2026 Free Agents

[Dunerdr]

A lot of times Veach is drafting a year ahead. Just putting the 2026 free agent list out there for the sake of mocks and positions of need. Obviously several of these guys are likely to be extended.

Kelce
Thuney
McDuffie (will probably be extended before we get there)
Josh Williams
Watson
Karlaftis
Skyy Moore
Bryan Cook
Leo Chenal
Pacheco
Remeggio
Cam Jones

PS what a ****ing draft class that was.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Hoover

Then he's showed his cards and you make plans to be without him.

I'm in on the Thuney/McDuffie extention. Sign Charles O and Hollywood and figure the rest out.

I like how we are set up for the draft, but the unsettled nature of the LT position makes that much more difficult. Not sure how a team like the Chiefs can go into next year "hoping" for improved LT play, unless they believe Thuney could hold up an entire year at the position.

Would love to grab a DT and CB in rounds 2&3 to add roster depth. If Bolton leaves, then we need to probably target some LBs in the draft and free agency.

I'd wager Omenihu is gone as well.

[kccrow]

Kelce - We extended Gray and drafted Wiley plus there are other options in the pipeline like Cupp and Hendershot right now... I think we are fine.
Thuney - We drafted Hanson and Nourzad and guards aren't hard to find.
McDuffie - We'll use the 5th-year option and address an extension next offseason
Josh Williams - I don't think we keep this kid around. I think we'll see at least one CB drafted.
Watson - see Williams except me might offer a mid-range deal.
Karlaftis - We'll use the 5th-year option and address an extension next offseason
Skyy Moore - Nobody cares other than we need bodies to replace him
Bryan Cook - I think we'll extend Cook and let Hicks take over for Reid and then draft a guy to fill in behind them
Leo Chenal - A guy I think you can work out a deal on for relatively cheap but I think we'll draft a LB or two this year.
Pacheco—I don't see us offering a big extension to any RB, including Pacheco. If he wants big money, he'll walk. I have to think we'll draft another RB soon, and this is an epic year to do it.
Remeggio - I like the kid and he might be a guy you can keep around a bit for a low price as a ST guy but definitely UDFA replacement level.
Cam Jones - see Remeggio

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by JPH83

Increasingly thinking the same. I think Trey gets paid a boatload elsewhere.

Bolton MAY fetch less money than he expects due to his work in coverage, but I'd still wager there's a good chance he's gone, maybe slightly more likely to be kept.

Holywood, man I'd love to keep him, I want to be optimistic and think the injury might knock his value. But it's not a great FA year behind Higgins, could we get him back for closer to, say, 12m a year? Maybe less? I just think some big plays in the playoffs and the obvious offensive turnaround he helped sparked leads to someone offering a lot more.

I think Omenihu is going to want silly money, not get it, but then go somewhere else anyway.

I dunno, I guess between all those and DJ you've got to think at least ONE comes back. Just can't see who

Can someone explain to me how Brown, who signed with the Chiefs for 7M, is going to get 12M after being out with an injury for the entire season? Availability has always been his issue. I think he's relatively easy to keep around. Keeping both him and Hopkins will be difficult. I think the Chiefs sign Brown to a multi-year deal and then draft a WR in the middle rounds.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by kccrow

Kelce - We extended Gray and drafted Wiley plus there are other options in the pipeline like Cupp and Hendershot right now... I think we are fine.
Thuney - We drafted Hanson and Nourzad and guards aren't hard to find.
McDuffie - We'll use the 5th-year option and address an extension next offseason
Josh Williams - I don't think we keep this kid around. I think we'll see at least one CB drafted.
Watson - see Williams except me might offer a mid-range deal.
Karlaftis - We'll use the 5th-year option and address an extension next offseason
Skyy Moore - Nobody cares other than we need bodies to replace him
Bryan Cook - I think we'll extend Cook and let Hicks take over for Reid and then draft a guy to fill in behind them
Leo Chenal - A guy I think you can work out a deal on for relatively cheap but I think we'll draft a LB or two this year.
Pacheco—I don't see us offering a big extension to any RB, including Pacheco. If he wants big money, he'll walk. I have to think we'll draft another RB soon, and this is an epic year to do it.
Remeggio - I like the kid and he might be a guy you can keep around a bit for a low price as a ST guy but definitely UDFA replacement level.
Cam Jones - see Remeggio

I agree with all of this.

Regarding Thuney, are you suggesting we cut bait? With Hanson and Nourzad plus Morris, if Bart wants to be aggressive elsewhere he could cheap at the guard position. Its scary as hell with the LT situation the way it is, but I do think its an avenue that could be explored. Hard to see them walk away from both Smith and Thuney in the same year, which is why an extension with Thuney seems the mot logical outcome.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by Hoover

I agree with all of this.

Regarding Thuney, are you suggesting we cut bait? With Hanson and Nourzad plus Morris, if Bart wants to be aggressive elsewhere he could cheap at the guard position. Its scary as hell with the LT situation the way it is, but I do think its an avenue that could be explored. Hard to see them walk away from both Smith and Thuney in the same year, which is why an extension with Thuney seems the mot logical outcome.

Thuney is under contract for 2025. Replace Smith this year and Thuney next year. I'd focus on getting the OT position in order this year, if that's trust in development within and adding a vet for a year or if it's drafting a guy or both. I think we can ride with what's in house for 2025 at OG.

[Hoover]

Thanks. Silly that I never considered the "do nothing" option re Thuney. I was stuck in the extend or cut mindset.

[Dunerdr]

Just a reminder this is NEXT years free agent list just to keep in mind for THIS years draft. I got a txt from a friend who lurks who thought I was a complete dumbass.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Dunerdr

A lot of times Veach is drafting a year ahead. Just putting the 2026 free agent list out there for the sake of mocks and positions of need. Obviously several of these guys are likely to be extended.

Kelce
Thuney
McDuffie (will probably be extended before we get there)
Josh Williams
Watson
Karlaftis
Skyy Moore
Bryan Cook
Leo Chenal
Pacheco
Remeggio
Cam Jones

PS what a ****ing draft class that was.

Kelce will retire, or be retired. I imagine McDuffie and Karlaftis get done this offseason.

You can probably extend Watson easy. Chenal shouldn't be too pricey either.

The rest you can either bring back cheap or let them walk, reasonably.

The biggest, toughest call has to be Pacheco. He's a dude who's going to want a bigger payday than the one we can offer. But he's a fantastic fit, play-style and culturally, in KC. That's going to be a difficult decision.

Edit: I think there's a real chance Thuney gets extended this offseason. If he doesn't, then he's probably gone in 2026.

[RunKC]

Agree with almost everything Verderame said today.

-Offer Bolton the Patrick Queen contract (3/$41 million). With inflation that’s $14 million. Fine with that bc the structure could work out to below $14 million for duration of the contract.

-He thinks you unload for Trey Smith, extend Thuney and cut Taylor after next season which would save $13 million in 2026, the. He’s off the books in 2027. Thuney would be a short 3 year (add 2 years) while Trey is a 5 year deal to spread the cap hits so you don’t have these guys hitting at the same time.

-Play Kingsley at G and Wanya at RT in Denver to get a long look at both. Thinks Kingsley is a G and not a tackle. If Trey leaves he should be the first one up to play RG.

-Draft a Tackle rd 1

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Agree with almost everything Verderame said today.

-Offer Bolton the Patrick Queen contract (3/$41 million). With inflation that’s $14 million. Fine with that bc the structure could work out to below $14 million for duration of the contract.

-He thinks you unload for Trey Smith, extend Thuney and cut Taylor after next season which would save $13 million in 2026, the. He’s off the books in 2027. Thuney would be a short 3 year (add 2 years) while Trey is a 5 year deal to spread the cap hits so you don’t have these guys hitting at the same time.

-Play Kingsley at G and Wanya at RT in Denver to get a long look at both. Thinks Kingsley is a G and not a tackle. If Trey leaves he should be the first one up to play RG.

-Draft a Tackle rd 1

I'm pretty sure I disagree with just about everything he said then.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by kccrow

I'm pretty sure I disagree with just about everything he said then.

Same here.

He's got Kingsley and Wanya backwards, for one.

[O.city]

Does unload for Trey Smith mean sign him or let him walk?

[smithandrew051]

Originally Posted by O.city

Does unload for Trey Smith mean sign him or let him walk?

Based on the rest of that sentence and references to cap hits, I think that means to sign him.

Which, I think is an awful idea.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

Based on the rest of that sentence and references to cap hits, I think that means to sign him.

Which, I think is an awful idea.

Exactly.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Same here.

He's got Kingsley and Wanya backwards, for one.

Yep. I agree on Kingsley and Wanya.

Then my thoughts are...

Bolton is a 10m per max LB. 4m doesn't seem like much but that's another quality veteran next to him, honestly. He is a liability in the pass game. I wouldn't pay him that contract.

Extending Thuney into his age 34 and 35 seasons is probably the idea I struggle most with. I don't think it is a great idea to extend a lineman into those years. Maybe 1 year. I'd let him play out next season and, if he wants to play another year beyond that and you don't see his body breaking down, sign him back on a 1-year deal. The same goes for the following year. At some point, he'll start breaking down or edging towards retirement. The question is, what purpose does extending him serve? I doubt we'll keep kicking his money down the road. If you do extend him, then I'd set up his age 35 season with a team option.

I definitely don't feel like we should sign Trey Smith to a top-of-market OG contract. We're going to need that money elsewhere for much more crucial pieces in the future. McDuffie and Karlaftis are pillar positions that you do pay and you might want to jump on a defensive end opposite Karlaftis in FA or via trade. When you have to do these, Smith's money will be in full force. Let him walk, gain the comp pick (in all likelihood), and replace your offensive guards. Where we miss a lot, in the 3rd round, is the ideal place to be picking up those next tier of OTs that need to convert to OG in a zone system like ours and will be stars. Do it.

I am on board with the plan to let Taylor go after next season. Drafting a tackle in round 1 might be a good idea because of this. You plan for your Rd 1 to play one spot and Kingsley to play the other. That being said, you probably better plan to move up a ways, at least to around 20.