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5 questions facing the Chiefs in training camp

Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

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The Kansas City Chiefs will be one of the NFL's most intriguing teams during training camp and preseason action, as some high-level talent at a number of key positions gives them the potential to emerge as an AFC contender.

However, several unsettled areas of the roster - primarily surrounding the Alex Smith-led passing game - leave the Chiefs with some concerns before the 2015 campaign gets underway.

Here are five questions facing the Chiefs heading into training camp.

Can Smith be more than a game manager?

The Chiefs desperately need to improve their passing game heading into the 2015 season, and it's becoming increasingly apparent Smith may not be the quarterback to lead the way.

While the veteran has brought some much-needed stability in his two seasons since a trade from the San Francisco 49ers, he needs to do more for this team to take the next step.

Unless Smith is supported by a star-studded cast, simply managing the offense and avoiding turnovers won't get the job done.

If Smith can't develop an ability and willingness to push the ball downfield, which seems unlikely at this stage in his career, the Chiefs offense will continue to struggle.

Did the Chiefs do enough to upgrade at receiver?

The Chiefs somehow managed to go all of 2014 without a wide receiver hauling in a touchdown. Improving the position group represented the club's most pressing need heading into the offseason.

While Kansas City landed a top target in Jeremy Maclin, and drafted Chris Conley in the third round, they still may not have done enough to see the group rebound from such a historically unproductive year.

Continuing to lean on the rushing attack can't exactly be considered a bad idea with a superstar ball-carrier in Jamaal Charles, and the team could conceivably field a productive unit based on that area alone.

However, lacking multiple weapons at the outset would again allow opposing defenses to stack the box on early downs, making Charles's job as the featured playmaker far more difficult than it needs to be.

Will Peters emerge as a starter?

Led by a strong front seven, featuring arguably the NFL's top pass-rusher in Justin Houston, the Chiefs have an opportunity to field one of the league's best defenses in 2015.

That will depend on talent emerging in the secondary, where rookie cornerback Marcus Peters should at least have the opportunity to earn a starting job heading into Week 1.

Cornerbacks often require a lengthy transition period before playing at the NFL level, so there's no guarantee Peters will be able to contribute as a rookie, but on-field ability was never the problem in his college career.

If Peters can avoid the locker-room issues that saw him dismissed from Washington in his final season, the Chiefs may have found themselves a steal in the second half of the first round.

Can Kelce reach his potential?

Despite putting together a breakout year of sorts in 2014 - recording 67 receptions for 862 yards and five touchdowns - Travis Kelce's ceiling as a pass-catcher is still much higher.

With a rare combination of size and athletic ability, the 2013 third-round selection out of Cincinnati has drawn comparisons to the NFL's consensus top tight end, New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski.

Whether Kelce reaches that level remains to be seen. However, his continued development will be key to Kansas City's passing game - and that's a deciding factor in the team's potential to contend.

Has the offensive line improved?

The Chiefs have some substantial concerns on the offensive line, as left tackle Eric Fisher hasn't fulfilled expectations after being selected No. 1 overall in 2013 and standout center Rodney Hudson departed for the division-rival Oakland Raiders in free agency.

The trade for veteran guard Ben Grubbs will help solidify the interior, and rookie second-rounder Mitch Morse could step into Hudson's spot in the middle, but there are far too many uncertainties across the board.

Training camp improvements made by the starting five could put the Chiefs in a position to succeed regardless of quarterback and receiver questions, while continued struggles up front would only further the issues the offense faces in moving the ball with consistency.

Kansas City could be forced to turn to the free-agent market at final roster cutdowns if the position group remains unsettled after preseason competitions.

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