Replacing Kansas City Chiefs' top pending 2025 free agents with standout NFL draft prospects from Reese's Senior Bowl
The Kansas City Chiefs will have some tough personnel decisions to make after Super Bowl LIX when the 2025 NFL offseason arrives. They've got several key players on expiring contracts, and they will run into a common dilemma for championship teams: You can't keep everyone. Luckily, the Chiefs have become pretty good at reloading in the offseason. […]
The Kansas City Chiefs will have some tough personnel decisions to make after Super Bowl LIX when the 2025 NFL offseason arrives.
They've got several key players on expiring contracts, and they will run into a common dilemma for championship teams: You can't keep everyone. Luckily, the Chiefs have become pretty good at reloading in the offseason. Just look at their 2022, 2023, and 2024 NFL draft classes as evidence.
A to Z Sports had a strong presence at the 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl, with several members of our team taking in practice every day. The Chiefs have long found talent in Mobile, Alabama, and could again look to the All-Star game to round out their roster in 2025.
Below you'll find a look at Senior Bowl players from 2025 who could serve as replacement options for all of the Chiefs' top pending free agents, complete with exclusive film from the week of practice:
Chiefs RG Trey Smith -> Miami OL Jalen Rivers
When it comes to replacing a player like Smith, you must also replace what he represents for the offensive line in Kansas City. He's that physical, mauling offensive lineman who is always looking for work and looking to bury his opponents. Rivers plays with that type of edge in both the run game and the passing game. He is listed at 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds, with multi-position flexibility in a pinch, but I think he'll settle in at guard in the NFL.
Other names to know: LSU OL Miles Frazier, NDSU OL Grey Zabel
Chiefs LB Nick Bolton -> South Carolina LB Demetrius Knight Jr.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 246 pounds with 33-inch arms, Knight Jr. might be more reminiscent of an old-school NFL linebacker in his frame and build. NFL teams will be surprised to learn that he has the athleticism of a modern-age linebacker and doesn't lack coverage ability. He has the makeup of a starting MIKE linebacker in Steve Spagnuolo's scheme, and he also brings the boom.
Other names to know: Notre Dame LB Jack Kiser, Florida LB Shemar James, Georgia LB Smael Mondon Jr., Oregon LB Jeffrey Bassa
Chiefs S Justin Reid -> Georgia S Dan Jackson
There's a reason that Jackson was voted by his peers as one of the top safety prospects out of the Senior Bowl practice week. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 194 pounds, Jackson is a physical defender with range to make plays on the back end. He's not afraid of doing the dirty work and making a play on the football. Tell me this pop doesn't remind you of some of the physical plays that Reid has produced throughout his career.
Other names to know: Illinois State S Keondre Jackson
Chiefs WR DeAndre Hopkins -> Iowa State WR Jayden Higgens
To move the way that Jayden Higgins does at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds shouldn't be legal. He's got the size to box out defenders, but he also has the footwork, quickness, and route-running ability to fly right past them. He's the type of receiver that can truly take an NFL offense to the next level, just like Hopkins in his prime.
Other names to know: TCU WR Jack Bech, Illinois WR Pat Bryant II
Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown -> Oregon WR Tez Johnson
There will be size questions about the diminutive Oregon wide receiver, but there won't be any questions about his speed and character. Listed at 5-foot-9 and 156 pounds, this kid absolutely cooked defensive backs throughout the practice week at the Senior Bowl. It's no surprise that at his height and weight, he can absolutely fly, and he could even turn into a premier deep threat in the NFL.
Other names to know: Washington State WR Kyle Williams, Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel
Chiefs DL Charles Omenihu -> Texas A&M DE Shemar Stewart
Stewart might be one of the biggest risers of the Senior Bowl process, and the Chiefs might have to move up if they want a shot at getting him. At 6-foot-5 and 281 pounds, Stewart has 90th percentile weight, size and wingspan. When you combine it with his speed, get off, and bend around the edge, he's one-of-one in this draft class. Stewart isn't just built like he was made in a lab, but he played a lot like Omenihu. He prioritizes going after the football, as seen in Senior Bowl 11-on-11's here:
Other names to know: Arkansas DE Landon Jackson, Marshall DE Mike Green
Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt -> Kansas RB Devin Neal
Many Chiefs fans will be familiar with Neal's game from his time at the University of Kansas. He's the Jayhawks' all-time leading rusher for a reason. Listed at a hair under 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds, he's a physical comp to Hunt. He's also a decisive, physical runner with the footwork to excel as both a runner and as a receiver out of the backfield in the passing game.
Other names to know: Syracuse RB LeQuint Allen, Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon Il, Miami RB Damien Martinez
Is the Kansas City Chiefs’ next great NFL draft steal at the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl? History shows that he might be
The Kansas City Chiefs have a history of acquiring talent from the Senior Bowl.
