Most of the remaining players on the market that the team might have some level of interest in are vets who aren’t in a rush to sign deals. They’re holding out for the best deal and the best opportunity to make a Super Bowl run. That waiting game also might be beneficial to Kansas City. If they sign a player after May 1, they will not risk losing a 2027 compensatory pick. Right now, the Chiefs are projected to receive a fourth-round pick for the loss of Jaylen Watson.
It also gives K.C. a chance to reassess its needs after the 2026 NFL Draft. It’s entirely possible that they already have a handshake agreement with a veteran player to sign them following the draft. It’s also possible that the draft turns out in a way that they don’t feel the need to go out and sign a veteran edge rusher. The bottom line is that they’ve still got impactful options available, and they don’t currently have any reason to rush to get a deal done.
But the Walker signing was clarifying in multiple ways, including that the Chiefs by committing to him now virtually must prioritize corresponding moves to revive the receiver room and add edge rusher(s).
They also seemingly need to contour the offense to best take advantage of Walker as an asset that could not just offset pressure on Mahomes but enable him, and the offense overall, to thrive:
Remember what it was like in 2018, Mahomes’ first season as QB1 with a young Kareem Hunt electrifying the backfield for the first 11 games? The Chiefs led the NFL in scoring and total offense as Mahomes earned MVP honors.
Then there was 2022, when then-rookie Pacheco tied for eighth among NFL running backs with 4.9 yards a carry.
With opponents forced to respect the run game and the offense less predictable for it, shazam, the Chiefs again led the league in points and yards; Mahomes earned his second MVP award.
Jets trade grade: A-
This trade can’t be considered an “A” grade because the Jets were forced to eat most of Fields salary. But still, it’s spectacular that the Jets were able to get a deal done in the first place.
Landing a sixth-round pick in exchange for one of the worst qualified quarterbacks in the league, who everybody knows is a prime cut candidate, is a steal for the Jets. In fact, they saved more money on the deal than they would have by releasing him, as the Jets will only eat $7 million of his deal compared to having to cough up $10 million if they cut him.
Kansas City Chiefs: B
Key additions: RB Kenneth Walker III (read more), DL Khyiris Tonga, S Alohi Gilman, CB Kader Kohou, QB Justin Fields
Key re-signings: TE Travis Kelce (read more), WR Tyquan Thornton, LS James Winchester
Key departures: CB Trent McDuffie (via trade), CB Jaylen Watson, S Bryan Cook, RB Isiah Pacheco, LB Leo Chenal, EDGE Charles Omenihu, CB Joshua Williams, DL Derrick Nnadi
The Chiefs’ additions are exactly where their needs were entering the offseason. Walker is a massive upgrade from the duo of Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco that was the least explosive running back tandem for two years running. Walker had more 25-yard runs on one drive in Super Bowl LX, two, than the Chiefs’ running back room did in all of 2025, just one. Tonga is a strong gap filler in the run game and Gilman was a nice pickup for what’s become a ravaged secondary this offseason. Kansas City also netted high-end value — a 2026 first-round pick, 2026 fifth-round pick, a 2026 sixth-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick — for McDuffie. The last time the Chiefs got a return like that, when they traded away wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, it helped restock the roster for two more Super Bowl titles. They also added Fields as backup insurance for Patrick Mahomes.
The defense will be full of fresh faces with McDuffie, Watson, Williams, Cook and Chenal in other places. However, if they hit their two first-round picks out of the park in the coming draft, the Chiefs would return to true contention status in a hurry.
Kirk spent 2025 with the Houston Texans after a three-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars and his first four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. The deal is for up to $6 million, sources told NFL reporter Jordan Schultz, who first reported the agreement.
For the Niners, Kirk’s addition is the latest to a receiver room that is undergoing significant renovation. They signed Mike Evans to a three-year, $42.5 million deal in the opening hours of free agency last week.
The additions of Evans and Kirk offer the Niners proven production at the position with Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk, Kendrick Bourne and Skyy Moore either already landing elsewhere or expected to in the coming weeks or months.
Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you’ve done for me. I’ve been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5yrs old for an amazing 13yrs at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything. This game put me in a position to help take care of my family and loved ones and I’m forever grateful. It’s hard to say goodbye, but God has a new chapter for me and I’m ready to turn the page and start my new journey. To all my BigPlay fans, I will always appreciate the love and support y’all have given to me. I couldn’t have done it without you. Just A kid from Brunswick, GA with BIG dreams…✊🏽
BigPlay on and off the field! We Out✌🏾
“Good luck with that clown show over there,” Wilkinson responded, according to Atlanta reporter Miles Garrett.
Wilkerson spent three of the past four years with the Falcons, with a one-year stopover in Arizona in 2023. Last season, he started 17 games after Kaleb McGary suffered a preseason knee injury. The veteran didn’t appreciate fan comments after he returned to the Cardinals in free agency.
“Lol, y’all in hell (right now),” Wilkinson said in another comment. “Have fun being a– next year.”
As fans are wont to do, they didn’t relent, continuing to badger the offensive tackle, pointing out his numerous penalties, including nine false starts. At one point in a conversation, Wilkinson turned some of the blame for the Falcons’ struggles on his former teammates.
“Hahaha yeah alright, and all the passes (Darnell) Mooney dropped and (Kyle) Pitts f— off my line,” Wilkinson wrote. “Have fun rooting to lose the NFC South. 28-3. 28-3… Haahahahahhahha laughing stock.”
The insider later reported that Kansas City will be sending New York a sixth-round selection in the 2027 NFL draft as compensation for Fields.
The Chicago Bears took Fields out of Ohio State with the 11th overall selection of the 2021 NFL Draft. After three seasons with the Bears, Fields played in 2024 with the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining New York last season. For his career, Fields has totaled 9039 passing yards with 52 touchdowns and 32 interceptions in 59 career game appearances.
The dual threat Fields has also added 2892 rushing yards with 23 more touchdowns coming on the ground.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelisssero reported that the Chiefs would be taking on only $3 million of Fields’ guaranteed $10 million salary, with the remainder staying on the Jets’ books.
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