The only team to advance to five Super Bowls in six years, the Chiefs continued their dynasty but saw the Eagles’ blowout win deny them a threepeat. Kansas City’s metrics and point differential last season pointed to a record far worse than 15-2, but the team still managed to skate to Super Bowl LIX. After Philadelphia exposed the 2024 K.C. edition’s flaws, the Chiefs — like they did after their Super Bowl LV loss to the Buccaneers — went to work addressing them.
Changing up along their offensive line once again, the Chiefs added two left tackle options and swapped out Joe Thuney‘s big-ticket deal for a Trey Smith payday. The team’s latest high-profile suspension (for wide receiver Rashee Rice) will impact the start of its latest AFC title defense, and there is no shortage of challengers heading into the season. But the Chiefs still roll out the Patrick Mahomes–Travis Kelce–Chris Jones troika that, along with Andy Reid, created this dynasty. The team worked on the future Hall of Famers’ supporting cast this offseason.
Teams rarely use franchise tags on interior offensive linemen. That brought a complication for the Chiefs, as the CBA groups all O-linemen together under the tag and fifth-year options formulas. Since 2012, Thuney, Smith and Brandon Scherff have been the only guards tagged. The Chiefs tagging Smith helped the guard market climb, as the Tennessee alum being grouped with tackle salaries on the tag inflated the tender price. Smith signed his tender soon after, making this a rather peaceful negotiation. It still took a while for a deal to be struck.
Months later, Kansas City completed a quieter negotiation with Karlaftis. Not part of the Tyreek Hill trade package (like Trent McDuffie was), Karlaftis went 30th overall in 2022. The Purdue product has been a steady producer on a Chris Jones-fronted D-line over the past three years. After a 10.5-sack 2023 season, Karlaftis smashed his career high in QB hits by tallying 28 in 2024. This body of work prompted the Chiefs to act early on a player without a Pro Bowl nod.
Minutes after a report the Chiefs were shopping Thuney, terms of the Bears swap surfaced. The Chiefs are passing on Thuney’s age-33 season, while the Bears handed him a two-year, $35MM extension. Chicago GM Ryan Poles was in Kansas City’s front office when the team signed Thuney in 2021; the nine-year veteran becomes part of a Bears interior O-line revamp that included a trade for Jonah Jackson and a Drew Dalman free agency addition.
While the Eagles exposed the Chiefs’ final left tackle plan last season — moving Thuney outside — he had been mostly passable in that role after the previous three options (Kingsley Suamataia, Wanya Morris, D.J. Humphries) faltered. Andy Reid benched Suamataia during a rough outing against Trey Hendrickson in Week 2, never giving him the LT job back. The 2024 second-rounder is now on track to succeed Thuney. With Suamataia having minimal guard experience, the Chiefs are taking a risk. With Smith commanding the extension he did and Jawaan Taylor‘s albatross contract remaining on the books for 2025, this became the cost of doing business.
After not eclipsing 275 receiving yards in either of his first two seasons, Moore did not catch a pass in 2024. That reduced his trade value to a mere 2027 pick swap — an exchange in line with Nnadi’s. The seven-year Chiefs nose tackle makes the same move Mecole Hardman did in 2023, being back to K.C. months after signing with the Jets. The 87-game starter did lose his job last year, starting just one game and seeing his snap rate fall from 46% in 2023 to 20% in ’24. But he is back in the mix.
Functioning well against the run, Bolton also posted a top-20 coverage grade (per PFF) last season. The former second-round pick added 11 tackles for loss in 2024, matching his 2022 total (two injuries cost the Mizzou alum eight games in 2023). He added six passes defensed last season. Three of Bolton’s four Chiefs teams have deployed a top-eight defense, and the club convinced the Texas native to stay rather than weigh his Chiefs offer against others during the tampering period.
Bolton’s deal came during a key market update at linebacker. Zack Baun‘s $17MM-per-year Eagles deal set the table for Bolton and Sherwood, with the NFL seeing its eight-figure-per-year linebacking contingent expand to 16 after some pay cuts and releases had affected this market in recent years. Bolton’s three-year accord also will give him a shot a second lucrative extension or free agency deal during his prime.
Brown’s one-year pact in 2024 did not boost his market, as the former Ravens first-rounder continued to see injuries provide limitations. After missing eight games during his two-season Cardinals tenure, Brown sustained his most significant NFL setback — a shoulder injury that required surgery — and missed 14 games due to injury last season. A player who discussed an Arizona extension and at least appeared primed for a notable 2024 FA deal has now accepted back-to-back one-year contracts — this one cheaper than his 2024 terms.
The Chiefs will need Brown more during Rashee Rice‘s six-game suspension, but the former first-round pick did not show much during Kansas City’s playoff run. He caught five passes totaling just 50 yards during the three-game postseason, perhaps lowering expectations for his Chiefs encore. Time is running out for the 5-foot-9 playmaker, 
who had cleared 700 receiving yards each year from 2020-22, to command a big-ticket contract. At 28, Brown needs to put together a strong season (while avoiding many injury absences) to recharge his free agency stock.
Just a year older than Brown, Smith-Schuster has settled into role-player status three years after he posted 933 receiving yards on a Super Bowl-winning team. Catching on back in Kansas City after a dreadful New England season, Smith-Schuster caught 18 passes for 231 yards and two TDs last year. Like Brown, he will be more important during the Chiefs’ Rice-less schedule sector.
Mentioned as interested in a running back trade, the Chiefs reunited with Clyde Edwards-Helaire after circling back to Hunt. The latter became Kansas City’s primary RB while Isiah Pacheco recovered from a broken leg. Plenty will be on Pacheco’s shoulders this year, with Hunt posting the second-worst rush yards over expected (minus-112) last season, according to Next Gen Stats.
Free agency additions:
- Jaylon Moore, OL. Two years, $30MM ($21.24MM guaranteed)
- Kristian Fulton, CB. Two years, $20MM ($15MM guaranteed)
- Jerry Tillery, DT. One year, $1.79MM ($1.79MM guaranteed)
- Elijah Mitchell, RB. One year, $2.5MM ($1.35MM guaranteed)
- Gardner Minshew, QB. One year, $1.17MM
- Mike Edwards, S. Practice squad
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB. Practice squad
- Brodric Martin, DT. Practice squad
- Zacch Pickens, DT. Practice squad
49ers GM John Lynch expressed surprise at Moore’s price tag, but we had heard leading up to free agency the previous 49ers swing tackle would command a good market. A player never looked to as a non-injury fill-in in San Francisco securing $15MM was eye-opening, but Moore could serve a few purposes in Kansas City.
Unlike in 2021, when the Chiefs lost both tackles (Eric Fisher, Mitchell Schwartz) for Super Bowl LV, the team was healthy up front to face the Eagles. Philly’s pass rush still mowed down the Kansas City O-line and wrecked Mahomes’ effort. This came on the Chiefs’ fourth LT experiment (Thuney).
With Moore, Kansas City has a second LT option (behind first-rounder Josh Simmons) and insurance against Jawaan Taylor not elevating his play after two bad seasons. It is still rather strange a $15MM-per-year player is a backup — even the QB2 landscape, sans Kirk Cousins, has no such option in place presently — but that looks to be the case entering the season.
Moore filled in for Trent Williams during the future Hall of Famer’s seven-game absence to close last season. While not grading out well in pass block win rate, Moore checked in as a plus option in limited duty (259 snaps) at left tackle. The Chiefs gave Moore guard work during training camp, in an effort to craft a potential “best five” setup up front, but the fifth-year veteran has never played guard in an NFL game.
Moore will enter the season as an overpaid sixth man up front, but Suamataia and Taylor have some in-house competition in case either falters. The Chiefs are likely to release Taylor in 2026. They needed to carry the struggling RT this year due to his $20MM-per-year deal carrying a year-out guarantee, locking in a $19.5MM base salary for this year. A scenario in which Moore takes over there by 2026 (at the latest) should be considered likely.
The Chiefs zagged a bit at corner this offseason. Under Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo, the team has regularly made CBs one-contract players (Steven Nelson, Marcus Peters, Kendall Fuller, Charvarius Ward, L’Jarius Sneed). This setup has also kept costs low at the position, with the team steering clear of notable outside payments as well. But the team did not effectively replace Sneed last season. Jaylen Watson suffered a broken leg and did not return until late in the season. The Trent McDuffie sidekick struggled in Super Bowl LIX, giving up a deep touchdown to DeVonta Smith. Fulton gives the Chiefs more options here.
A sub-package trio of McDuffie, Fulton and Watson would probably be a reasonable way to go. Chamarri Conner also represents an inside option for Spagnuolo, who will look to continue Fulton’s midcareer rebound. Benched by the Titans in his contract year, the 51-game starter became one of many Charger defenders to outperform their contracts last season. PFF rated Fulton 39th among corners last season, with Jesse Minter primarily stationing the 5-foot-11 defender on the boundary.
The rare eight-figure-AAV CB in Kansas City, Fulton gives the Chiefs a proven option — and one that is contracted for 2026, which 2022 draftees Watson and Joshua Williams are not. Kansas City had cycled through low-cost CBs during most of Reid’s tenure, but the team also looked into a Ward reunion. While the Colts won that derby at $18MM per year, the Chiefs’ interest nevertheless showed a willingness to change stripes.
A year after receiving a two-year, $25MM Raiders offer, Minshew appears underpaid even after disappointing in Las Vegas. Minshew, 29, settles in as the latest veteran QB2 behind Mahomes. Blaine Gabbert and Carson Wentz followed Chad Henne in this role, and Minshew brings a 46-start resume to K.C. Still carrying a 68:34 TD-INT ratio, Minshew nearly piloted the 2023 Colts to a surprising playoff berth. Were Mahomes to miss games due to injury for the first time since 2019, Minshew represents one of the NFL’s top backup options.
Notable losses:
- Mecole Hardman, WR
- DeAndre Hopkins, WR
- D.J. Humphries, LT
- Samaje Perine, RB
- Justin Reid, S
- Justyn Ross, WR (waived)
- Joshua Uche, DE
- Justin Watson, WR
- Carson Wentz, QB
- Tershawn Wharton, DT
The Chiefs attempted to re-sign Reid, their Tyrann Mathieu successor, but lost out to a Saints offer (three years, $31.5MM). Reid will now once again succeed Mathieu, who retired months after the signing. With Bolton staying on a $15MM-per-year deal and the Chiefs paying Trey Smith a guard-record rate, it looked necessary for Reid to find his third contract elsewhere.
Spagnuolo used Reid as an effective chess piece in his complex defense. PFR’s No. 18-ranked free agent, Reid joined a host of veteran cornerbacks on this year’s market in commanding big money despite being on a third contract. Reid, 28, helped create this interest by signing a three-year second contract; that 2022 decision gave him two 20-something seasons to market.
Ranking as PFF’s No. 11 safety last season, Reid played at least 160 snaps at free safety, in the box and in the slot last season and at least 250 in all three spots in 2023. He finished with five TFLs in each of the past two years.
The Chiefs have a couple of options to replace Reid, with versatile DB Chamarri Conner joining 2024 fourth-round safety Jaden Hicks as options alongside Bryan Cook. Both are likely to see regular time for a team that did not address the safety position in the draft or free agency. With McDuffie squarely on the extension radar, the Chiefs will need more rookie-contract production from their safety position.
Also showing interest in re-signing Wharton, the Chiefs bowed out. The former UDFA’s market reached $15MM per year, as the Panthers lost out on Milton Williams and snagged the contract-year breakout performer as a consolation prize. Even with the Division II product playing well alongside Chris Jones last season, a $30.25MM guarantee represented a gamble from Carolina. Wharton played on a one-year, $2.74MM deal last season. While he notched career-best numbers in sacks (6.5) and QB hits (11), he never eclipsed two sacks or five QB hits in his four prior seasons.
Prior to a costly drop in Super Bowl LIX, Hopkins did not closely remind of his prime version last season. The declining receiver proved serviceable during the regular season (41 catches, 437 yards, four touchdowns in a 10-game stint) but only caught three passes for 29 yards throughout Kansas City’s postseason docket. Hopkins, 33, joined the Ravens as a third option — on a one-year, $5MM deal.
Draft:
- Round 1, No. 32 (from Eagles): Josh Simmons (T, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 63: Omarr Norman-Lott (DT, Tennessee) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 66 (from Titans): Ashton Gillotte (DE, Louisville) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 85 (from Broncos through Panthers and Patriots): Nohl Williams (CB, Cal) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 133: Jalen Royals (WR, Utah State) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 156: Jeffrey Bassa (LB, Oregon) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 228 (from Cowboys via Lions through Patriots): Brashard Smith (RB, SMU) (signed)
After Reid quickly backtracked on his hopes Suamataia could hold down the LT spot, he then benched Wanya Morris for midseason free agent signing D.J. Humphries. The former Cardinals starter did not regain his starting job after suffering a hamstring injury in his debut, and after the Eagles made Joe Thuney‘s Chiefs finale difficult, the team made a bigger LT investment. Simmons joins Jaylon Moore in a two-pronged effort here, representing the Chiefs’ first Round 1 tackle move since taking Eric Fisher first overall in 2013.
Kansas City became a team to monitor for a tackle trade-up move, but the team’s target remained on the board when Howie Roseman called about a Jihaad Campbell-based trade-up. Moving up one spot to ensure no other team could leapfrog them for Campbell, the Eagles essentially handed the Chiefs a free fifth-round pick. Kansas City will roll the dice on Simmons, who dropped on teams’ draft boards due to a patellar tendon tear and some questions about his effort level at Ohio State.
Off to a strong start before suffering the knee tear, Simmons was ready in time for training camp. That marked a smooth recovery involving one of the tougher injuries to surmount, and Simmons commandeering the Chiefs’ LT job quickly is obviously a good sign for a team that has used stopgap options since cutting Fisher in 2021. The Chiefs made a strong offer to Orlando Brown Jr. at the 2022 tag deadline, but he declined and left for Cincinnati in 2023. Simmons becomes the organization’s new long-term plan at this high-value post. Better blindside protection will, in theory, help Mahomes’ attempt to rediscover his early-career deep-ball form.
Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board did not have Norman-Lott in its top 150. Transferring from Arizona State, Norman-Lott did combine for 9.5 sacks in two Tennessee seasons. Chris Jones is entering his age-31 season, and while the Chiefs have their durable future Hall of Fame D-tackle signed for four more seasons (via last year’s DT-record deal), this is Year 10 for him. Even with Derrick Nnadi back and Michael Danna showing the ability to kick inside at points, the Chiefs need a Wharton replacement. Norman-Lott will start his career as a backup.
With the pick acquired in the L’Jarius Sneed trade, the Chiefs chose Gillotte. The team has not seen much from 2023 first-rounder Felix Anudike-Uzomah, and Gillotte delivered tremendous production at Louisville. He registered an ACC-best 11 sacks in 2023 and combined for 25 TFLs over the past two seasons.
Danna is listed opposite George Karlaftis on Kansas City’s depth chart, and Charles Omenihu is back as a rotational option. Gillotte will be part of K.C.’s pass-rushing plan, and it will be interesting to see if he can carve out a regular rookie-year role.
The Chiefs moved up 10 spots for Nohl Williams, who arrives as Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams are on track to depart (based on the organization’s track record at corner) in 2026. Nohl Williams is the Chiefs’ earliest CB draftee since Trent McDuffie (2022 first round), and he led Division I-FBS with seven INTs last season. Jeremiah’s No. 54 overall prospect, Nohl Williams has landed in a good spot. Spagnuolo’s staff has continually coaxed starter-level work from midlevel CB investments. This is the latest cog in that assembly line.
Other:
Unquestionably one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, Kelce has certainly seen his profile rise over the past two years. While helping the Chiefs to two post-Tyreek Hill Super Bowl titles drew plenty of attention, his Taylor Swift alliance garnered just a bit more. Rather than transition to what promises to be a highly publicized post-NFL period, the All-Pro TE/popular podcaster will play at least one more season. Kelce (36 in October) deliberated for a bit, but the Chiefs wanted his answer by the start of the 2025 league year.
By remaining on the Chiefs’ roster on March 14, Kelce saw $11.5MM of his 2025 compensation become guaranteed. Another $1MM roster bonus kicked in during training camp. Kelce has been underpaid for most of his NFL run, having lapped the field in terms of TE 1,000-yard seasons — with seven (no one else has five). Kelce has played in the best era for stat production, due to the rules in place in the modern game, so his place among the all-time TE greats remains up for debate. But the increasingly famous pass catcher has been essential to the Chiefs’ mission since recovering from microfracture surgery more than 10 years ago.
With Rice out, Kelce will be needed early. The 13th-year veteran’s production continued to dip last season, as he fell to a career-low 8.5 yards per reception. Kelce came in between 12.2 and 13.5 each year from 2014-22 but dropped to 10.6 in 2023, his first sub-1,000-yard year since 2015.
Excelling with Mahomes and Alex Smith, Kelce will be a first-ballot Canton inductee. He also sits behind only Jerry Rice in terms of playoff receptions, yards and touchdowns. While no decision has been made regarding 2026, Kelce is not eyeing a jersey change after his contract expires. He is an obvious candidate for a one-year deal, assuming the Cleveland native wants to keep going, in 2026.
Borgonzi’s Chiefs tenure predated Andy Reid’s; the veteran exec arrived in Missouri during Scott Pioli‘s GM tenure. Retained under both John Dorsey and Brett Veach, Borgonzi climbed to the assistant GM level in 2021. He drew GM interest from the Jets as well, but the Titans convinced him to leave Kansas City. Like Brandt Tilis last year, Borgonzi left the Chiefs without having full roster control. Tilis is Dan Morgan‘s top lieutenant, while Borgonzi — GM title notwithstanding — joined a Titans organization that has Chad Brinker holding roster control.
It does not appear the Chiefs and McDuffie will beat the buzzer on a new contract from Brazil. The team has, however, identified the All-Pro cornerback as an extension candidate. While Jones and Nick Bolton anchor the Chiefs’ first and second levels on defense, McDuffie is the secondary’s clear centerpiece. Showing an ability to excel outside and in the slot, the fourth-year defender has already collected first- and second-team All-Pro nods through three seasons.
The fifth-year option formula only takes original-ballot Pro Bowls into account, so the Chiefs caught a break here (via McDuffie’s lower option price). It is unlikely the option number, however, comes into play. A McDuffie extension should be expected before he takes the field in 2026.
The Chiefs’ hesitancy regarding CB payments is a storyline to follow re: McDuffie’s talks, as is the position’s skyrocketing market. With Derek Stingley Jr. and Sauce Gardner taking the CB ceiling past $30MM per year, McDuffie can aim for at least something just south of that. But a third All-Pro nod preceding another cap spike would likely prompt the soon-to-be 25-year-old cover man to set his price beyond $30MM AAV.
A suspension candidate (again) provided the central Chiefs offseason storyline. Showing an extreme tolerance for off-field misbehavior, the Reid-era Chiefs have been preparing for a Rice ban for a while. The talented wideout was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years probation in connection with a March 2024 hit-and-run accident that brought eight felony charges. Receiving deferred adjudication, Rice can avoid jail time and see his case dismissed if he completes the probation process. While it is unlikely Rice spends any time behind bars, this remains a concerning early-career saga.
It took over a month for a Rice suspension to surface, as the NFL was eyeing a potential double-digit ban. The NFL’s investigation was believed to cover other incidents as well. Rice, 25, was accused of punching a photographer at a nightclub following that freeway street-racing accident. While the receiver was at SMU, Rice or a member of his party fired gunshots into an empty vehicle belonging to a Mustangs basketball player. Even with the Sept. 30 hearing with disciplinary officer Sue Robinson scheduled, a settlement was always the most likely outcome.
Coming off an LCL tear, Rice wanted to serve his suspension early in the season. It would have made less sense for the Chiefs’ top WR to begin the season only to be banned midway through. The Chiefs will face four 2024 playoff teams (Chargers, Eagles, Ravens, Lions) without Rice, however, creating another challenge for a team that has struggled with receiver consistency since trading Hill.
Top 10 cap charges for 2025:
- Patrick Mahomes, QB: $28.06MM
- Jawaan Taylor, RT: $27.39MM
- Chris Jones, DT: $23.6MM
- Travis Kelce, TE: $19.8MM
- Trey Smith, G: $14.25MM
- Jaylon Moore, OL: $11.2MM
- Creed Humphrey, C: $10.79MM
- Drue Tranquill, LB: $8.5MM
- Michael Danna, DL: $8.05MM
- Kristian Fulton, CB: $7MM
Crafting one of the great runs in NFL history, the Mahomes-Reid partnership enters an eighth season. The Chiefs again enter as a Super Bowl frontrunner, but the 2024 resurgences from the Chargers and Broncos preceded an offseason Raiders makeover. With Las Vegas looking improved, the AFC West looks like one of the NFL’s toughest divisions. The Chiefs will have a tougher time securing the AFC’s No. 1 seed this year. While the road wins over the Bills and Ravens during the 2023 playoffs occurred, Kansas City has booked four of its five Mahomes-era Super Bowls without playing away from home in the postseason.
The O-line shuffle figures to provide vital aid to the megastar quarterback, but he will be again tested early due to Rashee Rice‘s suspension. How Kansas City fares without its No. 1 receiver will go a long way toward determining if the AFC’s premier team can hold off Buffalo, Baltimore and others for the conference’s top seed. Having the game’s premier HC-QB combo, however, will continue to make the Chiefs a formidable opponent in a hotly contested AFC race.
Prioritizing interior protection for Mahomes during a 2021 offseason that saw the arrivals of Thuney, Humphrey and Smith, the Chiefs have now reset the guard market twice in the past five offseasons. They gave Thuney a five-year, $80MM deal in March 2021; the cap having spiked by $97MM since made Smith’s market more lucrative. He ended up becoming the first guard to exceed $21MM per year and did so by a healthy margin. Smith, 26, enters this season with a $23.5MM AAV.
Pro Football Focus has graded Smith as a top-15 guard in each of his four seasons, while ESPN ranked him sixth among interior blockers in run block win rate last year and fourth in pass block win rate in 2024. Blood clots in Smith’s lungs caused his draft stock to crater in 2021, but the Chiefs hit big on the No. 226 overall pick that year.
Because Karlaftis has not hovered especially close to the best at his position, the Chiefs completed a rare middle-class extension with a player paid early. Karlaftis became the third Chiefs player in the fifth-year option era to sign an extension in the same offseason his option was exercised, joining Mahomes (2020) and Eric Fisher (2016). Despite the EDGE market exploding this offseason, it took a deal that ended up less than halfway to Micah Parsons‘ record-setter ($46.5MM per year) to lock in Karlaftis through 2030.
While the team created considerable cap space by going back to the restructure well with Mahomes’ contract (and using the same tactic with Jones’ new deal), it needed to offload Thuney’s contract. Carrying one remaining season (at $15.5MM), Thuney’s pact worked out well for the Chiefs. The former Patriots third-rounder became an All-Pro mainstay, landing there in 2023 and ’24 to help the Chiefs to Super Bowls. Thuney had also produced a second-team All-Pro season to boost Kansas City to the Super Bowl LVII title a year prior.
Moore did not pan out as a second-round pick, being demoted during a 2023 season that brought a Mahomes-era-worst six regular-season losses. The Chiefs saw their receiving corps improve after moving Moore and Kadarius Toney out of the rotation. Toney was out by Week 1 of the 2024 season, and Moore never regained a regular role.
PFR’s No. 10 free agent, Bolton saw the Thuney trade and Mahomes/Jones reworks clear a path for him to stay in Missouri. The Chiefs extended their top linebacker an offer that kept him out of free agency, agreeing to terms the day before the legal tampering window opened. Bolton, 25, arrived in the same draft that produced Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith. This contract set the market for the Jets and Jamien Sherwood, but Bolton approached the free agency doorstep with a much better resume.
