Kansas City Chiefs still have glaring holes as they await next month's draft.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Every team has holes after Week 1 of free agency. Thanks to the Chiefs, even the Super Bowl champion Seahawks have a monstrous void in their offensive backfield. And while the Chiefs are set with Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker at running back, they’re still looking at concerning holes in the wide-receiver room and their defensive secondary.
Now, they need to weigh the risks of whether desired players will fall to them in the draft, whether they need to revisit available free agents, or both. Oct 22, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images. “They know that they can reset their entire team coming off a down year. They weren't huge players in free agency because they wanted to acquire more picks. “With the Trent McDuffie trade, they’ve got two first-round picks. They could package those to even move back. It's not considered an overly deep draft at the top. They're going to try to rebuild that defense, especially the secondary. They've lost a lot of pieces on that back end, so expect them to get some cornerback help. They know they're good at drafting corners. They also need some help on that defensive line to help Chris Jones.” Nov 2, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton warms up before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images Secondary and defensive line are the obvious needs, but wide receiver was Kansas City’s most important area needing improvement entering the offseason. And so far, the only move the Chiefs have made to address that void is re-signing Tyquan Thornton. Here are three available free agents a week into the league year, plug-and-play veterans who could start for Kansas City this week. Sep 5, 2025; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half during a NFL game at Corinthians Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amanda Perobelli/Reuters via Imagn Images | Amanda Perobelli/Reuters via Imagn ImagesTwelve catches, 104 yards and a touchdown. That was the damage the veteran wideout inflicted on the Chiefs alone in two games last year – both. Adding Allen would at minimum take away his ability to move chains on the Chiefs again this year. But his upside is providing a savvy target for Mahomes, especially in the red zone. Mike Evans would’ve made a great addition to Kansas City, which is parched for veteran leadership at the wide-receiver position without free agent JuJu Smith-Schuster. Allen, who turns 34 next month, is a close second. Selected 13 picks after Travis Kelce in the third round of the 2013 draft, Allen and Kelce could be the complementary combination the Chiefs need to erase the tight margins that didn’t go their way in close games last year. Dec 7, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Miami Dolphins cornerback Rasul Douglas intercepts the ball against New York Jets wide receiver John Metchie III during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images | Ed Mulholland-Imagn ImagesKristian Fulton didn’t appear to escape Steve Spagnuolo’s doghouse until late in the season. So, Fulton, Allen’s former teammate in Los Angeles, could certainly use competition for the Chiefs’ starting cornerback role. Douglas has 21 career interceptions – three of which he’s returned for touchdowns. He’s seen everything in the league, including 11 playoff games. He’s played for four teams, including the Eagles, who drafted him in 2017 and won the Super Bowl that year. Douglas on a one-year deal could really help the Chiefs’ secondary. Nov 2, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes looks for an open receiver while under pressure from Buffalo Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa in the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images | Mark Konezny-Imagn ImagesDouglas’ former teammate in Buffalo, Epenesa is a 27-year old tactician on the defensive line. He’d fit well into Spagnuolo’s rotation, whether on early downs or passing situations. He has 24 career sacks in 91 NFL games since entering the league in 2020. And, as the Chiefs know, he has plenty of postseason experience and would fit well into their culture. He’d also fill an underrated void after Kansas CitySince his freshman year at the University of Colorado, Zak Gilbert has worked 30 years in sports, including 18 NFL seasons. He's spent time with four NFL teams, serving as head of communications for both the Raiders and Browns. A veteran of nine Super Bowls, he most recently worked six seasons in the NFL's New York league office. He now serves as the Kansas City Chiefs Beat Writer On SISuper Bowl 60 Odds: Seahawks, Rams, Broncos Top Odds; Dark Horse to Bet?
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