Chiefs' 90-man offseason roster has crystal clear needs after Brett Veach's latest roster moves in 2025 NFL free agency

The Kansas City Chiefs' 90-man offseason roster is coming together after the earliest waves of the 2025 NFL free agency period. They've gained some players and lost others at key positions, but that's just the name of the game. Overall, they've gone from having 50 players on the offseason roster to having 64 players under contract for the 2025 […]

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor
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Oct 7, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs players are introduced on field under red lights prior to a game against the New Orleans Saints at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
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The Kansas City Chiefs' 90-man offseason roster is coming together after the earliest waves of the 2025 NFL free agency period. 

They've gained some players and lost others at key positions, but that's just the name of the game. Overall, they've gone from having 50 players on the offseason roster to having 64 players under contract for the 2025 NFL offseason. 

Brett Veach and his team have at least 26 more new faces to add throughout the roster before OTAs arrive. Which positions still need a little bit of love for Kansas City? Let's dive in. . .

Quarterbacks: 2

  1. Patrick Mahomes
  2. Chris Oladokun

Outlook: Last season, the Chiefs carried four quarterbacks on the 90-man roster. Depending on their route this year, they could add one or two more players. Carson Wentz is still available in free agency (as of 1:00 p.m. CT on 3/13), but he could be coveted by a team looking for a veteran mentor for a young quarterback. Kansas City could turn to the draft for the backup quarterback position for the first time in Mahomes' tenure. No matter what, they'll bring in some measure of competition for Oladokun at the backup spot. 

Running backs: 4

  1. Isiah Pacheco
  2. Elijah Mitchell
  3. Keaontay Ingram
  4. Carson Steele (FB) 

Outlook: This position group still needs some work. Their top free agent addition, Mitchell, has to prove he can stay healthy. They could add another free agent and even multiple players through the 2025 NFL draft. Kansas City carried nine running backs (including a fullback in Steele) on the 90-man offseason roster last year. 

Tight ends: 6

  1. Travis Kelce 
  2. Noah Gray
  3. Jared Wiley
  4. Baylor Cupp
  5. Anthony Firkser
  6. Robert Tonyan

Outlook: This position group could be close to set. They carried just six tight ends on the 90-man offseason roster in 2024. I could see a draft addition, knowing that 2025 could be the last ride for No. 87. If the Chiefs luck into a best-player-available Colston Loveland, Tyler Warren, Mason Taylor, Elijah Arroyo, or Terrance Ferguson pick, it probably wouldn't be the worst thing. 

Wide receivers: 8

  1. Hollywood Brown
  2. Rashee Rice
  3. Xavier Worthy
  4. Nikko Remigio
  5. Skyy Moore
  6. Justyn Ross
  7. Tyquan Thornton
  8. Jason Brownlee

Outlook: Even with Hollywood Brown's return, this position group could use another veteran in the room. There are quite a few 

Offensive line: 12

  1. Jaylon Moore
  2. Kingsley Suamataia
  3. Creed Humphrey
  4. Trey Smith
  5. Jawaan Taylor
  6. Mike Caliendo
  7. Wanya Morris
  8. Hunter Nourzad
  9. Ethan Driskell
  10. C.J. Hanson
  11. McKade Mettauer
  12. Chu Godrick

Outlook: Kansas City carried 14 offensive linemen last offseason on the 90-man roster. I don't think the Chiefs are done at the left tackle position, even after the Jaylon Moore move. They need to hedge their bets with a developmental option, at the very least. The same could be said for the left guard spot, despite all the internal competition they may have at that spot already. 

Defensive tackle: 3

  1. Chris Jones
  2. Fabien Lovett
  3. Siaki Ika

Outlook: This position group is easily the most glaring roster need for Kansas City. Jones is the only player with substantial time in the system. They typically carry four defensive tackles on the 90-man offseason roster and 4-5 on the 53-man roster during the regular season. They could still re-sign Derrick Nnadi, Mike Pennel, and Marlon Tuipulotu. I could also see multiple top-100 picks spent on the position and as many as three draft choices spent to reinforce the depth at this position. 

Defensive end: 5

  1. George Karlaftis
  2. Mike Danna
  3. Felix Anudike-Uzomah
  4. Malik Herring
  5. B.J. Thompson

Outlook: This position group is pretty interesting for Kansas City. Karlaftis is a 2026 free agent. Anudike-Uzomah has shown signs of improvement, but is he ready for a more significant role? Thompson is the wild card for the Chiefs after he missed the 2024 NFL season when he suffered a cardiac arrest at team facilities during the offseason. Will he play in 2025? That could change the outlook for this group. Charles Omenihu is still an unrestricted free agent (as of 1:00 p.m. CT on 3/13) and could be re-signed. They also might be wise to add to this position group early in the 2025 NFL draft. They typically carry eight players on the 90-man offseason roster. 

Linebacker: 8

  1. Nick Bolton
  2. Drue Tranquill
  3. Leo Chenal
  4. Jack Cochrane
  5. Cam Jones
  6. Cole Christiansen
  7. Blake Lynch
  8. Shaun Bradley

Outlook: The Chiefs might legitimately leave this position group alone in the draft and undrafted free agency. They carried eight linebackers on the 90-man offseason roster last offseason. Six of the above players have extensive experience in the system. If anything, an undrafted player could bump someone like Bradley off the roster.

Cornerback: 8

  1. Trent McDuffie
  2. Jaylen Watson
  3. Kristian Fulton
  4. Joshua Williams
  5. Nazeeh Johnson
  6. Chris Roland-Wallace
  7. Eric Scott Jr. 
  8. Darius Rush

Outlook: This group looks suitable for the 2025 NFL season, but the Chiefs do need to think toward the future, with McDuffie, Watson, and Williams all slated for free agency in 2026. A draft pick could help them prepare for any departures, but this isn't exactly the deepest cornerback class in recent memory. They carried 12 players at this position on the 90-man offseason roster last year. 

Safety: 5

  1. Bryan Cook
  2. Jaden Hicks
  3. Chamarri Conner
  4. Deon Bush
  5. Jason Taylor II

Outlook: Last offseason, the Chiefs had six safeties on their 90-man roster. They've got room for an addition or two here. I could see a high draft choice (top-100) being in play, knowing that Cook will be a free agent in 2026 and Justin Reid's departure leaves a bit of a hole. 

Special teams: 3

  1. K Harrison Butker
  2. P Matt Araiza
  3. LS James Winchester

Outlook: The Chiefs could bring in some competition at the punter position to push Matt Araiza during training camp. They could also roll with Araiza for another season after an average, at best, if uninspiring, inaugural campaign in Kansas City.

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