Chiefs News 3/16: Chiefs are one of the NFL’s most improved teams

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: Kenneth Walker III #9 of the Seattle Seahawks runs the ball during the first half of Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) | Getty Images The lates

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2026 NFL free agency: Five most improved teams, best signings | ESPN

Kansas City Chiefs

Best signing:
Kenneth Walker III, RB

The Chiefs’ offense needed Walker, even at three years, $43.05 million. Last season, Chiefs running backs Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco combined for just one run of more than 20 yards. Walker had 12 such runs, including the postseason.

A good running back — and more importantly, an explosive one — matters when you have an offensive line that can create rushing lanes. And led by

Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith, the Chiefs have a line that can do that.

Most underrated signing: Khyiris Tonga, DT

This was a player the Patriots wanted to bring back, but they couldn’t get an extension finished during the regular season. Tonga was an important part of the New England run defense as a nose tackle in 2025. He had a stop rate of 83%; in other words, 83% of his run tackles prevented a successful play for the offense. The league average for interior linemen was around 71% last season. He agreed to a three-year, $21 million contract. Oh, and he can play fullback too if the Chiefs need one.

Ranking Chiefs’ 3 Worst Offseason Moves So Far | SI

Worst decision so far

The Chiefs made some solid choices over the last four weeks. But Allowing Cook to leave on a three-year, $40.25 million contract and sign with Cincinnati last week was the worst decision. In 2025, Cook had only five missed tackles (5.6 percent, eighth among NFL safeties). The year before, according to Pro Football Focus, he missed just six (6.2 percent).

His replacement, free-agent Alohi Gilman, registered a 16.4-percent missed-tackle percentage last season, combined with both the Chargers and Ravens. If that number doesn’t improve this season, the Chiefs will give up a lot more third-and-long conversions. Last season, Kansas City ranked 26th in the league on third-and-6-or-longer, allowing conversions on 27.7 percent of those snaps.

After first wave of 2026 free agency, what are the top needs for every NFL team? | The Athletic

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs’ top remaining need is edge rusher. Kansas City can feel good about some of its youth there — George Karlaftis won’t turn 25 until April, while rookie Ashton Gillotte showed some positive flashes late last season — but the best defensive teams can rotate players on the outside. Former first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah has constantly battled injuries, and the Chiefs have yet to replace free agents Charles Omenihu and Mike Danna on their depth chart. Expect K.C. to address edge rusher late in free agency and also with a top-two-round pick in April’s draft. — Jesse Newell

Landing spots for top remaining free agents | CBS Sports

DL Cameron Jordan

On Wednesday, Kansas City Chiefs star defensive lineman Chris Jones made a post on social media that included just two words: “Cam Jordan.”

The New Orleans Saints star is looking to play his 16th NFL season, and it could be his first away from New Orleans. Cameron Jordan has recorded 763 tackles, 175 tackles for loss and 132 sacks in his 243 career games. Those 132 sacks are the most in franchise history. Jordan, who turns 37 this summer, is still a productive player, as he recorded 10.5 sacks, 15 QB hits and 15 tackles for loss in 2025.

The Chiefs have lost plenty on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, including Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Bryan Cook, Leo Chenal, Charles Omenihu and Derrick Nnadi. Kansas City could score Jordan on a cheap deal as the Chiefs look to rebound in 2026.

Around the NFL

Eagles, TE Dallas Goedert agree to terms on one-year deal | NFL.com

Twice pushing back the void date on Dallas Goedert‘s contract has resulted in a continued partnership between the tight end and the Eagles.

Philadelphia and Goedert have agreed to terms on a one-year contract, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Sunday.

Goedert, who was set to become a free agent once his contract voided at the start of the league year on Wednesday, first agreed to push the void date back to Friday, then again postponed it to Monday.

By doing so, the two sides had more time for negotiations before another team could swoop in and lure away the longtime Eagle, something several teams had interest in accomplishing.

Garafolo reported that Goedert had offers elsewhere, but he was willing to work with the team to run it back another year, in doing so avoiding a $20 million dead money hit against Philadelphia’s cap.

Trey Lance returns to Chargers on one-year deal | ESPN

Free agent quarterback Trey Lance agreed to a deal to return to the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, the team announced.

Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that it’s a one-year deal worth up to $6.75 million.

The No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft by the San Francisco 49ers, Lance hasn’t reached the potential that made him a top pick, though he hasn’t been given a significant chance to do so. He started four games in two years with the 49ers, posting a 2-2 record while throwing for 797 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions on 56-of-102 passing. An ankle injury cost him his starting job, setting the stage for Brock Purdy‘s run of success with the Niners.

Vikings got a new QB. So what happens to J.J. McCarthy? | Yahoo Sports

Regardless of what the Vikings may say publicly, league sources at the NFL scouting combine made it clear Minnesota wasn’t just looking for a veteran capable of coming in and pushing McCarthy. Instead, the situation was described as the Vikings looking for a realistic option to potentially supplant McCarthy permanently if he wasn’t able to take major strides in 2026. Part of that approach, sources said, was how McCarthy struggled with decision making and processing in his 10 starts, as well as some very real staff frustrations about how his health has held up over the first two seasons of his career — including a deflating five-game stretch he missed with a high-ankle sprain last season.

The situation was irritating enough that it was clear from sources that Minnesota’s decision makers were not going to put themselves into a situation of having to count on McCarthy turning a corner this offseason. Instead, it was clear the Vikings were looking for a veteran option — and Kyler Murray’s name resonated as the one-year “prove-it” option who had enough talent to take the starting job and play well enough to make him a viable starter beyond 2026.

So where does this leave McCarthy now that Murray is in the fold? There are a handful of scenarios in front of him.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs Free Agency: Recapping 5 external signings from first week

Safety Alohi Gilman

A few weeks ago, I mentioned Gilman as a free agent option, so the signing was exciting to hear.

Gilman is a similar-level player to former Chiefs safety Bryan Cook, and Kansas City got him for roughly 60% of the deal Cook signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. That’s a great process in free agency: finding cheap replacements for starters, allowing other positions of need to be addressed.

Gilman isn’t a perfect player, but he’s good in deep coverage. Compared to Cook, he’s a rangier athlete to cover the back end. He’s not as good as Cook at tackling, which leads to a legitimate concern about Gilman against the run. Still, he’s a perfectly good starting safety on a good contract.

That being said, the Chiefs need to add another safety. If Gilman is the top player in the room for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, then that position group isn’t talented enough. Kansas City needs to find a safety who’s more reliable at tackling in the run game.

Fortunately, this is a good draft class of safeties, so the organization will have options through the weekend.