Kansas City Chiefs free agent positional preview: Examining potential options for a backup QB behind Patrick Mahomes
The Kansas City Chiefs are obviously good to go with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, but with backups Carson Wentz and Chris Oladokun set to hit free agency next month, they need some depth behind Mahomes. The NFL's free agent legal tampering period begins on March 10, with signings able to become official on March 12 […]
The Kansas City Chiefs are obviously good to go with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, but with backups Carson Wentz and Chris Oladokun set to hit free agency next month, they need some depth behind Mahomes.
The NFL's free agent legal tampering period begins on March 10, with signings able to become official on March 12 – which marks the start of the new league year. Let's take a look at some potential backup QB options for the Chiefs in 2025.
Jameis Winston
Winston may get an opportunity to compete for a starting job somewhere else, but he may be at the point of his career where he has to take a backup role. While doing some media work with Fox Sports leading up to Super Bowl LIX, Winston told Chiefs coach Andy Reid that he is a big fan of his and he hopes to play for Reid someday.
Winston would definitely be one of the better backup QBs in the league. Like Mahomes, Winston has a big arm and can make every throw imaginable. He proved this past season that he has plenty left in the tank, throwing for 2,121 yards and 13 touchdowns with the Cleveland Browns.
In Week 13 against the Denver Broncos Winston threw for a whopping 497 yards. He has struggled with interceptions throughout his 10-year career, but Reid should be able to help him with that.
Carson Wentz
It's very possible that the Chiefs decide to bring Wentz back. He has experience in their offensive system not just from the past year that he spent with the team, but going back to his days with coach (and former Chiefs offensive coordinator) Doug Pederson and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Wentz started Kansas City's Week 18 game against the Broncos as the Chiefs rested most of their starters with their playoff seeding already locked up. It's hard to evaluate Wentz's performance in that game given that he was playing with backups and the game plan was very vanilla. Wentz completed 10-17 passes for 98 yards on the day.
Zach Wilson
Wilson clearly hasn't been starting material since being drafted by the New York Jets second overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he is still young and very talented. Wilson drew comparisons to Mahomes for his big arm and ability to throw downfield while on the run.
In 34 starts with the Jets Wilson threw for 6,293 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions. He also rushed for 498 yards and five touchdowns. Wilson spent the 2024 season with the Broncos as Bo Nix's backup. Perhaps a QB guru like Reid could take Wilson's game to the next level.
Drew Lock
This would be a homecoming for Lock, who attended Lee's Summit High School in the Kansas City metropolitan area, then played at Missouri University from 2015-2018. Lock was drafted in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Broncos. He played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2023, then the New York Giants in 2024.
In 31 career starts, Lock has thrown for 6,354 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions. He did an admirable job with the Giants this past season in an offense pretty void of talent. Still just 28-years-old, Lock has a nice balance of experience and youth. If the Chiefs get into a situation where Mahomes has to miss some time, Lock should be able to temporarily hold thigs down.
