Welcome back to the Arrowhead Pride Mailbag! Throughout the offseason, watch for your opportunity to submit your Kansas City Chiefs questions in The Feed, which is found on AP’s home page.
The Chiefs have likely made their big signings of free agency. Let’s see what’s on our readers’ minds as the focus shifts to next month’s draft.
Swaf asks:
What are they going to do to address the pass rush? So far, we have seen nothing. I understand the DE market is crazy expensive but even a mid-level signing or trade for
depth would be nice to see.
Pass rush is easily the roster’s biggest question at this point in the offseason. Unfortunately, we will probably wait a bit longer to find out General Manager Brett Veach’s plan for 2026.
As expected, edge rushers flew off the board in free agency, and the Chiefs shouldn’t feel any heat from the lack of involvement. The league’s bona fide top pass rushers never actually make it to free agency, and investing heavily in the players that do rarely proves to be a fruitful strategy.
In the draft, the ninth selection looms with Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. and Texas Tech’s David Bailey possibly on the radar for the Chiefs. At this point, Veach may even need to consider a trade-up if the organization attacks the draft with the current roster. While this draft is not heavy on superstar pass rushers who become franchise cornerstones, it is deep in starting-caliber defensive ends.
The Chiefs will probably add at least one low-cost veteran before the draft. I do not expect Veach to be in on the trade market, but he has executed April trades for starting players multiple times; you probably can’t rule the Chiefs totally out if, for example, the New York Giants make Kayvon Thibodeaux available.
The Chiefs will also be counting on some internal improvement. While rookie Ashton Gillotte was not a nominal starter, he exceeded the now-released Mike Danna in defensive snaps each of the final seven games. Gillotte also saw the field more than Charles Omenihu over the last month of the season.
Newly signed defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga should positively, indirectly impact the pass rush. While Tonga should not be expected to put up gaudy pressure numbers, his presence to take on some of the taxing first and second down work should help keep Chris Jones fresh for obvious passing downs. Tonga should also allow for a more selective role for second-year pro Omarr Norman-Lott upon his return from the torn ACL that ended his rookie season.
TheeNewJMVE asks:
Thoughts on how they’re going to address WR inventory, especially with Rashee Rice’s situation being in a state of flux as of the first week of FA? Tyquan Thornton is a great signing IMHO, but he’s filling a roster spot he already occupied.
The re-signing of Tyquan Thornton was a welcome sight. With Hollywood Brown agreeing to a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday, Thornton is a projected Week 1 starter. However, Thornton fits better as the cherry on top of a strong trio of “starting” receivers than as a player expected to be a focal point of the offense.
If the Chiefs do not go with a pass rusher at No. 9 overall, I think wide receiver has to be the other consideration. I can see any of Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, USC’s Makai Lemon or Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson being the selection for numerous reasons, but there are also arguments on passing them to consider. Beyond them, Omar Cooper of Indiana is an option for the Chiefs.
I expect one of the team’s trio of top 40 selections to be a wideout. Rice is entering the final season of his contract and has yet to prove his availability can be trusted. Xavier Worthy could also be sidelined almost the entire offseason as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
Bold_as_Love asks:
Are they still confident Jaylon Moore is their starting RT? I know there was a lot of hand-wringing regarding Taylor’s penalties, but he’s a better RT than Jaylon Moore. Nothing showed me Esa Pole is capable of starting there either.
Listening to the rumor mill would imply the Chiefs are very concerned about the tackle position. The team was linked to now Carolina Panthers left tackle Rasheed Walker ahead of free agency. The Chiefs have been rumored as a trade destination for Trent Williams of the San Francisco 49ers should the two parties not agree on a reworked contract. Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor allegedly had interest from Kansas City before re-signing with the Giants.
The Chiefs’ actions, on the other hand, have not demonstrated such urgency. Walker eventually signed a bargain $10 million contract for 2026 that Kansas City could easily have beaten. Even Eluemunor’s $13 million annual salary would not have been prohibitively expensive.
Kansas City seems to be comfortable allowing Moore and Pole to compete for the position. Perhaps the front office will prove a corner of national media correct by making it a priority on the draft’s first night. Neither Moore nor Pole is a strong enough talent to use Sharpie in marking them as starters right now, but having one of them there is a solid plan, given the talent at the other four positions.
Left tackle Josh Simmons’ ample experience at both tackle spots at Ohio State does give Kansas City flexibility to upgrade the line as a whole if a strong option to acquire a tackle presents itself.
AP100 asks:
Even with the signing of Kenneth Walker III and Emari Demercado, do you expect the Chiefs to take another RB in the draft, perhaps in the middle rounds?
On paper at least, the Chiefs have turned running back from a weakness into a strength.
However, the team still needs a direct backup to Walker. Demercado should slide in as the third-down back, but neither he nor second-year pro Brashard Smith will be good candidates to run between the tackles if Walker misses time.
Expect remaining free agents with options to decline a chance to join the Chiefs — and the front office should be wary of investing much in a backup first and second-down runner. Recent history has shown that role to have a low floor to contribute.
If you don’t believe me, please ask Ronald Jones, Elijah Mitchell, or Dameon Pierce.
The two best recent versions of the Chiefs’ running game have had a lead runner spelled by a passing-down back. That was the case with Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon before injuries stacked up for both players. That was also the arrangement in 2017, when Charcandrick West spelled a rookie Kareem Hunt in what may have been the league’s best backfield that season.
Walker and Demercado should be expected to be the best version of this model. But that will leave almost no snaps for another running back. Should Smith enter the season as the Chiefs’ main kick returner, as expected, the hypothetical other running back would probably not dress most weeks.
Expect another back to be added late in free agency — if not from one of the team’s final draft picks or possibly a priority undrafted free agent.
Thank you for reading this week’s Arrowhead Pride Mailbag! We will be back soon with a one-month out look at the NFL Draft. Keep watching The Feed for an opportunity to ask your questions.
