The Kansas City Chiefs are facing a critical offseason marked by challenging roster decisions as they start approximately $55 million over the salary cap. To address this, the team must carefully decide which players to retain or release in free agency to regain necessary salary cap flexibility. On Wednesday morning, quarterback Patrick Mahomes helped alleviate some pressure by restructuring his contract, freeing up $43.56 million in cap space.
Despite these efforts, the Chiefs still face significant turnover, as they prepare to replace at least six starters this offseason. Tight end Travis Kelce remains a notable exception amid retirement speculation, with indications pointing toward his return on a more cap-friendly contract.
Right Tackle Jawaan Taylor Could Be Released to Save Cap Space
One of the largest potential cap savings comes from the possible release of right tackle Jawaan Taylor, which would free up $19.5 million. Given the Chiefs’ severe cap situation, this cost-saving move is hard to overlook.
Though Taylor is not an ineffective player—providing serviceable protection after the snap and adequate pass blocking—his overall play quality borders between acceptable and merely adequate. The bigger concern is his chronic penalty issues; Taylor has led Kansas City in penalties for every season since joining. This detrimental tendency, combined with his middling performance, signals the need for the Chiefs to seek a new right tackle, most likely via the draft, to reduce both penalty risks and salary costs.
Running Back Isiah Pacheco’s Declining Performance Makes Re-signing Uncertain
Isiah Pacheco, slated to become a free agent, represents a performance-based departure possibility. While re-signing him would be relatively inexpensive, his recent seasons indicate his effectiveness has considerably waned.
Pacheco’s physical running style excited fans early in his Chiefs tenure, but his abilities notably diminished in 2024 and 2025. He lacks the breakaway speed expected of a lead back, and even his ability to break tackles has plummeted—from 14 broken tackles in 2023 to only two in 2025.
This downward trend suggests the team should move on in favor of finding a more dynamic running back option.
Wide Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster Expected to Depart Amid Wide Receiver Overhaul
The Chiefs are clearly overhauling their wide receiver group, beginning with the likely departure of free agent JuJu Smith-Schuster. Once considered among the NFL’s most promising young players, Smith-Schuster has declined into a role player lacking significant impact.
For the third consecutive season in 2025, he failed to surpass 500 receiving yards, marking him as more of a depth option than a key contributor. Given the numerous unresolved questions in the Chiefs’ receiver corps, dedicating a roster spot to a depth player like Smith-Schuster during the offseason does not make strategic sense.
Although it’s possible Smith-Schuster may return during the 2026 season if teams release him, the Chiefs are unlikely to actively pursue re-signing him this offseason.
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown’s Role in Question After Limited Impact
Marquise Brown was acquired before the 2024 season to strengthen Kansas City’s deep threat capabilities, but injuries limited him to only two games that year. In 2025, he scored five touchdowns but failed to consistently influence games.
Compounding the issue, younger receiver Xavier Worthy has demonstrated the ability to fulfill the role Brown was brought in for, making Brown’s presence less justifiable from a financial standpoint.
Worthy’s average depth of target (aDOT) is 12.1 yards with a 1.4% drop rate compared to Brown’s 11.3 yards and 4.1% drop rate, illustrating Worthy’s efficiency advantage. This overlap removes the incentive to re-sign Brown, pushing the Chiefs to pursue greater receiver diversity in free agency.
Linebacker Drue Tranquill’s Departure Could Provide Needed Cap Relief
Unlike the easier cut candidates at other positions, moving on from linebacker Drue Tranquill is a tougher decision, though it would save the Chiefs $5.8 million in cap space. Tranquill, approaching 31 years old in August, remains a valuable run defender and contributor but recorded only seven quarterback pressures during the 2025 season.
While Tranquill’s pressure production is limited, he still contributes, but his inability to generate consistent defensive disruption restricts Kansas City’s defensive flexibility.
The team could feasibly replace Tranquill with younger players like Jeffrey Bassa, a 2025 fifth-round pick who, although primarily a special teams player as a rookie, has the potential to contribute defensively in a rotational linebacker role. Given the urgent cap situation, moving on from Tranquill appears to be a necessary step.
Defensive End Mike Danna Likely to Be Cut Due to Cap Constraints and Declining Production
Mike Danna also faces being released, potentially freeing $8.8 million in cap space for Kansas City. His 2025 season was disappointing, recording just one sack and ranking 94th among edge rushers by PFF. Danna logged only four quarterback hits, the fewest of his six seasons with the Chiefs, while playing on less than half of the defensive snaps.
Though Danna has been a useful depth player, his inability to consistently pressure the quarterback renders him a liability in pass defense. The Chiefs’ current cap limitations make retaining a player who has become mostly one-dimensional financially untenable at his current contract.
While a cheap training camp deal might entice the Chiefs to reconsider, Danna’s present cap hit is too burdensome amid a pressing need for roster and cap restructuring.
With these six key starters on the chopping block or in question, the Kansas City Chiefs’ offseason will be defined by major roster changes as they attempt to balance competitiveness with a drastically reduced salary cap.
