NFL Free Agency 2025: Kansas City Chiefs Depth Chart + Offseason Moves

Losing the Super Bowl stings. Granted, it stings a little bit less when you’ve won three of the last six while going to five of the last six. But it’s still a bummer to get so close then come up short.

Luckily for Chiefs fans, the new league year starts on March 12th. And the legal tampering period opens tomorrow on March 10th. That is the unofficial official start of free agency as major deals will certainly be announced. We’re on to 2025.

The Chiefs have a lot of the key components to win - the most important being Patrick Mahomes. But they’ll want to reload and recalibrate to make another run. Let’s take a look at their weapons depth chart, contracts, cap space, and free agents to see what can be done here. Maybe these predictions can help you in your dynasty leagues or your 2025 NFL mock drafts!

*The salary cap numbers referenced in this article come courtesy of our friends over at Spotrac.com*

Kansas City Chiefs Depth Chart 2025 (Fantasy Football Relevant)

• White = free agent
• Green = role is safe
• Yellow =  role in flux
• Orange = likely a depth piece
• Red = roster spot not guaranteed

Kansas City Chiefs Free Agency 2025

• CURRENT PROJECTED TOP 51 2025 SALARIES: $280M
• CURRENT ESTIMATED 2025 TEAM CAP SPACE: -$1M

Chiefs Quarterback Depth Chart

Patrick Mahomes: There’s not much to be said here. Patrick Mahomes is a mega star and a winner. He can put the team on his back if needed though, with improvements to the run game and the defense, that hasn’t been the case as of late. That’s led his seasons to be a little more mild lately statistically compared to his standards though it’s hard to argue with a team that just went 15-1 in the regular season.

I’m the kind of fantasy football gamer who is content with consistent production at QB. So I have no problem acquiring Patrick Mahomes right now if his owner has become frustrated. Despite sitting a Week 18 game that didn’t matter, Mahomes still finished as a QB1 in fantasy. In single QB leagues maybe throw some mobile upside on your bench but you still feel pretty comfortable putting Mahomes in the lineup in any given week. And he has a lot of football left to play.

Carson Wentz: If you are a team competing to win now, Carson Wentz is exactly the kind of backup QB you want. If the starter misses a brief stint, you need someone that can at least go .500 and keep the team afloat. Wentz gives you that but he’s an unrestricted free agent that could be lured away by other teams. He’s been linked to virtually very team from the Browns, to the Jets, to the Vikings.

• Reserves/Futures: Chris Oladokun

CHIEFS QB FREE AGENCY TAKE: The Chiefs are going to need a viable backup behind Patrick Mahomes. And Carson Wentz could be gone in free agency. They don’t have a ton of cash but obviously winning a ring is a motivator for some guys out there so maybe they can get a veteran on a discount.

If I am a younger reclamation project QB out there, I might be willing to make a stop in Kansas City on a cheap one-year deal to see what a winning organization actually looks like from the inside. That’s what Sam Darnold did in San Francisco. Then, as a free agent, he knew what a quality team looked like and chose the Vikings. Here are some guys that could do something similar with the Chiefs.

POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: Daniel Jones, Mac Jones, Zach Wilson, Drew Lock

Chiefs Running Back Depth Chart

Isiah Pacheco: The hard-running Pacheco is on the last year of his deal. After missing 10 games with a broken leg, he wasn’t as effective as he’s been in past years. He out-snapped Kareem Hunt in Week 14 but, from Week 15 through the playoffs, Hunt handled the bulk of the work.

Some folks out there might not realize how bad it was there between Hunt and Pacheco. So I would put him on the trade block in your dynasty league now to see if anyone bites. People are enamored with Kansas City Chiefs players so Pacheco still has some name value. But I’m not sure they are sold on him getting a second contract.

Kareem Hunt: The Chiefs gave Hunt a second chance. And he certainly stepped up when they needed him to. Now, as an unrestricted free agent, the question is whether Hunt wants to do them a solid and take a team friendly deal. They really don’t have a ton of cap to spend up at RB. Other teams could be interested in his services as part of a committee.

Samaje Perine: Hunt coming in really put Samaje Perine on the back burner. I don’t expect him to be a priority to bring back in 2025. He can contribute on pass downs so someone might take a flyer.

Carson Steele: Steele generated a bit of hype in the dynasty fantasy football space with a flashy offseason. But the big boy out of UCLA with the pet alligator proved that he was more suited as a fullback and short yardage specialist as the NFL level. He plays special teams so I expect him to hang around but you don’t need to hold him in dynasty leagues.

• Reserves/Futures: Keontay Ingram

CHIEFS RB FREE AGENCY TAKE: As much as we’d like to see them go out and get a Najee Harris or Nick Chubb, the truth is that the Chiefs don’t really have the cap space as it stands. And most of the free agent options out there aren’t a huge upgrade from Pacheco. Here are some cheaper names that could come in and contribute but their best bet if they want an RB is probably the draft in what is a very deep class.

POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: Kareem Hunt, Rico Dowdle, Miles Sanders, Cam Akers, Elijah Mitchell, Kenneth Gainwell

Chiefs Wide Receiver Depth Chart

Xavier Worthy: Let’s talk about Xavier Worthy first as he’s been in the news recently for the wrong reasons. The charges that were announced were “assault of a family or house member by impeding the breathing or circulation”. Within hours of that announcement, his team released a statement giving their side of the incident. And it was also announced that no charges were being pressed for lack of evidence.

Xavier Worthy is a “hold” regardless with all of this weirdness going on but it sounds like he has been cleared of any wrongdoing. If that is the case you can expect him to continue in his role as a speedy field-stretching flanker for Kansas City. With Rashee Rice back he might not get as many targets as he was getting but his big play potential makes up for that.

Rashee Rice: Rashee Rice was primed for a big season. And he started out hot with 24 catches over the first three games. But then a freak accident on an interception saw Patrick Mahomes collide with his knee, ending his season with an PCL injury.

If there is any way to buy Rashee Rice at a reasonable price, I’m doing it. The Chiefs love Rice and they love WR screens which creates a great floor and a big ceiling. Based on Alex Korff’s dynasty trade charts, it looks like it would cost you an early first or more to acquire Rice. If I can get him for a price that is cheaper than multiple first round picks I’m doing it but that might be the going rate.

DeAndre Hopkins: DeAndre Hopkins has the name value appeal. But he really has not been a full-time player for multiple years now. That didn’t change after arriving in Kansas City as he never surpassed 65% of the snaps and didn’t play more than 50% from Week 15 on.

Someone will give Hopkins a shot. Maybe a team like the Lions will upgrade from Tim Patrick and have him operate as their WR3. If he wants to take a team friendly deal to remain with the Chiefs and chase a ring again, that is on the table too. If anyone is willing to give you something for him in dynasty, it’s probably time to cash out.

Hollywood Brown: The Chiefs announced Saturday that they are signing Hollywood Brown to a one year deal worth up to $11 million. That news came within hours of the news about Xavier Worthy though we now know those charges have been rescinded. 

It's an interesting situation here because the Chiefs like using two tight ends with Noah Gray and Travis Kelce. And they also like having a big split end that can block like Justin Watson. And that's not what Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice, and Hollywood Brown do. So they are potentially in a situation here where there will be a rotation or one man will be the odd man out.

Justin Watson: Watson might not be the most exciting fantasy asset but he is a valuable real life player to some degree. He can tether his foot to the line as a split end and block well. That’s why he played the second most snaps of the WR group behind only Xavier Worthy.

If they lose Watson to free agency, they’ll need a big-bodied X WR to come in. And it would be nice if, this time, they were a little more threatening as a weapon. The last time they had someone that made an impact in that spot was Sammy Watkins.

Skyy Moore: Skyy Moore was touted as a Golden Tate-style slot receiver as a prospect. But he’s never really been able to carve out a meaningful role. He got three targets in six games in 2024, none of which he caught, before ending up on IR. He doesn’t really do much on special teams either so he could be cut for the $1.5M in cap space this year. Though the Worthy situation could change things.

Mecole Hardman: Mecole Hardman is an unrestricted free agent. And he’s not exactly a priority to bring back but, if they don’t bring him back they will need someone to help out on special teams. Hardman returned the bulk of the punts as well as some of the kicks.

• Reserves/Futures: Tyquan Thornton, Justyn Ross, Jason Brownlee, Nikko Remigio

CHIEFS WR FREE AGENCY TAKE: As we’ve mentioned throughout this article, the Chiefs don’t have a ton of money. There are create ways to create space of course. But they can’t compete with some of the teams that have $80+ million in space. So they’re likely looking for cheaper options.

The draft is obviously the best way to go for upside. If they want to look at a split end to replace Justin Watson, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is probably the perfect mix of affordability and talent in that role. Here are some guys that wouldn’t break the bank.

POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: Justin Watson, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tim Patrick, Demarcus Robinson, Noah Brown, Mike Williams

Chiefs Tight End Depth Chart

Travis Kelce: The decision is in - Travis Kelce will return for 2025. There’s no word on whether they expect him to be in a reduced role or some other capacity changes but you have to imagine that, if his snaps are limited in any way, they will skew towards pass downs.

There really aren’t too many premium tight ends out there. If you are competing to win in your dynasty league, now might be the time to see if you can just grab Kelce for cheap. Then on the rest of your bench you go with high-risk, high-reward options (possibly a rookie from this class). If he retires on your bench, who cares - the odds of a second or third round rookie pick ever having a fantasy-relevant fantasy season aren’t as good as you think.

Noah Gray: The reality of this offense is that Noah Gray has been a “starter”. Of the pass-catchers, his 722 snaps were only behind Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy. He’s been more of an in-line pairing to Travis Kelce’s “big slot” but he’s shown he can catch the ball when needed.

The question is whether you think he will be the heir to Kelce’s role when that time comes or whether they go elsewhere. Personally, I think it’s an important enough role in the offense that they go with a premium pass-catcher there, which Gray is not. So he’s a sell for me if someone is buying.

Jared Wiley: Wiley is honestly a little more appealing to me in dynasty than Gray. His 4.62 speed at 6’6” 250 is actually in the top 10% of tight ends in terms of speed score. He hasn’t really carved out a role but how can you when the team has Travis Kelce. He’s a deep stash to see if he can someday take over that coveted role.

Peyton Hendershot: They took a flyer on Hendershot after he was released by the Cowboys as he is another pass-catching TE option. I don’t expect him back in 2025 however.

Jody Fortson: The Chiefs like Fortson which is why he continues to hover around the team. But injuries have pretty much derailed his career. After another serious injury in 2024, there is no rush to bring him back as a free agent. We’ll have to see how his recover goes.

• Reserves/Futures: Anthony Firkser, Baylor Cupp

CHIEFS TE FREE AGENCY TAKE: With Kelce and Gray back, the Chiefs have what they need for 2025. The best way for them to find long-term upside and a possible replacement for Kelce would be via the draft. If the Chargers move on from a guy like Stone Smartt, who is a QB that converted to a WR that converted to a TE, that’s the kind of high-risk, high-reward type guy I’d take a look at as the Chiefs.

• POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: N/A