Getty
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs.
For the first time in a decade, the Kansas City Chiefs qualify as one of the highest variance teams in the NFL heading into 2026.
The knee injury that Patrick Mahomes suffered late in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers renders the beginning of next season a major question mark for the most dynastic organization in the league since he took over the starting quarterback role in 2018.
Furthermore, Kansas City is absent a reliable backup QB with Gardner Minshew headed to free agency next month. If Mahomes is ready to go in Week 1 then the equation changes. If he’s not, which is something the franchise won’t be able to confirm either way by mid-March, the season could be already be in jeopardy by the end of September.
Ben Solak of ESPN on Tuesday, February 10 listed the Chiefs as one of the teams in need of a quarterback solution, suggesting either the return of Minshew or the signing of a viable veteran free agent come the spring.
“The Chiefs need a spot starter! Patrick Mahomes is rehabbing an ACL/LCL tear suffered Dec. 14 with the hope of playing in Week 1, but the Chiefs will likely be uber-cautious with their franchise star,” Solak wrote. “No. 2 QB is not a secure spot either, as Gardner Minshew is a rising free agent. The Chiefs might simply return Minshew and hope to get Mahomes back by Week 5, but they’re a good candidate for a veteran free agent addition, as well.”
Chiefs May Struggle to Find Better Option Than Gardner Minshew in Free Agency
GettyQuarterback Gardner Minshew of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kansas City has minimal options given the free agent class in 2026.
Daniel Jones might be the best option, but he is coming off an Achilles tear and is unlikely to be ready to go Week 1. He also set himself up as a potential longterm QB1 after a quick start to last season with the Indianapolis Colts and won’t be looking to fill in for a player like Mahomes, who is guaranteed to reclaim the top job as soon as he’s healthy.
Aaron Rodgers, if he remains in the NFL, is also likely to look for a starting job. One could make the same argument for Russell Wilson and Joe Flacco, both of whom have indicated they want to play in 2026. Malik Willis is a candidate for a starting role after a strong campaign as the backup for the Green Bay Packers and will probably price out a team like the Chiefs.
Other possible options include Kirk Cousins, who the Atlanta Falcons will likely release, though the Minnesota Vikings are in the mix for a veteran QB behind JJ McCarthy and Cousins has a long history there with head coach Kevin O’Connell.
That leaves Kansas City with a group of options including Minshew, Marcus Mariota, Kenny Pickett, Trey Lance, Carson Wentz, Jimmy Garoppolo and others with questionable abilities to keep the Chiefs competitive until Mahomes can return.
Chiefs Have No Viable Starting QBs Under Contract Behind Patrick Mahomes for 2026
GettyKansas City Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun.
Regardless of the limited options, the Chiefs must add to the QB room in March if they don’t bring back Minshew.
Chris Oladokun, 28, is the most experienced quarterback the team has under contract in 2026 outside of Mahomes, and he got his first real NFL action only this year after both Mahomes and Minshew went down with injuries.
Oladokun has seen action in four total games, three in 2025, including two starts (0-2). He is 35-of-55 passing with 235 yards and one score.
Max Dible covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He covered local and statewide news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s family of Big Island radio stations before joining Heavy. More about Max Dible
More Heavy on Chiefs
Loading more stories