The Kansas City Chiefs were fairly active in the first wave of 2026 NFL free agency, even if the deals can’t become official until Wednesday.

They retained future Hall of Fame TE Travis Kelce, just as the legal tampering period officially started. Once the bell rang and the madness began, they had a monster three-year deal awaiting Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III. They later added New England Patriots DT Khyiris Tonga and Baltimore Ravens S Alohi Gilman on three-year deals. They also re-signed WR Tyquan Thornton after a career year.

While the structure of those three deals remains to be seen, the Chiefs have plenty of cards left to play to create salary cap space, and they’ve got plenty of needs to fill as well. Kansas City still has several free agents on the market, some of whom could even return should they not get as much interest as they thought they might.

They could also check out who remains on the market and find more new additions to agree to terms with at said positions of need. Here’s a look at a few of the best remaining need-based fits who could improve the roster’s depth in 2026.

**Editor’s note: If some team signs one of these guys at the crack of dawn on Tuesday, March 10, forgive me.

Colts RT Braden Smith

Smith has been the starting right tackle for the Colts since his rookie season in 2018. He’s not the best athlete or the best measured, but he’s a technician in the same sense that former Chiefs RT Mitchell Schwartz was. He’s started 105 regular-season games, and he’s coming off a season where he allowed 26 pressures and a single sack in 13 regular-season games started. If there is interest in adding a piece at the right tackle position, Kansas City could do plenty worse than the 30-year-old, who also happens to be an Olathe, Kansas native.

Other options: Packers LT Rasheed Walker, Chargers RT Trey Pipkins

Ravens CB Chidobe Awuzie

One of the top remaining cornerback options, Awuzie was targeted 54 times in 2025 and allowed just 29 receptions on the year per PFF. He also had seven passes broken up, was called for a single penalty, and allowed only two touchdowns on the year. He probably won’t solve the team’s slot corner need, but he played 43 snaps in the slot in 2025, which was the second most in a single season in his career. Perhaps that’s a sign that he could play there more in 2026? At worst, he’s competitive boundary corner depth for Kristian Fulton and Nohl Williams.

Other options: Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt, Rams CB Roger McReary, Dolphins CB Kader Kohou

Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson

I tend to believe the Chiefs won’t go here, but there’s little denying that he’s the best edge rusher left on the market. The 31-year-old only played seven games last season due to a core muscle injury that required surgery, which is probably why he’s still available. That said, he has 74.5 sacks since the 2020 NFL season, and he’d probably be extremely motivated going against his former team on the road in 2026.

Other options: Saints DE Cam Jordan, Dolphins DE Bradley Chubb, Patriots DE K’Lavon Chaisson

Eagles QB Sam Howell

The backup quarterback market is not particularly rife with talent, and Howell might not be the “best” of them, but he makes a lot of sense for Kansas City. He spent a season with Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy in Washington in 2023, starting all 17 games, completing 63% of his passes for 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns, but also a league-leading 21 interceptions. He spent 2024 with the Seattle Seahawks and 2025 with the Philadelphia Eagles, but hasn’t played much over the past two seasons, appearing in just two games. He’ll be just 26 years old during the 2026 NFL season, with room to grow if he can take care of the football. Put him in a competition with Chris Oladokun and Jake Haener, and let the best man win.

Other options: Chargers QB Trey Lance, Steelers QB Skylar Thompson

Kansas City Chiefs News

New Kansas City Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III reaches perfect jersey number decision that will continue a long tradition

The newest member of the Chiefs appears to be keeping his jersey number and nickname that have followed him around since high school.

Charles Goldman