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Kelce, whose contract expired at the end of last season, would need to agree to a new deal to return to the Chiefs. And the team now knows exactly how much money it can spend moving forward, should Kelce come back.
That’s one factor in why we soon should know Kelce’s plans.
The other is the start of NFL free agency.
NFL teams will begin negotiating with pending free agents on March 9 at 11 a.m. On March 11 at 3 p.m., teams can begin signing free agents. The Chiefs undoubtedly would like to know Kelce’s plans before the free agency mania begins.
Another sign: The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport talked about Kelce and the Chiefs, and it again sounds like a decision is nigh.
“Only going to play for the Kansas City Chiefs, but they want to make sure when there is a decision, he is a thousand percent all in,” Rapoport said from the Combine. “This week we should have some answers from Kansas City. What we know is they for sure, for sure want him back, especially considering how he played last year.”
Chiefs buzz around the No. 9 pick: What I heard at the NFL combine | The Athletic
One other interesting thing Veach revealed Tuesday was that in past drafts, he’d always wished the Chiefs selected just a little bit higher in the first round than they did. He said that thought continues in this draft as well.
“Now we’re at 9. I’m like, ‘Man, if we were just at 4 or 5, we’d be exactly where we want to be,’” Veach said.
Though Veach has a long history of being aggressive in trade-ups, we shouldn’t count out the possibility that he’ll look to move back from No. 9 while seeking more draft assets. Perhaps the most likely way that happens? It probably would involve a scenario if (unexpectedly) no offensive tackles were off the board in the first eight picks.
If that played out, teams could be motivated to swap with K.C. in an effort to land either Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa or Utah’s Spencer Fano. And the Chiefs, given that their offensive line is mostly set, would have an incentive to take advantage of the depth of this year’s draft by trading back.
However the first round turns out, there’ll be a lot of pressure on Veach and his staff to get full value from their rare draft asset.
Arizona Cardinals secure bookend tackle opposite Paris Johnson Jr.
Offer:
Cardinals send 2026 pick No. 182.
Chiefs send Jawaan Taylor.The Cardinals have a crystal clear need at right tackle. Paris Johnson Jr. is a great player at LT, but the spot opposite of him is expected to be an area of focus for Arizona this offseason. That’s why we’ve seen offensive tackles given to them in mock drafts inside the first five picks of the first round for months now.
Acquiring Taylor would create less of a pigeon-holed problem along their offensive depth chart. They wouldn’t be forced to make a move in free agency or spend major draft capital to add a new potential starter at RT. Not to mention, we are expected to see a new quarterback starting for Arizona next year. The Cards will assuredly want to create the best environment possible for whoever that may be to get the most out of him. Making a move for Taylor may be one of their best possible choices this offseason. Wouldn’t surprise me if the Chiefs tackle is on their radar.
Wide Receiver Can’t Be Chiefs’ Cautionary Tale in First Round | Sports Illustrated
Over a longer stretch, since the Chiefs traded up to take Mahomes in 2017, NFL teams have taken 13 wide receivers in the top 10 of the draft. Only two – Ja’Marr Chase (five) and Malik Nabers (one) – have even earned a Pro Bowl. Chase’s two All-Pro selections also are the only such honors among those 13 wide receivers.
If the Chiefs are seriously considering Lemon, Tate or Tyson at No. 9, they need to ask themselves whether any of those three will become as good as Chase. The obvious answer is no.
And that’s why Kansas City needs to avoid taking a wide receiver with its first pick. If the Chiefs still aren’t convinced, they can consider other cautionary tales such as the inconsistent careers of Jaylen Waddle (No. 6 to Miami in 2021), Drake London (No. 8 to Atlanta in 2022) and Marvin Harrison (No. 4 to Arizona in 2024).
Garrett Wilson (No. 10 to the Jets in 2022), DeVonta Smith (No. 10 to the Eagles in 2021) and Rome Odunze (No. 9 to the Bears in 2024) have also had inconsistent careers.
Chiefs’ draft plan revealed with 1 distinct flavor | The Sporting News
The Athletic’s Jesse Newell reports that the Chiefs could look to bolster their defense in the upcoming draft.
“The Chiefs are likely to target interior defensive line early in the draft,” Newell wrote. “Kansas City general manager Brett Veach made clear during his NFL combine podium time that the Chiefs need to get out of their cycle of stopgapping the rotation next to All-Pro Chris Jones with low-ceiling veterans.
“The high-upside defensive tackles come through the draft, so it’d be a surprise to me if the Chiefs don’t use a Day 1 or 2 pick on that specific spot.”
Around the NFL
Sources: Texans acquire RB David Montgomery in trade with Lions | ESPN
The Texans are acquiring running back David Montgomery in a trade with the Detroit Lions for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and two draft picks, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
The Lions will receive a 2026 fourth-round draft pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick, the sources said.
Montgomery had 2,506 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in three seasons with the Lions. He signed with the Lions in 2023 after four seasons with the Chicago Bears, who selected him in the third round of the 2019 draft.
Houston entered the offseason looking to bolster its running game after a lackluster 2025 year led by fourth-round rookie Woody Marks and Nick Chubb, who is a pending free agent. The Texans ranked 22nd in rushing yards per game (108). Marks led the club with 703 yards on the ground.
Report: Khalil Mack will not retire, plans to explore all options in free agency | Pro Football Talk
Via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Khalil Mack has no plans to retire and will explore all options in free agency.
Mack, 35, stayed with the Chargers on a one-year deal last year and played 12 games for the franchise in 2025, missing several weeks due to a dislocated elbow. He finished the season with 5.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and 11 quarterback hits. He also forced four fumbles.
Rapoport also notes that keeping Mack is a priority for the Chargers.
Commanders releasing CB Marshon Lattimore after just 11 games with team | NFL.com
Lattimore, who turns 30 in May, was far less sticky in coverage than he’d been in his prime in the Bayou. His 2025 51.2 coverage grade and 52.1 overall defensive grade from PFF ranked 99th and 96th among CBs, respectively, and represented the lowest marks of his nine-year career.
After finishing 28th against the pass in 2025, the Commanders appear to be headed for a reset at corner. Mike Sainristil, the team’s interception leader last season, remains, but four cornerbacks from the roster are slated to hit free agency.
Now free to find a third NFL home, Lattimore figures to have a market in the later waves of signings. He’s still rehabbing from his knee injury and has lost a step, but possesses important veteran know-how as a four-time Pro Bowler.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs will release Jawaan Taylor, plan on Jaylon Moore at RT
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Chiefs have intentions of releasing starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor before the start of the league year, an action that will garner Kansas City $20 million in cap savings this offseason.
According to Arrowhead Pride staff writer Jared Sapp, the team’s projected cap room should be roughly $10.6 million — based on Spotrac’s numbers — if the team were to officially cut Taylor.
It’s the second cut general manager Brett Veach has made this offseason, following the release of defensive end Mike Danna last week. Veach has likely been active in seeking a trade to get Taylor’s contract off the books, something like the deal the Houston Texans made to send starting offensive tackle Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round pick this morning.
When the move becomes finalized, the Chiefs will be moving forward with Jaylon Moore, Esa Pole, Wanya Morris, Chu Godrick and Ethan Driskell as the in-house tackles outside of left tackle Josh Simmons.
According to Nate Taylor of ESPN, Moore is “expected to be the starting right tackle for the upcoming season.”
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