The latest
Ranking 2025 NFL rosters: Best projected starting lineups | ESPN
5. Kansas City Chiefs
Biggest strength: Quarterback. I was tempted to pivot to wide receiver, but even after finishing eighth in QBR the past two seasons, Patrick Mahomes remains Kansas City’s best player. The two-time league MVP has led his team to 10-plus wins (career-high 15 in 2024) and the AFC Championship Game seven seasons in a row. He has won the Super Bowl and the Super Bowl MVP three times each — and he’s not even 30. Mahomes’
ADdominant reign is far from over. — Clay
Biggest weakness: Offensive tackle. Tackle has carried over from 2024 as the Chiefs’ top trouble spot. The head-scratching four-year, $80 million deal handed to right tackle Jawaan Taylor two years ago has not worked out, as he has posted poor marks in PFF grades and run block win rate in both seasons in Kansas City. With Joe Thuney gone, Wanya Morris (benched last season, which forced Thuney to kick outside from guard) and former 49ers reserve Jaylon Moore are the top veteran left tackle options. There is some hope here, as No. 32 overall pick Josh Simmons could win the starting LT job and solidify the position. — Clay
Top 30 players age 30 or older: T.J. Watt takes the top spot as trenches dominate; only three QBs make the cut | CBS Sports
6. DT Chris Jones
Age: 31
One of the best interior pass rushers in the game, Jones had just 5.0 sacks last season — but was a first-team All-Pro for the third consecutive year. His 74 pressures and 53 hurries were the most for an interior pass rusher, and he finished with a 14.6% pressure rate.
Jones has made an All-Pro team for five straight years and earned Pro Bowl honors six straight times. His 72 sacks since 2018 are tied with Aaron Donald for the most by an interior defender.
7. WR Tyreek Hill
Age: 31
Hill had a down year despite playing all 17 games, finishing with 81 catches for 959 yards and six touchdowns. This comes one season after leading the league in receiving yards (1,799) and receiving touchdowns (13).
Former Chiefs WR Richie James announces retirement from the NFL | Chiefs Wire
Former Chiefs wide receiver Richie James took to his X account over the weekend to announce his retirement from the NFL after six seasons.
“It took time, but i have come to realize i am Retired from the NFL. 7th round out of MTSU,” wrote James, “I feel like i was just a ball player to last that long. Unfortunately, my knee never healed properly. I was playing hurt since ‘22. Oh well. I gave everything I got to the game of Football.”
James recorded ten receptions for 114 yards in nine games for Kansas City in the 2023 season, spending the majority of his time on special teams. He had 29 kick returns for 387 yards under special teams coordinator Dave Toub and was active for the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII victory over the San Francisco 49ers, serving as his last NFL game.
Next 5 NFL CBs to Get Paid After Sauce Gardner’s Jets Extension | Bleacher Report
Trent McDuffie
Years remaining on rookie contract: 2 (5th-year option for 2026 accepted)
Career stats: 2 INTs, 27 PDs, 7 FFs, 10 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 183 tackles (3 seasons, 43 games)
Especially now that Gardner has signed a new contract, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Trent McDuffie’s extension make headlines next. He’s eligible for a new contract, having just wrapped up his third NFL season, and is coming off an impressive campaign.
The 2022 first-round pick primarily lined up at nickelback two years ago, since the Kansas City Chiefs had L’Jarius Sneed on the boundary, and he played well enough to become a first-team All-Pro.
As a result, the Chiefs felt comfortable trading Sneed away instead of re-signing him, allowing McDuffie to prove himself on the outside.
The 24-year-old rose to the challenge by earning the third-highest grade from Pro Football Focus (83.1) among cornerbacks and a second-team All-Pro bid. Additionally, he came in at No. 4 on Fowler’s poll of the top 10 cornerbacks in the league.
“Elite instincts to key/diagnose. Understands all the leverages you need to play within the playcall,” an NFL coordinator told Fowler. “He has movement and strength to defend smaller players and enough speed and leaping ability to defend bigger players. Strong tackler. Complete player.”
Given his age, production and ability to play two positions in the secondary, expect to see McDuffie’s name up there with Gardner, Stingley and Horn as one of the highest-paid corners in the NFL sooner rather than later.
Former Chiefs backup suddenly looks like Titans’ most reliable QB option | Arrowhead Addict
The Will Levis injury only exacerbates the need for an experienced backup in Tennessee.
For the Titans, the quarterback competition was over the moment they selected Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That left Levis on the outside looking in. Consequently, the decision was made to hit the reset button on a problematic shoulder instead of serving as a backup all season with an injury concern.
The Titans have two other quarterbacks on the roster in Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle. Allen is a journeyman backup on his sixth NFL team in 10 seasons. Boyle has played for even more teams than that as a former undrafted player who has remained on the fringes of NFL rosters..
Together, the Titans’ current backups have started only 15 career games in the NFL with two wins to show for it. Suffice it to say, the Titans might be in line for a more experienced backup, knowing Cam Ward has yet to take his first official snap at the professional level.
This is where Wentz comes into the picture. There are other veteran quarterbacks as well, but the Titans general manager these days is former Kansas City Chiefs executive Mike Borgonzi. Wentz was the Chiefs’ backup one year ago behind Patrick Mahomes, and Borgonzi, as the team’s assistant general manager, would be very familiar with the decision-making process to bring in Wentz in the first place.
Around the NFL
Steelers’ new uniforms: Pittsburgh’s alternate look honors 1933 team | USA Today
Monday morning, the team revealed its new − or old, depending on your perspective − uniforms, a nod to the Steelers’ inaugural team in 1933, when they were known as the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Steelers last sported a version of this look in 1994, when the NFL celebrated its 75th season and clubs throughout the league delved into a throwback experience that became common in later years.
Monday’s announcement touted the 1933 unis for igniting a “legacy that would come to define grit, resilience and the soul of Steel City football. Steeped in heritage, this uniform celebrates both the origins of the city and Steelers football.”
Legacy in every thread pic.twitter.com/65eQd3fJAS
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 21, 2025
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs News: Team announces changes to 2025 personnel staff
Future general manager candidates
Many of these moves have come about as a result of the Tennessee Titans hiring former assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi as their new GM in January. Once called the Chiefs’ “secret weapon” by NFL Network analyst and AP lobbyist Peter Schrager, Borgonzi was promoted to assistant general manager in 2021 after spending three years as the director of football operations.
This leaves Shea, Bradway, Nutt and Terry as the Chiefs’ executives to watch when there are general manager openings elsewhere in the league. Shea spent time with the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles before coming to Kansas City, where he played a pivotal role in negotiating Patrick Mahomes’ 2020 megadeal. Veach often mentions Bradway, Nutt and Terry as key decision-makers in the personnel department.
Social media to make you think
Tyreek Hill 2024 cap hit: $32M
— Price Carter (@priceacarter) July 21, 2025
George Karlaftis, Trent McDuffie, Trey Smith and Nick Bolton 2025 cap hit: $30.2M
That trade is still paying dividends 3 years later..
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