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Here are the Kansas City Chiefs’ three weakest positions after free agency | Kansas City Star
1) Cornerback
Like offensive tackle, cornerback didn’t make the list the first time around. Now both are in the top three — with cornerback at No. 1.
When he got the opportunity in 2025, Nohl Williams flashed, which likely made the Chiefs comfortable trading Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for draft capital. But losing Jaylen Watson to the Rams, too, was a dagger to the position, in my eyes.
If Kansas City had to play tomorrow, the starting cornerbacks project to be Williams and Kristian Fulton, who struggled to stay in the lineup in 2025 due to injury. Fulton was even a healthy scratch at times once he returned.
The Chiefs added Kader Kohou in free agency and Kevin Knowles is still around, but it’s simply not enough. I see Veach throwing numbers at the secondary in this draft, similar to his approach in 2022.
Ranking NFL’s Best RB Rooms After Kenneth Walker III, Travis Etienne Change Teams | Bleacher Report
No. 3: Kansas City Chiefs
Walker, fresh off a Super Bowl MVP performance, was arguably the top free-agent running back available this offseason. After racking up 3,555 yards on the ground in 58 games with the Seattle Seahawks, the four-year veteran should become the Chiefs’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Hunt’s breakout rookie campaign in 2017.
While Walker struggled with injuries and inconsistency in 2024, he returned to form in 2025. The 25-year-old started all 17 games for Seattle, tallying up a career-high 1,309 yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns on 252 touches. He took his game up a notch in the playoffs, finishing his team’s three-game romp to a Lombardi Trophy with 417 yards and four scores from scrimmage on 74 touches.
Working behind Walker will be some combination of Brashard Smith and Emari Demercado.
Smith had an underwhelming rookie season in 2025. The seventh-rounder failed to usurp Hunt and Pacheco on the depth chart, accumulating a meager 323 yards and one touchdown on 69 touches. He did show some potential—especially as a pass-catcher—and could make a leap in Year 2 as Kansas City’s third-down back.
Demercado also figures to be in the mix after a solid season with the Arizona Cardinals. The three-year veteran averaged 7.2 yards per touch and might become the change-of-pace option for the Chiefs.
Eagles provide healthy place for Dameon Pierce after toxic Chiefs stint | Arrowhead Addict
Pierce’s story takes an intriguing turn—and ultimately, a rather weird one—after his release. When Pierce hit the open market, several teams lined up, as the Bears, Broncos, Chargers, Eagles, Colts, Bengals, and Dolphins all expressed interest. Pierce chose Kansas City instead, a 6-5 team fighting for a playoff spot and an offense in need of a spark.
From there, it’s hard to understand exactly what happened between Pierce and the Chiefs. Despite being on the roster for more than a month, Pierce would go on to sit as a healthy scratch for most games. He wouldn’t see the field until the final week of the season, when he had 4 carries on 5 snaps for 10 rushing yards to close the year. It was a repeat of the story with Elijah Mitchell over the course of the season, leading fans to question about what was happening at running back.
With some further distance from any injury issues and from the Chiefs’ dysfunctional approach to the ground game, Pierce has good reason to hope this next stop in Philly is a much healthier one all around.
Chiefs Former Equipment Manager Mike Davidson Honored by Pro Football Hall of Fame | The Mothership
Davidson, who first joined the Chiefs in 1989 as Head Equipment Manager, was named a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s “Awards of Excellence” class this week in recognition of his incredible career.
A native of Ohio, and a Bowling Green State University Graduate, Davidson broke into the NFL as a member of the equipment staff with the Cleveland Browns in 1984. When then head coach Marty Schottenheimer departed Cleveland for the Chiefs ahead of the 1989 season, Davidson followed with an opportunity to lead Schottenheimer’s equipment department in Kansas City.
It was a chance Davidson didn’t waste, and as the years went on, he made his new franchise his life’s work.
Davidson worked under six coaches during his tenure as Equipment Manager, serving as a critical component of the Chiefs’ weekly operations. He improved the quality of the game league-wide as well, acting as a guiding force that changed how equipment departments functioned for the better.
Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid celebrates 68th birthday | Chiefs Wire
Widely considered to be one of the most influential offensive masterminds of his era, Reid has been the Chiefs’ skipper since 2013 and helped architect a program that put Kansas City at the center of American football culture.
During his decade-plus tenure as the Chiefs’ head coach, Reid has led Kansas City to championships in Super Bowls LIV, LVII, and LVIII, with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes under center.
Few coaches have ever accomplished as much as Reid. With a regular-season record of 279-157-1, Reid sits in fourth place on the NFL’s all-time coaching wins leaderboard.
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Around the NFL
Vikings bring back Carson Wentz, adding to QB depth | ESPN
Wentz, who started five games last season as the Vikings’ backup, joins a group that includes newcomer Kyler Murray along with incumbents J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer. The Vikings have been determined to upgrade the position after injuries and poor performances were largely responsible for them missing the playoffs in 2023 and 2025.
Speaking last week after signing Murray, coach Kevin O’Connell declined to name a starter or to discuss in detail his plans for the position. Murray is the heavy favorite to win the job, but the Vikings have not fully given up on McCarthy. Adding Wentz puts McCarthy in competition for both the starting role with Murray, and the No. 2 spot with Wentz. If nothing else, Wentz could give the Vikings a more reliable No. 3 quarterback than Brosmer proved to be as an undrafted rookie last season.
Rams president Kevin Demoff supports Browns’ proposed trade rule change | NFL.com
Rams team president Kevin Demoff took to social media on Wednesday to espouse the positives of the proposed rule change.
“Nothing creates more interest in the NFL than trades,” Demoff wrote. “This is why Cleveland’s proposal to allow teams to trade picks up to 5 years out as opposed to 3 years out makes so much sense. More picks to trade = more trades = more interest and team-building options.”
Of course, the Rams, who have famously picked once in the first round since 2016, would be a logical proponent of a rule allowing clubs to trade away more draft selections. It’s in line with the fundamental team-building process that has brought Demoff, general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay success.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
3 ways Justin Fields could impact the Chiefs’ offense with Mahomes back
The quarterback-run game is a bigger part of the Chiefs’ offense than you might think. Despite missing the final three games of the regular season, Mahomes finished 2025 with the fifth-most rushing yards (422) among quarterbacks and scored five touchdowns on the ground.
He cannot be expected to replicate that coming off tearing his ACL, but many of Mahomes’ impactful runs have come in situations where Fields could reasonably be substituted. The sprint outs, the read-option looks near the goal line, these calls may not be executed as cleanly by Mahomes as we’ve seen before in 2026.
It may lead to Fields taking snaps away from Mahomes in more situations than anyone could have imagined before last year’s season-ending injury.
