THE Kansas City Chiefs are facing arguably the most important offseason since their Super Bowl dynasty began in 2019.
There are numerous holes to be filled throughout the roster, and the Chiefs’ front office needs to work a lot of magic to create salary cap space. There are plenty of ways they can achieve that, but they need to be frugal for future years to come.
Before the Chiefs decide which free agents they would like to add next month, they must first take a look at who they should bring back. As our friend Jesse Newell of the Athletic recently pointed out, Kansas City has three homegrown starters on defense who are heading toward free agency, and unfortunately it looks like the Chiefs will be able to retain just one of them.
Kansas City Chiefs have major decisions to make on free agent S Bryan Cook, LB Leo Chenal, and CB Jaylen Watson
Cook, Chenal, and Watson were a part of the Chiefs’ incredible 2022 draft class. All have developed into quality NFL starters and will rightfully receive generous paydays during the offseason. The question is, which one will get theirs from Kansas City?
“Safety Bryan Cook is coming off a career season and should command top dollar, too,” Newell said.
Cook started all 17 games for the Chiefs in 2025, recording 85 tackles and six passes defended. Kansas City doesn’t have a lot of quality depth behind Cook at the safety position, making for a strong case for him to return.
“His physicality and length suit defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme well, though his strong 2025 season could also push his price out of the budget,” Newell said of Watson.
What the Chiefs decide to do with star CB Trent McDuffie will impact whether or not they bring back Watson, but as Newell said, Watson may have priced his way out of Kansas City regardless. Combine that with how well the Chiefs have developed CBs over the years, it’s tough to imagine Watson returning.
“His social-media posts late in the season suggested an affinity for the Chiefs, and his physicality and ability to play multiple roles allowed him to thrive in K.C. over his first four pro seasons,” Newell said of Chenal.
Of the three, Chenal’s market is the most unpredictable. He could be back with the Chiefs at the right price, but they have some intriguing depth at the LB position with second-year players Jeffrey Bassa and Cooper McDonald. It’s possible that veteran Drue Tranquill is cut as a cap casualty, which could help pave the way to retain Chenal.
Losing multiple starters on one side of the ball is less than ideal, but as the Chiefs did with Cook, Watson, and Chenal in ’22, it’s time for a bit of a youth movement. In this writer’s opinion, retaining Cook makes the most sense, but it would be great to have any of the three. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has the unenviable task of making the final decision as he attempts to get the team back into Super Bowl contention.
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