After 6-11 season, did Chiefs do enough in free agency?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – This offseason was supposed to be different for the Kansas City Chiefs, especially during free agency.

When the window to negotiate and sign free agent deals opened last week, the Chiefs, coming off a lackluster 6-11 season, made several moves. They restructured quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ contract and traded All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to create plenty of salary cap space to acquire new players. The biggest move was when coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach persuaded running back Kenneth Walker III, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, to join the Chiefs, signing a three-year, $43.05 million contract.

After Walker, the Chiefs added three more veterans to bolster their defense: defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, safety Alohi Gilman and cornerback Kader Kohou. Instead of taking one big step after another, the team opted to improve its defense through shrewd acquisitions. The trio of Tonga, Gilman and Kohou will have a combined salary cap hit of less than $10 million in 2026 — a lower amount than McDuffie ($10.8 million), who the Chiefs dealt to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for four draft picks.

The Chiefs are optimistic the trio of defenders can provide versatility, stability and ease the burden on other top teammates. And overall, the Chiefs hope their 2026 free agent class can have a bigger impact than last year’s disappointing acquisitions — a roster that included left tackle Jaylon Moore, cornerback Kristian Fulton, running back Elijah Mitchell, defensive tackle Jerry Tillery and backup quarterback Gardner Minshew.

“We know we have to execute an effective game plan in free agency,” Veach said last month.

That approach worked in 2023, when Reid and Veach gave longtime defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo three valuable defenders: defensive end Charles Omenihu, safety Mike Edwards and linebacker Drue Tranquill. These three players did well, especially in the playoffs (Omenihu recorded a strip-sack that led to a turnover, Edwards had an interception and Tranquil had a touchdown to save Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson) to help the Chiefs win their second straight Super Bowl.

Last week, Gilman shared that Tranquill, his former teammate at Notre Dame and with the Los Angeles Chargers, convinced him to reunite with Kansas City.

“I’ve been in a lot of different systems and watched Coach Spags from afar,” said Gilman, who signed a three-year, $24 million contract. “I’ve been trying to figure out for myself what he does for a while now, but I feel comfortable playing both. [safety] positions. I feel like I can do anything on the field, so I’m excited to be a part of it and help this team win.”

Throughout his time in Kansas City, Spagnuolo has made the most experienced safety one of the most important players in his complex scheme – a system known for disguised coverages and exotic, unconventional blitzes. The Chiefs under Spagnuolo won the Super Bowl with safeties such as Tyrann Mathieu, Justin Reid and Bryan Cook, who have all been vocal leaders while playing multiple positions within the secondary. Gilman understands he is the next player to accept such responsibilities.

“I’m looking forward to learning and getting better,” Gilman, 28, said. “I’ve evolved over the years. It’s just the mental part of coming in and finding every way to gain inches and feet and yards in this game. That’s what safety is, seeing the whole field and playing that chess match against the best quarterbacks in the league.”

A glaring weakness on the unit last season was at defensive tackle. The Chiefs lacked depth alongside All-Pro Chris Jones, leading them to trade for Derrick Nnadi and re-sign Mike Pennel. Omarr Norman-Lott, last year’s second-round pick, suffered a torn ACL in his right knee last October.

After excelling with the New England Patriots last season, Tonga, 29, should provide better strength in the trenches alongside Jones. In 14 games, Tonga had a career year with the Patriots, recording 24 tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits and two pass deflections.

“I’m excited to be able to come play alongside Chris,” said Tonga, who signed a three-year, $21 million contract last week. “I just met him for the first time in the weight room, and he looks pretty crazy from last season. I’m excited and can’t wait to get out there and be able to help him.”

The Chiefs are hoping the addition of Kohou could be one of the most underrated offseason decisions in the league. Kohou, 27, missed all of last season with a significant knee injury in December 2024. A three-year veteran, Kohou played in 15 games in 2024, generating two interceptions, eight assists, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He also played 453 snaps at the nickel position, making him a possible replacement at that position following the McDuffie trade.

Moving forward in free agency, the Chiefs are a possible destination for pass rusher Cameron Jordan, according to a league source. The 15-year veteran spent last season with the New Orleans Saints, recording 10.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Jones revealed he floated the idea of ​​Jordan, who is a free agent, joining the Chiefs by posting his name on his X account last week. If Jordan joined the Chiefs, he would give them a big upgrade playing on the opposite side of defensive end George Karlaftis.

The Chiefs entered Thursday with about $10 million in salary cap space. In order to sign Jordan, the Chiefs could create more cap space by restructuring the contracts of Jones and center Creed Humphrey.

Outside of free agency, the Chiefs have 10 picks in next month’s draft. Two positions the Chiefs should target are defensive end and cornerback. The Chiefs, holding the ninth overall pick, could strengthen their pass rush and add another cornerback at No. 29 — the first pick they received from the Rams.

That’s exactly what the Chiefs did with Karlaftis and McDuffie in 2022, which was the last time in the last 15 years that they had two first-round picks.

“We have to get these picks right,” Veach said at the combine. “It will be important for us to continue this run.”