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5 Kansas City Chiefs Facing Make-or-Break Seasons in 2015

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Kansas City Chiefs Facing Make-or-Break Seasons in 2015

5 Kansas City Chiefs facing Make or Break Seasons in 2015
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs missed the playoffs in the 2014-15 season. The Chiefs still have good talent on the roster and made some solid additions in the offseason to make a push for the playoffs this season. However, they need some veterans and past draft picks to step up and help out. Here are five Chiefs facing make-or-break seasons.

5. Junior Hemingway

Junior Hemingway Faces Make or Break season
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

5. Junior Hemingway

Junior Hemingway Faces Make or Break season
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City wide receivers did not record a receiving touchdown last year. Hemingway is one of the remaining receivers left of the group from last year. The Chiefs revamped their receivers with Jeremy Maclin and three rookie receivers. Also, the other returning receivers are held in a much higher regard than Hemingway. Hemingway needs a positive season or he will not be a Chief next year.

4. Allen Bailey

Allen Bailey Faces Make or Break Season
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

4. Allen Bailey

Allen Bailey Faces Make or Break Season
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

He signed a four-year contract extension worth $25 million in November 2014. That is a good chunk of money to give a guy who only had five sacks last season. The Chiefs are probably expecting more from Bailey because pass rushers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali garner most of the attention from opponents. Bailey needs a good season to live up to that contract extension.

3. Eric Fisher

Eric Fisher Faces Make or Break Season
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

3. Eric Fisher

Eric Fisher Faces Make or Break Season
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

The No. 1 pick of the 2013 Draft has shown gradual improvement after struggling his rookie season. He slowly got better at pass protection in 2014. Luckily for Fisher, the Chiefs like running the ball and running quick, short routes. However, this is the year the Chiefs need him to put it all together. The Chiefs want to implement more deep passing routes this year. If Fisher cannot get it together, people may start seeing him as a bust.

2. Ron Parker

Ron Parker faces Make or Break Season
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

2. Ron Parker

Ron Parker faces Make or Break Season
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Parker was a starting safety for the Chiefs last season. He did well in pass coverage, but the Chiefs needed better safety help in run defense, which they ranked 28th in last season. The Chiefs signed Tyvon Branch to be a run-stopping safety. Branch is also very confident in his pass coverage and ball skills. If Parker does not improve his run defense, he may be relegated to a situational safety role.

1. Alex Smith

Alex Smith faces Make or Break Season
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

1. Alex Smith

Alex Smith faces Make or Break Season
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Can Alex Smith be the quarterback of a Super Bowl contender? This question has followed Smith ever since he was drafted. He is a great game manager, and he is in the middle of a four-year contract, so the Chiefs are invested in him. However, if they are unable to make the playoffs again this year, there will be a serious front office conversation about whether or not he is the right guy in Kansas City.

Kyle Nishida is a NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kyle_Nishida, or add him to your network on Google

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