The latest
Chiefs 53-man roster projection: A few surprises based on early practices | The Athletic
Receivers (6)
In: Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Royals, Cyrus Allen, Andrew Armstrong
Missed the cut: Jimmy Holiday, Nikko Remigio, Jacob De Jesus, Jason Brownlee, Jeff Caldwell, Omari Evans, Xavier Loyd
This list might include the biggest surprise in this projection. Armstrong seems to have gained early favor with coaches after signing a reserve contract in the offseason. His trajectory reminds
me a bit of Thornton, who also performed well during late-spring practices in 2025 before later securing his spot. At this point, I’d put Holiday as next in the battle for that end-of-the-roster receiver spot. Remigio, meanwhile, remains a wild card to make it if the Chiefs can’t find a reliable punt catcher.
Tight ends (4)
In: Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, Tre Watson
Missed the cut: Jake Briningstool, John Michael Gyllenborg, Mason Pline
We don’t talk enough about Watson, and based on his performance in recent drills, he should get a long look for the fourth tight end spot. Briningstool needs to show he can be healthy and available after a de facto redshirt season last year with a hamstring injury.
Conner’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Conner has shown solid overall safety ability and an unquestioned willingness to hit as a run defender — generally a non-negotiable in Spagnuolo’s defense. Unfortunately, Conner’s most glaring weakness was consistently obvious last season.
Even with now-departed cornerback Trent McDuffie on last year’s squad, Conner was frequently asked to be the Chiefs’ slot defender, which left him susceptible to bad matchups with slot receivers who he could not wrangle in man coverage.
Some of those exposed weaknesses fall to the coaching staff; Conner’s slot struggles were a point of discussion on Only Weird Games before the 2025 season even began.
Perhaps in response to last year’s weakness and while planning for a post-McDuffie world, the Chiefs signed veteran cornerback Kader Kohou, drafted Oregon DB Jadon Canady, reunited with L’Jarius Sneed and retained Chris Roland Wallace — all players who can set up in the slot, allowing Conner to play a more traditional safety role once again.
Taylor Swift attends Tight End University with Travis Kelce | ESPN
Tight End University on Monday posted a photo of Swift standing beside her soon-to-be husband, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce; the San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle and his wife, Claire; and former NFL tight end Greg Olsen and his daughter, Talbot.
It isn’t the first time Swift has made an appearance at the exclusive offseason summit for tight ends. Swift gave last year’s attendees a surprise performance with country singer Kane Brown and sang her hit tune “Shake It Off.” It was her first live performance since her Eras Tour wrapped up in December 2024.
Kelce, Kittle and Olsen are in their sixth year with Tight End University, a three-day offseason event dedicated to collaboration, film review, drills, recovery and more at Vanderbilt University for players of the position.
One of TEU’s co-founders expressed gratitude for Swift and Kelce’s presence and seemingly referenced their wedding, which is rumored to take place next month
“[Swift] is just such an awesome person to give us her time this close to their wedding, so we’re just so thankful that they’re here,” Kittle told PEOPLE on Tuesday.
Pre-Camp Breakdown: Looking at the QB Room Behind Patrick Mahomes | The Mothership
Justin Fields
The No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Fields has spent time with the Chicago Bears (2021-23), Pittsburgh Steelers (2024) and New York Jets (2025) during his career.
Fields started nine games for New York last season, completing 128-of-204 passes for 1,259 yards and seven touchdowns. Additionally, it was only two years ago that Fields led the Steelers to a 4-2 start through six games while incumbent starter Russell Wilson worked his way back from an injury.
An electric runner, Fields also holds the distinction of being one of just three quarterbacks in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, joining Lamar Jackson and Michael Vick by doing so in 2022.
Garrett Nussmeier
The MVP of the Senior Bowl and one of the standouts of the offseason training program, Nussmeier – the No. 249 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft – comes to Kansas City after throwing 41 touchdowns for the LSU Tigers over the last two seasons.
The 6-foot-2, 203-pound Nussmeier bided his time for three seasons as a backup at LSU before taking over starting duties in 2024, where he went on to throw for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns in 13 games. Injuries prevented another big season in 2025, but Nussmeier still managed to throw for 1,927 yards and 12 scores in nine starts.
His immense potential caught the attention of talent evaluators, too. Specifically, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler tabbed Nussmeier as the No. 3 quarterback in this year’s class behind only Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson, who each heard their name called in the first round.
Injuries likely prevented a higher selection for Nussmeier, but now in Kansas City, he’ll have an opportunity to show that he belongs.
ESPN draft analyst loses arm after being in serious car accident in Missouri | The Kansas City Star
“Last week, I was involved in a serious car accident in Missouri and was airlifted to Mercy Hospital,” Miller wrote on X. “I’m deeply grateful for the exceptional care I have received, from the first responders to the doctors, nurses and medical staff. I’m incredibly fortunate to be writing this.
“As a result of the accident, I sustained significant injuries, including multiple fractures and broken ribs. I also underwent a life-saving amputation of my left arm. While I have a long road ahead, I’m focused on my recovery and taking things one day at a time. “Thank you for the overwhelming support, prayers and kind messages — they have meant so much to me and my family during this time.
“I look forward to continuing my recovery and getting back to ESPN to talk football, including what should be an exciting 2027 NFL Draft class.”
KOAM News shared details of the police report of the accident, which happened north of Joplin.
This is from that story: “a 2023 Bronco, driven by a 42-year old Webb City, Mo. man, was eastbound on Mo-96, crossed the center line and struck a semi tractor trailer. He suffered serious injuries and was flown to Mercy Joplin. The 2024 International semi was westbound on Mo-96, driven by a 28-year old man from Springfield, Mo. He was not injured. …
Around the NFL
No 2026 supplemental draft; Brendan Sorsby’s NFL path paused | ESPN
The NFL’s decision came down to its right to decide whether to hold a supplemental draft, per the collective bargaining agreement, as league officials said they believed it would ultimately become a distraction to teams as they begin training camps.
“His application carries with it a lot of issues,” an NFL source told ESPN. “Core of the game integrity issues.”
Sorsby admitted to betting thousands of times on college and pro sports, bets that totaled upward of $90,000 and included 40 wagers on Indiana football while he was on the team.
Sorsby’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, told ESPN that the NFL’s decision to not hold a supplemental draft “is a violation of the CBA and the law. We will pursue this immediately with the NFLPA.”
A union source told ESPN that the NFLPA has not made any determination on whether there are legal grounds to act on this.
The league told Sorsby in a letter obtained by ESPN: “Your Petition — filed three business days before the deadline, without any supporting information or documentation, and only after abandoning your recent litigation efforts to avoid NCAA sanctions — does not provide a basis for the League to alter those plans.”
NFL Network: Falcons TE Kyle Pitts agrees to three-year, $54M contract | NFL.com
Pitts and the Atlanta Falcons agreed to terms on a three-year, $54 million extension that includes $36 million guaranteed over the next two seasons, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday.
Coming off arguably his best career season, Pitts will average $18 million per season on his new deal, which puts him at third in the league among tight ends. He now trails the San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle ($19.1 million APY) and the Arizona Cardinals’ Trey McBride ($19 million).
The Falcons placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on Pitts on Feb. 24. He was one of four players to have a tag applied this offseason and is the third to sign an extension following the Indianapolis Colts’ Daniel Jones and the New York Jets’ Breece Hall. The only tagged player yet to receive an extension is George Pickens of the Dallas Cowboys, who have stated they will not be negotiating an extension this offseason with the wideout.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Breaking down PFF’s all-Chiefs team of best players from last 20 years
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes leads the way, joined by wide receiver Rashee Rice, tight end Travis Kelce, center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith as the players still going strong for the Chiefs in this all-time lineup.
Only three players predate the era of head coach Andy Reid: running back Jamaal Charles, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and tight end Tony Gonzalez.
The all-time offensive line is made up of two waves: offensive tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz shared the line from 2016-2020, then the interior trio of left guard Joe Thuney, Humphrey and Smith took over until Thuney departed via free agency in 2024.
On defense, the vast majority of Kansas City’s best players from the last 20 years are former Chiefs at this point.
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