Tough decisions will be made at Arrowhead as the offseason unfolds.
The Kansas City Chiefs are going through a rebuild, and Andy Reid‘s once-dominating unit is up against it.
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The Chiefs will rebuild in 2026, with or without legendary TE KelceCredit: Getty
Cap issues have been well documented, and heading into the new NFL year on March 11, KC is projected to find itself in a $55 million black hole – despite another jump in the cap.
A roster shake-up will help free up plenty of money, and the Chiefs also have the option of restructuring big-money contracts if they can come to agreements with the likes of injured quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Trey Smith.
While the outlook isn’t as dark as the numbers initially suggest, the franchise that played in five of the last seven Super Bowls before slipping to a 6-11 season will still face the prospect of losing plenty of big name players.
Top free agents could depart Chiefs in offseason shakeup
Earlier this month, Pro Football Focus (PFF) released a ranking of the top free agents available in 2026.
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While it’s Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson who headlines the class, three Kansas City players make the top 25.
Safety Bryan Cook, cornerback Jaylen Watson and linebacker Leo Chenal all land high on the list.
Together, they are set to command a massive $31.3m in annual salary, based on current market value predictions from Spotrac.
Cook is set to be the most expensive name the Chiefs will look to retain ($14.2m annual salary, $56.7m total contract), while Watson ($12.5m annual salary, $37.4m total contract) and Chenal ($4.6m annual salary, $13.9m total contract) both push up the numbers.
KC will need to set some serious money aside to keep that trio, and while two-time Super Bowl champion Cook might land the eye-catching contract, NFL writer Zachary Pereles believes Chenal should be the priority to keep.
“Leo Chenal wasn’t as good as he was in 2023 and 2024, though that can be said of many Chiefs players,” Pereles penned for CBS Sports recently.
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Re-signing Cook would be an expensive decision for Kansas CityCredit: Getty
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Watson (L) and Chenal (R) are also highly-rated Chiefs free agents in 2026Credit: Getty
“Still, he’s a homegrown 25-year-old who has turned into a solid starter — at the very least — after being picked outside the top 100.
“He shouldn’t break the bank for the cash-strapped Chiefs, either.”
Which other big-name Chiefs players are free agents in 2026?
Cook, Watson and Chenal are high on PFF’s list, and there are plenty of other big names out of contract in Kansas City too.
None bigger, perhaps, than Travis Kelce.
The legendary tight end is still yet to announce his retirement decision, and if he does return to the Chiefs, he is projected to sign a contract just shy of $11m.
He will likely want to suit up for the Chiefs — and no one else — in 2026. If Kelce returns, the front office will need to shell out for their future Hall of Famer.
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Kelce would likely land a $10m salary if he returns to the ChiefsCredit: Getty
Elsewhere, wide receivers Tyquan Thornton and Marquise Brown are also looking for new contracts, as is running back Kareem Hunt. Each of those names carved out important roles in the offense in 2025.
Despite having flashier names in the wide receiver room, and the need to sign a big-name free agent RB if the money allows it, the Chiefs could still look to re-sign that trio.
Combined, they are projected to add another $10.2m in annual salary ($5.5m for Brown, $2.8m for Thornton, $1.9m for Hunt).
The Chiefs, then, face spending more than $50m just to bring back those names listed above — without even turning their attention to any other free agents available.
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With so many players set to hit the market, and little cap room to play with, Kansas City is bound to lose a big name or two in the coming weeks and months.
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But if they bring the right names back, and land a few new faces this summer, fans will no doubt be excited about what the future holds.
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