The latest
According to multiple reports, Chiefs LB Leo Chenal will sign a three-year, $24.75M contract with the Washington Commanders. With the amount of salary cap space the Chiefs have tied up at linebacker, this was always going to be a tough one for Kansas City to get done in order to retain one of their own.
Chenal’s departure means that 8 of 10 players from the 2022 NFL Draft
class have now joined new teams, and only one remains under contract with the Chiefs.
George Karlaftis is the last man standing of Chiefs GM Brett Veach’s 2026 NFL Draft class
In total, the Chiefs’ 2022 NFL Draft class has earned 338 million in new money during this free agency period. George Karlaftis is the only one extended by the team on a four-year, $88 million deal, which looks cheap compared to some of the contracts handed out to edge rushers this cycle.
Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey Loses Title of Highest-Paid Center | Sports Illustrated
Another team in the AFC West, the Las Vegas Raiders, countered that acquisition by inking former Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum to a three-year, $81 million contract, which includes $60 million guaranteed.
Las Vegas signing the 25-year-old center is obviously a monumental addition that will affect the Chiefs moving forward, but there is an underlying reason why this deal specifically pertains to Kansas City.
Linderbaum Becomes Highest-Paid Center
Prior to this historic deal, Chiefs’ center Creed Humphrey was the league’s highest-paid player at the position, earning $18 million per season. Linderbaum lapped that annual average, as his contract is worth $27 million per season.
Humphrey now looks like a bargain, as the Raiders’ newly acquired center is making $9 million more per season and has reset the center market, which could culminate in more players at the position leaping Humphrey’s annual salary.
Chiefs Made Surprise Push for $39 Million Offensive Tackle: Report | Heavy.
The Kansas City Chiefs made a strong push for one of the top right tackles on the market on day one of NFL free agency, according to the latest news and rumors. Unfortunately, general manager Brett Veach came up short in luring this offensive lineman away from his franchise.
“I’m told [the New York] Giants held off pushes from [the] Chiefs and [Cleveland] Browns to keep [Jermaine] Eluemunor here, per sources,” NorthJersey.com Giants beat reporter and insider Art Stapleton relayed on March 9, following Eluemunor’s decision to re-sign with the Giants.
In a follow-up post with a corresponding article on the news, Stapleton wrote that “Eluemunor spurns free agency” in agreeing to his new contract with New York.
According to multiple reports Tuesday, Pacheco will sign with the Detroit Lions when the new league year begins Wednesday. Kansas City agreed to sign marquee free agent running back Kenneth Walker III to a three-year deal Monday.
Kansas City selected Pacheco, 27, out of Rutgers in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Midway through his rookie season in 2022, Pacheco replaced Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the team’s starting running back.
Pacheco’s best year was 2023, when he rushed 205 times for 935 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 appearances. He added 244 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Pacheco finished his four-year Chiefs career with 3,091 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns.
Pacheco should be in the mix to replace David Montgomery, who Detroit recently traded to the Houston Texans. Lions starter Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the most dynamic backs in the NFL, but head coach Dan Campbell has shown a preference for a two-back attack rather than a bell-cow approach.
Travis Kelce returns, Kenneth Walker III arrives: Are the Chiefs back? | USA Today
Some league observers had mused that Kansas City, which missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2014 – and first time ever in QB Patrick Mahomes’ nine-year career – might be in the midst of a mini-rebuild, particularly following last week’s trade of CB Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams. Apparently not – let’s call it a reset or reload instead. No squad is luring a 36-year-old tight end back, nor signing a running back to major money, if it doesn’t expect to contend – and immediately. It remains to be seen if Kansas City can compete for a fourth Lombardi Trophy since the start of the 2019 season, especially following a 6-11 campaign that parked the Chiefs in third place in the AFC West, but they’re clearly not going to waste any time trying. A clear message sent to the locker room − just ask DT Chris Jones.
Around the NFL
Sources: Ravens nixed trade for Crosby due to medical concerns | ESPN
The Las Vegas Raiders announced Tuesday that the Ravens have “backed out” of a trade agreement that would have sent All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby to Baltimore in exchange for two first-round picks.
No further details were provided in the Raiders’ announcement, but league sources told ESPN that the Ravens backed out because of medical concerns that arose during a physical. Trades are contingent on players passing the physical and aren’t official until the start of the new league year Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Ravens officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Raiders were set to meet Tuesday night to try to figure out their next steps, according to sources. For now they are prepared to get Crosby healthy and have him play for Las Vegas, but they already have received calls from several teams inquiring about his availability in a trade, a source said.
Raiders trading QB Geno Smith to Jets in late-round pick swap | NFL.com
The Raiders are trading the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback to the New York Jets, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday, per sources. Las Vegas is sending a 2026 seventh-round pick with Smith in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round selection, moving up from No. 228 to No. 208 in the upcoming draft.
Pelissero added that the Raiders will be paying the bulk of Smith’s salary to facilitate the trade and the Jets will get the QB while paying a little over the league minimum.
“Complete full circle moment back to where it all began,” Smith, who was expected to be released, told Rapoport following news of the expected trade. “I’m excited to connect with my new teammates and coaches and everyone in the building as well as build a new relationship with the fan base and community.”
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
What will Chiefs’ new defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga bring to defense?
Fullback?
The Chiefs have not carried a true fullback since 2022, when the team rostered Mike Burton on its way to winning Super Bowl LVII. However, due to cap constraints and a lack of usage, the fullback has basically gone away from head coach Andy Reid’s offense.
Incredibly, Tonga could be the de facto fullback in Kansas City moving forward.
Tonga played 14 snaps on offense in 2025 for the Patriots, lining up primarily as a fullback or H-back and serving as the lead blocker for the team in short-yardage and goal-line situations. With excellent burst and frightening power, it led to some fun plays in New England.
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