The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped training camp on Thursday, Aug. 20, and the roster is already taking shape ahead of the 2026 regular season.

From a familiar linebacker returning to the fold to first-round pick Mansoor Delane working through technique adjustments, Kansas City has plenty to sort out before cutdown day arrives at the end of the month. The Chiefs also face difficult decisions about quarterback depth, cap space, and potential trades as assistant GM Mike Bradway confirmed the team is open for business.

Cam Jones returns to bolster banged-up linebacker room

The Chiefs made a classic Brett Veach move on Tuesday, bringing back former Super Bowl champion linebacker Cam Jones. The move makes sense given the injury situation at the position. Jack Cochrane is dealing with a knee injury, Drue Tranquill has a back issue the team is monitoring, and Kansas City doesn’t want Nick Bolton logging too many preseason snaps.

Jones knows Steve Spagnuolo’s system, has played a significant number of snaps for the team, and can jump right in without a lengthy adjustment period. If any of the current injuries persist, the Chiefs have a trusted, familiar option who can slot in without missing a beat.

Mansoor Delane could see first preseason action vs. Bucs

First-round pick Mansoor Delane appears to have moved past the shoulder blade injury that slowed him early in camp. Spagnuolo said Tuesday that the coaching staff is working on cleaning up some practice habits Delane carried over from college.

“Yeah, (CB Mansoor Delane) he’s definitely a competitor,” Spags said. “We saw that on tape when we evaluated him. But like a lot of these young guys, (LB) Nick (Bolton) and I were just over there talking about it, sometimes you’ve got to knock some practice habits out of them. I think Mansoor is learning that. He’s embracing it. I think the vets are pushing him toward that. It’s unfortunate that he’s missed all the time he’s missed, but we’ll try to get him caught up here. I don’t know what will happen with the game. That’ll be on (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid, but I’m anxious to get him out there and see what we’ve got.”

The LSU cornerback is physical by nature. Andy Reid noted that trait early on this offseason after his injury. The problem is that approach gets flagged in the NFL. During one-on-one drills Tuesday, Delane wore mitts to curb his grabbing tendency. Cornerbacks often wear these during 1-on-1 repetitions. He had some competitive reps against wide receiver Cyrus Allen, and the two pushed each other throughout the session, dapping each other up after each rep and encouraging one another to keep improving.

That type of iron-sharpening-iron work is exactly what you want to see at training camp. Both players will be better for it. As for whether Delane will play in the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it sounds like the answer is yes. Spagnuolo deferred to Reid on the decision, but Dave Merritt may have let it slip that Delane will get some action. Expect the Chiefs to be cautious, perhaps limiting him to a series or two. The fact that he’s practiced for a full week is a good sign that the shoulder issue is behind him.

3 quarterbacks likely means tough roster math elsewhere

It sounds like Kansas City will carry three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. That was the expectation all along given that Garrett Nussmeier is unlikely to clear waivers. The question is where the Chiefs trim to make room for that extra roster spot.

The offensive line is one possibility. The Chiefs have carried 10 offensive linemen in the past and could drop to nine this year. The defensive line is another option, particularly if Omarr Norman-Lott starts the season on the reserve PUP list. That would open a spot on the active roster without requiring a cut.

The linebacker injuries complicate the math further. If Cochrane or Tranquill aren’t healthy, Kansas City may need to keep an extra body at the position. Beyond that, the Chiefs still need to decide whether they’re carrying four tight ends, how many running backs make the cut, and how the third quarterback spot shakes out. There are many ways to build the roster, and none are simple.

Chiefs open for business on trades with improved waiver priority

Assistant GM Mike Bradway confirmed the Chiefs are open to adding players as the roster deadline approaches. What makes this year different is Kansas City’s waiver priority. The Chiefs sit 8th on the waiver wire, their highest position in years.

That means the team could realistically claim two or three players when other clubs make their cuts, compared to the one or two they might land at the bottom of the list. Bradway noted the evaluation process doesn’t change, but the team has to prepare for the possibility of landing multiple claims and figuring out who to release to make room.

On the trade front, the Chiefs learned a lesson last year when they were interested in Cleveland Browns DT Jowon Briggs, who ended up being traded to the New York Jets. Kansas City then ran into interior defensive line issues during the season. You have to stay aware and aggressive in those situations.

Cap space maneuvering on the horizon

Assistant GM Chris Shea indicated the Chiefs will likely create additional cap space before the regular season. Kansas City currently sits at roughly $4 million in available space.

The logical targets for restructures are players who will be in Kansas City for the long haul. You don’t want to push money down the road for someone you plan to move on from in a couple of years. Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith fit that description and has money that could be freed up through a simple restructure.

There’s also a potential trade avenue if the Chiefs feel confident in their cornerback depth. If Kansas City likes what it has seen from Melvin Smith Jr., that could make Kristian Fulton expendable. Trading Fulton would free up $5 million in cap space ($8 million in dead money), while potentially netting an asset in return for a player of his caliber.

Tight end Noah Gray is another name to watch. The Chiefs didn’t restructure or extend his deal this offseason, and the tight end room is competitive right now. Financially, a move involving Gray might make sense. He’d earn K.C. around $5.5 million in cap space ($1.5M in dead money). However, the uncertainty at the position beyond this year could make it a tough pill to swallow.

Cutdown day at the end of the month will reveal how all of these moving pieces come together. The Chiefs have tough decisions ahead, but they’re laying the groundwork now.