Kansas City Chiefs News

The Detroit Lions are signing free-agent running back Isiah Pacheco to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Pacheco will essentially replace David Montgomery, who was traded to the Houston Texans, as the backfield complement to starter Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. The 27-year-old former seventh-rounder in 2022 out of Rutgers had 1,765 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns on 375 carries for the Chiefs in his first two years in the league, but injuries slowed him down the last two years, as he had a combined 772 rushing yards and only two rushing TDs on 201 carries in 2024 and 2025. The landing spot with the Lions is certainly a good one for a potential bounce-back campaign for Pacheco in his fifth year in the league, and he won't cost much late in drafts this fall as a handcuff for Gibbs.

The Kansas City Chiefs are re-signing wide receiver Tyquan Thornton to a two-year, $11 million deal that includes a maximum value of $14 million, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. Thornton is a former second-round pick of the New England Patriots, but he joined the Chiefs prior to the 2025 season. Throughout the year, he caught 19 of his 37 targets for 438 yards and three touchdowns. These aren't otherworldly numbers, but he was consistent enough to both establish himself within the Chiefs' depth chart and also earn a new deal to come back for 2026 and beyond. Fantasy managers should temper expectations on Thornton, though, at least for the time being. He peaked at WR81 in PPR leagues (last year) and will have a tough time cracking the top 75 in both dynasty startup and redraft leagues during 2026.

Former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew reached an agreement on Monday on a one-year, $8.25 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Cardinals have released Kyler Murray (foot), but even with the addition of Minshew, the Cardinals intend to keep veteran Jacoby Brissett as their starting QB in 2026. It means that Minshew will be the backup in the desert next season. The 29-year-old gunslinger spent last year in Kansas City, backing up Patrick Mahomes. The forer sixth-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 out of Washington State appeared in four games (one start) and went 6-for-13 for 37 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Minshew injured his knee in his lone start late in the 2025 season and didn't play again after Mahomes suffered a season-ending knee injury. A Pro Bowler in 2023 with the Colts, Minshew won't be on the two-QB superflex radar unless Brissett misses time with an injury.

Eleven-time Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs have officially agreed to terms on a new deal on Monday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Kelce will be back for a 14th NFL season in 2026, but the terms of the deal are undisclosed. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer contemplated retirement for the second straight offseason, but all signs had been pointing toward him returning to play for the Chiefs this fall. He will be hoping to get KC back to the postseason after they fell short in 2025 following three straight Super Bowl appearances. Kelce is no longer in his prime -- he hasn't reached 1,000 receiving yards since 2022 -- but the four-time All-Pro was still a top-five fantasy football tight end last year with 76 catches, 851 yards, and five touchdowns in 17 games played. He's more injury-prone near the end of his career, but his strong connection with quarterback Patrick Mahomes makes up for it. Kelce will be a midrange TE1 in fantasy drafts this fall.

Kansas City Chiefs future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce is expected to return to the Chiefs for a 14th season in 2026, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The 36-year-old made his 11th Pro Bowl in 2025 and will stay loyal and return to KC despite having the opportunity to test the open market this offseason. The four-time All-Pro hasn't reached the 1,000-yard receiving mark since 2022 and is a much bigger injury risk for fantasy football purposes, but he still has enough in the tank to be in the TE1 picture for his 14th NFL season. Kelce caught 76 of his 108 targets last year for 851 yards and five touchdowns, ranking as the TE4 in half-PPR scoring. He's no longer at his peak, obviously, but he will return to a Chiefs offense with quarterback Patrick Mahomes still at the helm and with future Hall of Fame head coach Andy Reid running the offense.

Kansas City Chiefs impending free-agent tight end Travis Kelce appears "motivated to return" for a 14th NFL season, based on conversations that The Athletic's Dianna Russini has had with several teams. The Chiefs are "very much" in the mix to re-sign the three-time Super Bowl champion and four-time All-Pro tight end. The 36-year-old veteran has contemplated retirement for the second straight offseason, and although nothing is official, all signs have pointed towards Kelce returning in 2026, most likely back in KC. The 11-time Pro Bowler was the TE4 in half-PPR scoring in his 13th NFL season last year with 76 receptions on 108 targets for 851 yards and five touchdowns in 17 starts. Kelce has not had 1,000 receiving yards since 2022, but he proved last year that he can still be very valuable for fantasy football purposes, even if his ceiling isn't as an elite high-end TE1 anymore. UPDATE: Kelce's representatives are "expected to talk to multiple teams" when the legal tampering period begins on Monday, per The Athletic.

The Kansas City Chiefs have informed offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (elbow) that he will be released this month, barring a trade, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Taylor was due to enter the fourth and final year of his $80 million contract. His release will create $20 million in cap space while accounting for nearly $7.4 million in dead money. The 29-year-old has started 45 games since joining the Chiefs, but he missed the last five weeks of the 2025 season due to a shoulder injury. Kansas City could replace Taylor in free agency or the draft, but if they choose to look internally, the most realistic candidate to take over at right tackle is Jaylon Moore, who signed a two-year, $30 million contract with the Chiefs last offseason.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown opened the 2025 season with a bang, hauling in 10 catches for 99 yards on 16 targets in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers. However, the 28-year-old was not able to maintain his hot start and saw his role in the Chiefs' offense gradually fade over the course of the season. Across 16 games overall, Brown recorded 49 receptions for 587 yards and five touchdowns on 74 targets. Heading into his age-29 season, Brown is now set to hit unrestricted free agency. Chiefs WR1 Rashee Rice is currently being sued by the mother of his children for alleged physical abuse and is being investigated by the NFL for violations of the league's personal conduct policy. As a result, there could be an opening for playing time in Kansas City if the team chooses to bring Brown back on a new contract. Still, Brown's production has been on a gradual decline since his banner 2021 season, when he recorded 1,008 yards and six touchdown catches as a member of the Baltimore Ravens. His fantasy outlook is likely trending in the wrong direction heading into 2026, regardless of where he signs in free agency.

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said on Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine that the team is hoping that impending free-agent tight end Travis Kelce returns for a 14th NFL season, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. At the same time, Veach said the Chiefs are "prepared for either scenario" when discussing Kelce's future. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer is contemplating retirement for the second straight offseason, but the general feeling is that he will return in 2026. Kelce was still plenty productive last year despite the Chiefs not making the playoffs for the first time in a decade. He finished as the TE4 in half-PPR scoring with 76 receptions on 108 targets for 851 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games played. If Kelce does come back for a 14th season, it will likely be in KC. Durability will continue to be a concern for Kelce near the end of his career, but if he's back next season, he should still be firmly on the TE1 radar in fantasy drafts.

The Kansas City Chiefs released veteran defensive end Mike Danna on Monday to free up more salary cap space before the official start of the new league year, according to ESPN. The move to release Danna saves the Chiefs $9 million on their 2026 cap. The Chiefs entered the offseason more than $57 million over the cap before releasing Danna and restructuring quarterback Patrick Mahomes' deal. The 28-year-old Danna started 32 games for KC over the last three seasons. In 15 contests in 2025, the 28-year-old former fifth-rounder in 2020 out of Michigan had only 25 tackles (eight solo), one sack, his first career interception, and a pass breakup. Danna has 194 tackles (96 solo), 21.5 sacks, and 25 tackles for loss in his six NFL seasons, all with the Chiefs. He won two Super Bowl titles with KC but will now look to latch on with another team as he heads into his seventh year in the league.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee), who has been rehabbing the last two months after having surgery to fix the torn ACL and LCL in his left knee, is "already showing progress," according to ESPN's Nate Taylor. "He's around here all the time," Reid said of Mahomes. "He spends a ton of time here, seven hours a day. He's in there cranking away and making progress every day. It's great to see." The three-time Super Bowl MVP and six-time Pro Bowler still has a lot of rehab left, but if he keeps making great strides, he will have a shot to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season this fall. Even before his late-season knee injury, Mahomes and the Chiefs offense had taken a step back, and he finished with 3,587 passing yards, a career-low 22 touchdown passes, and 11 picks in 14 games. Coming off major knee surgery, Mahomes will no longer be in consideration as a high-end QB1 in fantasy in 2026 as he heads into his 10th year in the NFL.

The Athletic's Jesse Newell writes that Kansas City Chiefs impending free-agent running back Isiah Pacheco is "likely to sign elsewhere" in free agency this offseason. Pacheco did not show his pre-injury burst out of the backfield in 2025, averaging 3.9 yards per carry while rushing for 462 yards and just one touchdown on 118 rushing attempts in 13 games played. He ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL scouting combine, but he hasn't shown that same speed after a productive first two seasons in the NFL. In addition to his declining speed, he hasn't established himself as a receiving threat out of the backfield, with his 44-catch season in 2023 looking like an outlier. On top of injuries the last two seasons, Pacheco's fantasy stock is down as he enters free agency. Pacheco's 2026 fantasy value will depend on where he's playing, but most likely, he'll be involved in some sort of timeshare after struggling the last two seasons.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Friday that the team has been communicating with impending free-agent tight end Travis Kelce, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. "There is communication. That's the main thing. That means people want to move forward. I [think] that's where Travis is," Reid said. The 36-year-old 11-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro is contemplating retirement for the second straight offseason, but if he decides to return for a 14th season in the NFL, he'll most likely re-sign with KC. The Chiefs have made it clear that they want Kelce back if he doesn't hang up his cleats. Despite his age, Kelce remained productive for fantasy managers in 2025, finishing as the TE4 in half-PPR scoring with 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns on 108 targets. If Kelce comes back, he'll be a midrange TE1 target in fantasy with more risk of injury because of his age.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that "nothing is happening there" when discussing whether the Chiefs were in contact with free-agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee), according to Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star. "I don't know if Tyreek is healthy right now to do anything. I'm sure he's working hard on that part of it to get that straightened out," Reid said. The 31-year-old eight-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro dislocated his knee and tore multiple ligaments in Week 4 of last year, but he plans on continuing his playing career in 2026 as he heads into free agency. Hill was originally a fifth-round pick by the Chiefs in 2016 and spent the first six years of his career in KC, but as of right now, it doesn't sound like the Chiefs have interest in a reunion with the Cheetah, at least until they know more about his health. Hill's fantasy value going into his 11th NFL campaign will depend on his health and where he lands, but it sure would be intriguing to see him back in KC working with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray has long-term upside in dynasty leagues, making him a sneaky stash for the upcoming offseason. For his entire five-year career so far, Gray has been stuck in a depth role behind superstar Travis Kelce. However, with Kelce likely nearing the end of his playing career, it's time for fantasy managers to start considering who might take his place after he retires. Right now, the frontrunner is Gray, who has flashed tremendous upside even in his role as the Chiefs' No. 2 tight end. In 2024, even with Kelce playing 16 games, Gray ranked as the overall TE2 in PPR leagues with 40 catches, 437 yards, and five touchdowns. He added another 21 catches and 178 yards last year. Kelce is likely coming back for another year, but we expect the Chiefs to begin incorporating Gray even more than last year. In addition to an anticipated larger role, Gray is the top tight end handcuff in the NFL. While roster spots are limited and rostering a backup tight end in redraft leagues may not be feasible, Gray is absolutely an intriguing offseason pick-up in dynasty leagues. He has top-10 upside when Kelce isn't healthy or isn't playing anymore. Dynasty managers should consider adding Gray if he's currently not rostered.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is being sued by his long-time partner and mother of his children for choking, strangling, scratching, hitting, and headbutting her over a 19-month period, TMZ reports. "Rashee Rice continued to repeatedly [assault] Dacoda Jones over the course of their relationship," the lawsuit claims. Jones also claims she was subject to "other violent and abusive behaviors," which included Rice throwing things at her, "punching walls, and breaking furniture." She also says that most of the abuse occurred while she was pregnant. The NFL launched an investigation into Rice for possible violations of the league's personal-conduct policy after Jones accused Rice of getting physical with her last month on social media. It's not the first time Rice has had off-the-field issues, as he was suspended six games last year after pleading guilty to multiple felonies for his role in a multi-vehicle crash. Rice is KC's No. 1 receiver when healthy, but another suspension could be coming in 2027. Stay tuned.

The Kansas City Chiefs restructured quarterback Patrick Mahomes' contract this week to create some much-needed salary cap space going into the 2026 season, according to ESPN. The restructuring converts $54.45 million of Mahomes' 2026 salary into a signing bonus, lowering his cap number to $34.65 million. The move creates $43.65 million in cap space and marks the fourth straight year the Chiefs have restructured Mahomes' contract. KC entered the offseason more than $57 million over the salary cap and will still need to make some financial maneuvers after restructuring Mahomes' contract. The Chiefs missed the playoffs in 2025 for the first time in a decade after reaching the Super Bowl in each of the previous three seasons. Mahomes will now count for an additional $11 million against KC's cap in each of the next four seasons, bringing his total cap number to $85 million for 2027.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith could have the opportunity to take on an expanded role during the 2026 season. Smith was buried in a depth role for most of his rookie season in 2025, especially with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt leading the backfield. However, the Chiefs' running back dynamic could change in 2026. Both Pacheco and Hunt are free agents this offseason, and it's unclear whether either of them will re-sign. If only one or neither of them returns next season, Smith will have a path to a larger workload. He had a modest 323 scrimmage yards and one touchdown this past year, so he certainly hasn't proven himself ready for a lead-back role. However, he could share the backfield with someone like Pacheco or another mid-range, experienced back. Either way, Smith is absolutely trending upward ahead of the 2026 season. He's an intriguing buy in dynasty leagues, especially if his current fantasy manager has already grown impatient.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) is no longer a top-tier fantasy option, primarily due to injury uncertainty. Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in Week 15, and it's currently unclear whether he'll be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season. He's still one of the most talented players in NFL history, but without a clear timeline, fantasy managers shouldn't expect to rely on him as their starting quarterback in Week 1. We also can't ignore the fact that his fantasy production has gone backward. He went from the overall QB1 in 2022 to QB8 in 2023, QB11 in 2024, and QB11 in his shortened 2025 campaign. He has thrown at least 11 interceptions in each of his last five seasons, and he's been held to 27 or fewer touchdowns every year since 2022, when he threw for 41. Josh Allen has taken over as the consensus QB1 in fantasy football, but players like Lamar Jackson, Drake Maye, and Joe Burrow have also become more appealing to managers than Mahomes. Of course, that could change if the Chiefs add a superstar receiver this offseason, and it also wouldn't hurt if tight end Travis Kelce bounces back following a down year.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt has enjoyed a career resurgence over his last two years with the team. In 2025, he appeared in all 17 games, rushing for 611 yards and eight touchdowns while sharing the backfield with Isiah Pacheco. The veteran running back also added 143 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown, and he finished the year as the overall RB31 in full-PPR leagues. Hunt now has 1,658 scrimmage yards over his last two seasons, as well as a whopping 25 touchdowns over his last three seasons. Hunt, an impending free agent, will be 31 years old when the 2026 season gets underway. His efficiency has tailed off, and he's no longer a workhorse back. However, he has shown that he can continue to be a scoring threat while contributing as both a ball-carrier and a pass-catcher. We wouldn't be surprised to see Hunt re-sign with the Chiefs, but no matter where he ends up, he could sneak into the top 36 running backs for fantasy football drafts. His dynasty outlook isn't quite as favorable, though, as he's definitely in the final stages of his career.