Kansas City Chiefs could sign this underrated free agent returning from injury to raise the bar along the offensive line
The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t invest much into their offensive line depth during the 2026 NFL offseason. There’s still one strong free-agent option available who could bolster the team’s depth at all five positions.
The Kansas City Chiefs did not make many additions along the offensive line during the 2026 NFL offseason.
That’s despite expectations that Brett Veach could invest heavily in OL in free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft. ESPN analysts Mike Clay and Aaron Schatz still think the offensive tackle position is the team’s weakest. As Kansas City sits in early July ahead of training camp at Missouri Western State University, the Chiefs’ GM still has an option to improve the team’s offensive line depth.
Veteran OL Brady Christensen recently told Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer that his doctors cleared him for contact football. This comes after undergoing season-ending Achilles surgery back in October. After a long wait to enter the free-agent market, the former Carolina Panthers O-Lineman is ready for a new opportunity in 2026.
“I’m always looking for the best opportunity, not only for me, but for my family as well,” Christensen said. “In the NFL, especially on the O-Line, you don’t have a long career, so you’re always looking for that best opportunity. The next opportunity to get back on the field, have good games, have good film, so you can keep going from there.”
The 29-year-old Christensen has the versatility to play multiple positions on the offensive line. The 6-foot-6, 300-pound lineman, a third-round pick (70th overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft, was linked to Kansas City coming out of BYU. He was an All-American left tackle for the Cougars. He has been used at all five offensive line positions at some point during his NFL career, with 59 games played from 2021 through 2025. That versatility makes him a value on the open market, but his future home might be at offensive guard.
The big concern with Christensen at this stage
The concern at this point with Christensen is the history of injuries. Christensen has dealt with a broken ankle, a torn biceps, and an Achilles injury throughout his NFL career. While he maintains that his ideal situation is to compete for a starting opportunity, his best chance to contribute to an NFL team might be as a backup off the bench. That’s where the Chiefs come in.
Kansas City has four of its five starting offensive line positions locked up. They have a three-man competition for the right tackle job among Jaylon Moore, undrafted free agent Kahlil Benson, and second-year man Esa Pole. While Christensen could throw his name into the hat and make it a four-way battle, there’s also a strong need for interior offensive line depth.
Why Christensen fits as a Chiefs interior O-line option
The last several seasons, the Chiefs have relied on Mike Caliendo as their fourth interior offensive lineman. Caliendo has filled in at some key spots, including getting a start in the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles. What’s become clear is that Kansas City needs an upgrade over Caliendo, and Christensen could be just that.
You hope that in Year 3, draft picks Hunter Nourzad and C.J. Hansen can push Caliendo for that spot. Players like Pete Nygra and Josh Thompson, UDFA’s following the 2026 NFL Draft, could also create competition. However, it’s hard to find a player with 59 games of experience to serve as a backup.
People will point to Christensen’s BYU ties and coach Andy Reid’s BYU connection as a reason for this fit. The reality is that this move would be about improving the 90-man offseason roster. It’d be about adding depth at an injury-prone position, especially over a 17-game NFL season and postseason push. Caliendo’s fill-in against the Eagles wasn’t the first time the Chiefs had to call upon a backup interior offensive lineman in the Super Bowl (shoutout to Nick Allegretti).
At the very least, Christensen is worthy of a tryout during training camp. See whether he has truly recovered from his Achilles injury and is ready to contribute. He told Kaye that he didn’t feel like himself just three months ago. He has now reached a point where patience has paid off, and a new opportunity awaits.