In the absence of having to pay McDuffie, the Chiefs have further opened the door for free agent signings to bolster the roster as well.
When the offseason began, the Chiefs were more than $57 million over the cap. By trading McDuffie, the Chiefs saved $13.6 million against the salary cap. Earlier this offseason, the Chiefs released right tackle Jawaan Taylor and defensive end Mike Danna in cap-trimming moves. The team also restructured Mahomes’ contract last month. The Chiefs can create even more cap space — having more than $50 million available to them next week when free agency starts — by releasing linebacker Drue Tranquill and tight end Noah Gray while restructuring Jones’ contract.
“We have $60 million in convertible contracts,” Veach said. “We have many different ways to attack this, and I think that’s the one thing we’ve been good at. We don’t do a lot of money-push-down-the-future-years. We run a pretty tight ship there. This gives us flexibility to do different things. We’ll see how the [free agency] scenarios shake out.”
That extra money will likely be directed at two key positions: running back and pass rusher.
“Now,” said insider Mike Garafolo on Thursday’s edition of Good Morning Football, “you’ve got to decide what you want to do with Jaylen Watson, who’s also a free agent at cornerback and a guy that is extremely highly thought of, and a guy that has come along with secondary coach Dave Merritt.
“So, the Chiefs are going to make a run at Jaylen Watson, who has really come along as a complete cornerback, and now show that he can do a little bit of everything. He’s got length, he’s got speed, he can play press, he can tackle. His instincts have come along, again, thanks to the tutelage of Merritt in the back there, and Steve Spagnuolo as the defensive coordinator as well.”
Watson, who turns 28 in September, is considered the NFL’s top cornerback set to hit the market next week, estimated to command a deal in the neighborhood of $18 million per year. That’s something the Chiefs can certainly afford after they unloaded McDuffie and officially released right tackle Jawaan Taylor on Wednesday.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have a high number of pending UFAs at 23, and several among them should get CFA worthy deals. Among them could be Leo Chenal, Jaylen Watson, Bryan Cook, Isaiah Pacheco, Marquise Brown, and Charles Omenihu. It seems wildly implausible that Travis Kelce would play anywhere but Kansas City, but he’s on the list too. The Chiefs could also be a bit more spending constrained this season, so that could set the stage for multiple comp picks coming their way. Potential: High
5. Kansas City Chiefs
-
Cap space ranking: No. 14
-
Draft capital ranking: No. 4
After breaking a streak of 10 straight playoff appearances, the Chiefs now have their best opportunity to reload since drafting Patrick Mahomes in 2017. Given K.C.’s financial constraints, they look like they’re replicating what they did during the 2022 offseason, when they traded traded a star player (Tyreek Hill in 2022 vs. Trent McDuffie in 2026) and used the acquired picks to bring in an elite draft class.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are salary-cap compliant. They have $24.9 million in cap space, so general manager Brett Veach can make an aggressive move for a reliable veteran receiver.
Hollywood Brown will be a free agent. Rashee Rice has missed 22 games over the last two seasons. Xavier Worthy, a 2024 first-rounder, missed three games last year and struggled with consistency while healthy. He’s still a work in progress.
Aside from his ACL injury in 2024, Diggs has been mostly available throughout his career. He racked up more catches and receiving yards than any player on the Chiefs’ 2025 roster.
In Kansas City, Diggs would have the best quarterback teammate in his career, assuming Patrick Mahomes makes a full recovery from a torn ACL. Entering his age-33 term, he’s capable of putting up strong receiving numbers with an elite-level quarterback in a pass-heavy offense.
The Buffalo Bills found the proven wide receiver weapon they’ve been missing.
The Bills are acquiring receiver DJ Moore and a 2026 fifth-round pick in a trade with the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2026 second-round selection, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Thursday, per sources informed of the situation.
Moore not only brings a much-needed veteran producer to Buffalo, but he also has first-hand experience in Joe Brady’s system, having played under the new Bills head coach in Carolina, where Brady was the offensive coordinator for 19 games over 2020 and 2021 before being fired in early December of his second season.
The stint under Brady was the most productive stretch of Moore’s career, including 1,193 yards and a career-high 18.1 yards per catch in 2020 in just 15 games.
Brady will know how to get the most out of the wideout, who enters his age-29 season, after he experienced the least productive season in 2025.
NEW ORLEANS — Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan will become a free agent when the new league begins next week, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Jordan, 36, has played 15 seasons and became the Saints franchise sack leader at the end of the 2022 season. He has 132 career sacks, all with the Saints.
Jordan’s contract will automatically void if he does not have a new deal in place before the new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday. If that happens, the Saints will absorb $18.76 million of dead money against their 2026 salary cap. If the Saints sign him to a new contract after that deadline, the dead money from the previous contract and any money from the new contract would both count against the salary cap.
RB Kenneth Walker III
-
Contract package: $39 million/3 years ($13 million per year)
-
Overall guarantees: $27.5 million
-
Fully guaranteed at signing: $27.5 million
Walker should be the beneficiary of the New York Jets designating Breece Hall as a franchise player. He is clearly the top running back available in free agency. Walker had 1,027 rushing yards for the Seattle Seahawks while splitting carries with Zach Charbonnet last season. He capitalized on Charbonnet tearing the ACL in his left knee during a divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers. Walker rushed for 313 yards on 65 carries with four touchdowns in three postseason games. He earned Super Bowl LX MVP honors with 135 yards on 27 carries.
Should defensive back be targeted at pick No. 9?
If the target is Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who personally reminds me of Chiefs all-time great Eric Berry, the answer is yes.
Downs is a terror for opposing offenses. That was showcased against Texas in 2025; he completely changed the game by playing the “robber” role to lock down the middle of the field. The Longhorns were unable to throw near Downs, who is also an incredible slot defender.
If it’s LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, then no. Delane is a smart player who drives on routes and shows surprising strength in coverage. That being said, his ceiling isn’t high enough to justify using the ninth pick.
Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy is also an option, but he is too risky to pick high after not playing in 2025 due to a torn ACL.
