The latest
“He’s a great dude,” Mahomes said of Walker. “That’s the first thing I noticed. You can tell he truly cares about football, (and) he cares about his teammates. If he’s not in the play, he’s helping the guys on the sideline, and he’s trying to learn and asking me questions and doing those things. He’s a great football player, even from what y’all saw (Thursday), it’s special.
“The way he’s able to run
the football, catch the football, (and) do everything. I said, ‘I’m kind of built like him (laughing), but not just built like him yet.’ He’s going to help us a lot on this team, by his mindset and the football player that he is.” After seasons of feeling let down by a lack of explosiveness in the run game, the Chiefs were deliberate when the NFL’s free-agency period opened, quickly striking a deal with Walker on a three-year, $45 million contract that includes $28.7 million fully guaranteed.
OTAs don’t allow for true run periods, but Walker made what might have been the play of the day during Thursday’s open look. During an 11-on-11 period, quarterback Justin Fields floated a ball to the running back that he reeled in with one hand.
2026 NFL offseason: Ranking 10 biggest position upgrades | ESPN
Kansas City Chiefs running backs: The Chiefs have had a historically unexplosive running backs room in the past two seasons, as neither Isiah Pacheco nor Kareem Hunt runs away from pursuit when he gets into open space. Enter Kenneth Walker III, who has always been a jitterbug playmaker and came into his own with more down-to-down consistency in Seattle’s postseason run. It’s an obvious and much-needed upgrade.
This Chiefs-Patriots trade for Kayshon Boutte fixes the WR room for both teams | FanSided
Kayshon Boutte can save Kansas City’s offense with this trade deal
Kansas City Chiefs
Receive
WR Kayshon BoutteNew England Patriots
Receive
2027 Sixth round pickThe Chiefs would be wise to get Boutte. Rice is unreliable and Worthy still needs more development before turning into the star of this offense. Boutte has had at least 500 receiving yards in each of the last two seasons. That’s the type of consistency the Chiefs need in their receiving room. Boutte is also a young enough player that he can be around for a few more years with a big season.
Kansas City has to start thinking about life after Travis Kelce. They need to find a weapon like Tyreek Hill that can be a staple in the offense. This would allow Worthy a little more time to grow while also turning the attention away from Rice, who’s been disappointing on and off the field, and toward a player that can be reliable.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes addresses veteran recruiting rumors | Chiefs Wire
“I didn’t do much recruiting; I’ll leave that to (General Manager Brett) Veach and the guys,” said Mahomes, “I think we recruit ourselves just by who we are. I like having veterans around and guys like that, and at that tournament, they’re the only guys that can get off work that week. There was some good football players there, but I didn’t do any recruiting in that standpoint, I think I’ll leave that to Veach and the guys.”
The player in mind is 8-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Cam Jordan, who was in attendance for the ’15 and the Mahomies Vegas Golf Classic. He was one of many stars, but as a free agent, he’s spent most of the offseason being linked to the Chiefs. Chris Jones infamously shouted him out on social media, further adding fuel to the speculation.
Jordan played for Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo in 2012, during his second season with New Orleans after being selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Spagnuolo was New Orleans’ coordinator for one season, during which the team missed the playoffs, finishing 7-9. Jordan has 132 career sacks and currently holds the Saints record after 15 seasons with the franchise.
Best NFL Team Fits for Top 10 Free Agents | Sports Illustrated
Taylor Decker, OT
Ideal landing spot: Chiefs
There aren’t many available starting spots for tackles. There are a few at right tackle—the Cardinals come to mind—but Decker has played most of his career on the left side and it might be too late in his career for a positional change.
If Decker wants to play in his age-33 season, it might be wise for him to join a contender and wait for an opportunity to develop. Last month, I mentioned the Ravens, but perhaps there’s a better path toward playing with the Chiefs, who are relying on bookend tackles Jaylon Moore, who has never been a full-time starter in five seasons, and Josh Simmons, who appeared in only eight games as a rookie.
Decker has had an eventful offseason. First, the Lions asked him to take a pay cut, but he put pressure on the organization after he announced that he’s committed to playing an 11th NFL season. Ultimately, the Lions released him as a cap casualty, and drafted tackle Blake Miller in the first round, and are now considering moving Penei Sewell to left tackle.
5 most overrated NFL players in 2026, including Caleb Williams and Travis Kelce | The Big Lead
Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Kelce is still discussed as the standard at the position. Maybe a few years ago, that was the case. The 2025 numbers place him in the middle of the pack.
He caught 76 passes for 851 yards and five touchdowns, a third straight season short of 1,000 after the run of seven in a row ended in 2022. PFF graded him 14th among tight ends as a receiver. At 36, the burst that once made him a weekly mismatch now shows up in flashes rather than every series.
Kansas City rewarded the resume anyway, re-signing him for more than $54 million over three years after he had considered retirement.
The Hall of Fame case is on lock. The week-to-week impact looks closer to a complementary piece than a centerpiece.
Around the NFL
Giants fear WR Gunner Olszewski has torn Achilles, sources say | ESPN
New York Giants wide receiver Gunner Olszewski went down Friday during OTAs with a noncontact injury that the team fears is a torn Achilles tendon, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Olszewski, 29, is undergoing further tests to confirm the injury.
The veteran receiver went down and immediately grabbed at his right leg late in practice. He was slamming his fist in disgust as he was being carted off.
“That was a noncontact change in direction kind of a deal on the grass there,” coach John Harbaugh said. “So that was disappointing.”
Olszewski is likely the third Giants player to have torn their Achilles tendon this spring. Defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris did it during an indoor practice last week and undrafted rookie Thaddeus Dixon tore his Achilles earlier this offseason.
“Yeah, I think he’s working on his golf game right now,” Nick said Thursday. “I don’t think he’s thinking too much about football.”
Nick was asked if he had any notion about Joey’s future plans, such as signing with the Niners or retiring. Aside from seemingly shutting down ideas that the Bosas could play together for the first time since high school at St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida, the comment also suggests big bro Joey could be contemplating retirement.
Joey Bosa, set to turn 31 on July 11, is coming off his 10th NFL season. He tallied 29 tackles and five sacks for the Buffalo Bills after nine seasons with the Chargers, who drafted him third overall in 2016. Though he played 15 of a possible 17 games last season, he played in just 28 of a possible 51 over the previous three years combined, with injuries mounting on an annual basis.
The five-time Pro Bowler also earned north of $150 million in his career, according to Over the Cap. With a banged-up body and a bulked-up bank account, perhaps it’s the end of the line for the older Bosa brother.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs OTA notebook: 6 players that got a word from Andy Reid
Wide receiver Xavier Worthy
After undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum this offseason, Worthy has been donning a yellow, “non-contact” jersey in OTA practices so far.
That feels precautionary, based on Reid’s response to being asked about the third-year playmaker. He has seen a positive development from Worthy so far.
“It’s great for him to be able to detail things, and he’s working like crazy at it,” Reid said. “I think he feels more comfortable now; he had a couple of things cleaned out there, so he’s feeling good about that. I think he’s in a good spot, [we] just don’t want to take any steps back.”
Wide receiver Jalen Royals and Offensive Tackle Esa Pole
“They’re rotating in with the first group,” Reid answered when asked directly about the two second-year players by The Athletic’s Jesse Newell.
“With Rashee not here, it gives Jalen some great reps at the wide receiver position,” Reid pointed out.
“Strong,” Reid emphasized about his thoughts on Royals. “He looks strong out here, and running well… it’s great for the quarterbacks to see what he’s all about on repeated reps.”
From The Feed
Social media to make you think
Follow Arrowhead Pride on Social Media
- Facebook: Like our page
- Instagram: @ArrowheadPride
- X: Follow @ArrowheadPride
- AP Staff on X: See complete list
- 90.9 The Bridge on X: Follow @909thebridge
