The strong start to the (5-0) Kansas City Chiefs’ season is proof that the organization made some effective changes this offseason.
Still, with plenty of recent Super Bowl memories, Chiefs Kingdom likes to check in on players who once wore red and gold. Let’s take an early-season look at how the players the team moved on from this offseason are performing in 2026:
CB Trent McDuffie
New team: Los Angeles Rams
Stats: 16 tackles (2 for loss), 1 interception and 7 passes broken up in five games
The Chiefs traded McDuffie
to the Rams this offseason for a haul of draft picks, and he has been a vital part of Los Angeles’ secondary this season. That’s why his groin injury in practice was so significant, forcing him to miss the Week 6 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals; the Rams lost, falling to 2-4.
So far this season, McDuffie has spent the majority of his time on the perimeter for the Rams being a lockdown corner. He has played only 14% of his defensive snaps in the slot. According to Pro Football Focus, he has allowed only five catches over 18 targets, generating a 21.1 passer rating.
CB Jaylen Watson
New team: Los Angeles Rams
Stats: 17 tackles (2 for loss), 1 interception and 5 passes broken up in five games
Watson joined McDuffie in Los Angeles and has been the starter opposite McDuffie on the outside. He’s arguably made just as big an impact in as many games; Watson dislocated his shoulder in Week 3, forcing him to miss Week 4.
He has since returned to the lineup, including an interception against the Buffalo Bills in his first game back on the field. He has allowed 12 catches over 20 targets, generating a 71.5 passer rating.
Chiefs Kingdom will see McDuffie, Watson and the Rams in Week XX on “Thursday Night Football” in Los Angeles.
S Bryan Cook
New team: Cincinnati Bengals
Stats: 17 tackles, 1 forced fumble and one fumble recovered in four games
Cook has been a staple in Cincinnati’s back end through the 3-2 start, although he missed the Week 4 game due to an ankle injury. He returned to the field against the Miami Dolphins in a full-time role with five tackles.
Outside of the forced fumble in Week 1, Cook hasn’t made many splash plays for the Bengals. He has pressured the quarterback twice over four blitzes, but has a 12% missed-tackle rate (PFF).
Cook and Cincinnati will welcome the Chiefs in for a matchup in Week XX.
LB Leo Chenal
New team: Washington Commanders
Stats: 18 tackles (1 for loss) in three games
Unfortunately, the Chiefs’ former hybrid linebacker has already seen his season come to an end after a scary collision in the Week 3 game against the Seattle Seahawks, which led to season-ending neck surgery.
He shared that “surgery went well” on X, so we’ll look forward to getting more positive updates on Chenal moving forward.
RT Jawaan Taylor
New team: Atlanta Falcons
Stats: 10 quarterback pressures (2 sacks) allowed over 186 pass blocks in six starts
Taylor has missed just a handful of snaps for the Falcons this season, manning the right tackle spot and the blind side for quarterback Michael Penix. He has been called for two penalties this season, although one was either declined or offset.
Taylor and Atlanta will travel to Kansas City to play the Chiefs in Week X.
WR Hollywood Brown
New team: Philadelphia Eagles
Stats: 12 rushing yards over two attempts
Brown has only been on the field for 17 snaps for Philadelphia’s offense this year and hasn’t seen a pass thrown his way.
Brown has missed time due to an ankle injury this season, but ahead of Week 6, he had no game designation, pointing to him being a healthy scratch.
DE Charles Omenihu
New team: Washington Commanders
Stats: 1 tackle, 1 quarterback hit and a pass defended in four games
The big veteran defensive end has played 45% of the defensive snaps for the Commanders when he’s been on the field, but he suffered groin and ankle injuries in Week 4 and hasn’t been back in action since.
CB Joshua Williams
New team: Tennessee Titans
Stats: 3 tackles and 2 passes defended in one game
In his first game of the season, a start in a Week 6 win over the Indianapolis Colts, Williams played every defensive snap and broke up two passes.
DT Jerry Tillery
New team: Indianapolis Colts
Stats: 13 tackles (2 for loss), 1 QB hit over six games (three starts)
After one year in Kansas City, Tillery has found a role in the Colts’ defensive line rotation, playing 38% of the snaps and starting three games this year.
TE Robert Tonyan
New team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Stats: 1 catch for 2 yards over six games
Tonyan has seen the field with his old friend quarterback Aaron Rodgers just 22 times this season; he has played more special teams (35 snaps) for Pittsburgh this year.
DE Malik Herring
New team: Miami Dolphins
Stats: 8 tackles (2 for loss) in five games played
Herring has found a spot in Tennessee’s defense; he plays 39% of the defensive snaps and produced four quarterback pressures over 55 pass rushes so far.
DE Mike Danna
New team: Buffalo Bills
Stats: 1 game played
Danna appeared in just one game for Buffalo (Week 2, 8 defensive snaps) before he was cut on October 12th; he was brought back to the team a couple of days later.
RB Isiah Pacheco
New team: Detroit Lions
Pacheco was put on the Reserve/Injured list after undergoing back surgery during the first week of the season. According to CBS Sports, at the time, Pacheco had a 12-week recovery timeline and “could return in December.”
RB Dameon Pierce
New team: Philadelphia Eagles
Stats: 23 carries, 49 rushing yards and one touchdown, along with six catches for 13 yards in two games
Pierce has been forced to step up with the Eagles due to injuries to Saquon Barkley and other running backs, seeing more time already than he ever did with the Chiefs.
QB Gardner Minshew
New team: Arizona Cardinals
Minshew has been the third-string quarterback in Arizona all year, presumably behind both the starter Jacoby Brissett and the rookie Carson Beck.
2025 Chiefs not currently on a team
- Wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster
- Defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi
- Running back Kareem Hunt
- Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire
