-round rookie was recognized for his abilities as a returner. Dike led the NFL in punt return average and scored a pair of touchdowns on special teams.”

In other words, Dike was an immediate difference-maker, excelling as a versatile weapon in multiple phases of the game.

Chiefs’ Offensive Struggles

Kansas City’s 2025 season was plagued by more than just bad luck.

• Rashee Rice began the season suspended, depriving Mahomes of a reliable target.

• Xavier Worthy, the young receiver many expected to emerge in his second year, failed to make the leap.

• Travis Kelce, while still productive, began showing the signs of aging that slowed his ability to dominate matchups consistently.

• The running game underperformed, putting even more pressure on Mahomes to carry the offense.

Without a proven, explosive receiving threat, Mahomes lacked a go-to weapon to help sustain drives and take the pressure off his offensive line.

Where Chimere Dike Might Have Helped

Would Dike have solved all the Chiefs’ problems? Certainly not. But his presence would have provided a different dimension to the offense.

As an elite kick returner and a receiver capable of explosive plays, Dike could have:

1. Created big-play opportunities to keep the Chiefs competitive in high-scoring games.

2. Relieved pressure on Mahomes, giving him a reliable target in critical situations.

3. Added flexibility to the offense, forcing defenses to account for a dangerous threat in the passing game and on special teams.

The impact of a player like Dike goes beyond stats. Momentum-changing plays, scoring from unexpected situations, and the psychological boost for teammates cannot be overstated. In a season where morale and injury struggles weighed heavily on the Chiefs, a dynamic rookie could have made a measurable difference in close games.

Lessons for the Future

While it’s easy to dwell on “what if” scenarios, the Chiefs’ 2025 season also serves as a lesson in roster construction and draft strategy. Protection on the offensive line is essential, but pairing that with high-upside playmakers in skill positions can balance the offense and prepare for injuries and suspensions.

Mahomes remains one of the league’s most talented quarterbacks, but even he needs weapons around him to maximize performance. In hindsight, a re-draft with Dike in Kansas City demonstrates the value of not just evaluating talent but also projecting how a player’s skills translate to immediate production in a professional environment.

The Chiefs will have plenty of opportunities to rebound in 2026. Learning from the mistakes of the previous draft—whether it’s in player evaluation, team needs assessment, or risk management—could be the difference between another subpar season and returning to playoff contention.

While Dike’s success with the Titans doesn’t guarantee he would have replicated that production in Kansas City, his emergence as a versatile offensive and special teams weapon shows the potential impact of savvy draft decisions.

Conclusion

The 2025 season will be remembered as one of the toughest for the Chiefs in years. Injuries, underperformance, and roster limitations all contributed to a 6-11 finish. Yet, reflecting on the NFL Draft reveals an intriguing “what if.”

Had Kansas City selected Chimere Dike instead of Josh Simmons, the team may not have won dramatically more games, but they could have added a dynamic, game-changing element to the offense and special teams. It’s a reminder that draft strategy is about more than filling positional needs—it’s about impact, versatility, and immediate contribution.

As the Chiefs prepare for the 2026 season, the lessons of 2025 remain clear: maximize Mahomes’ weapons, address roster holes strategically, and always consider the hidden potential of under-the-radar players. Perhaps, next time, the Chiefs will find their Dike—or their next superstar—before the fourth round.