3 former Kansas City Chiefs players who weren’t Pro Bowlers that would be perfect fits on the 2026 roster
The Kansas City Chiefs have a great history of players, but three former non-Pro Bowlers would fit perfectly on this roster.
The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for 2026 with a drastically improved roster after finishing among the worst teams in football last season.
Training camp is right around the corner, and the dead period before it opens presents an opportunity for a fun roster-building exercise. Which former Chiefs players, specifically those who were never Pro Bowlers during their time in Kansas City, would fit perfectly on this year’s team?
The obvious answers are always the legends. Derrick Thomas, Tyreek Hill, Tony Gonzalez. But that’s too easy. Instead, here are three former Chiefs who weren’t superstars but would fill real needs on the 2026 roster.
Carlos Dunlap, defensive end (2022)
The big one here is the veteran edge rusher spot. Kansas City needs an experienced pass rusher who can step in if one of their young guys goes down. Dunlap, who played his final NFL season with the Chiefs in 2022, would be that player.
Some might point out that Dunlap was a two-time Pro Bowler, and that’s true. But those selections came in 2015 and 2016 with the Cincinnati Bengals. By the time the Chiefs got him, he was at the tail end of his career and gave them whatever he had left. He played in all 17 games that season, started two, and finished with four sacks, eight pass deflections, one forced fumble, and 39 total tackles.
That production profile is exactly what Kansas City needs from a depth piece. Many fans wanted the Chiefs to pursue Cameron Jordan this offseason, but that didn’t happen. A Dunlap-type presence in the edge-rusher room would provide the insurance and experience the current group lacks.
Henry Marshall, wide receiver (1976-1987)
This one is out of left field, but older Chiefs fans will appreciate it. Marshall, the 6’2 receiver, spent his entire career in Kansas City and finished with 6,545 receiving yards, 33 touchdowns, and 15.7 yards per reception. He never had a 1,000-yard season, which is likely why he never made a Pro Bowl, but his 1984 campaign saw him post 900 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He finished his career with 416 catches on 727 targets.
The Chiefs need a big-body receiver right now. Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy are the top two options in the passing game, but neither is a true high-point, boundary receiver with a large catch radius. Marshall was exactly that. Kansas City doesn’t need a superstar at the position. They need a reliable target on the sideline who can go up and get the ball. Marshall, a Missouri college alum, would be a perfect fit in this offense.
Eric Warfield, defensive back (1998-2005)
Warfield played his entire NFL career with the Chiefs, appearing in 115 games and starting 77. He finished with 20 interceptions, 78 pass deflections, and 385 total tackles while playing cornerback, nickel, and various defensive back alignments. The Vicksburg, Mississippi, native was a versatile, ball-hawking defender.
That’s precisely what Kansas City needs heading into 2026. The secondary is young and remains one of the biggest question marks for this team. A player with Warfield’s ability to create turnovers and get the ball back to the offense would be a significant addition. The Chiefs need someone in that secondary who can make plays, and Warfield’s career numbers suggest he did that consistently for nearly a decade.
These three players never made the kind of headlines that the franchise’s all-time greats did. None of them were superstars. But they were productive, reliable football players who filled specific roles, and each one addresses a real gap on the 2026 Chiefs roster. It’s the kind of exercise that reminds you how many good players have come through Kansas City over the years without getting the recognition they deserved.