News Chiefs Team Notes

[Kansas City Chiefs]

In this week’s ‘Reacts’ poll, Chiefs’ fans predict reserve receivers

Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Sign up here to join SB Nation NFL Reacts.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Each week, we send out questions to the most plugged-in Kansas City Chiefs fans. You can see all of the recent survey results here.

And be sure to check out FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

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The best reserve tight end​

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Now that the team’s 90-man offseason roster is largely set, we asked Kansas City fans to name the new receivers they consider most likely to make this fall’s roster. Among the tight ends, they chose the undrafted Clemson star. (We believe the graphic should have credited Briningstool with 86% of the votes).

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The best reserve wideout​

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Fans also had no trouble choosing among the new wide receivers. The Florida wideout with the extra “h” in his name easily outdistanced the team’s other undrafted reserves.

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Click here to see other recent survey results.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025/5/10/24427504/chiefs-fan-poll-may-8-reserve-receivers-predicted

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Can you guess this Chiefs running back in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Chiefs player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Arrowhead Pride in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

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The goal of the game is to guess the correct Chiefs player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025/5/11/24427907/sb-nation-chiefs-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Arrowheadlines: Jaylen Royals and the Chiefs named a perfect fit

Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images

Chiefs headlines for Saturday, May 10

The latest​

2025 NFL draft: Best rookie team fits, perfect landing spots | ESPN

Jalen Royals, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Drafted: Round 4, No. 133

Why he fits: With the coverage awareness to find open zone voids and a competitive play style after the catch, Royals can operate in Andy Reid’s system as a midlevel target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Royals is willing to work the heavy traffic areas of the field, where he can make contested catches. And he turns underneath throws into explosive plays.

As a deep-ball target, Royals has the speed to be schemed situationally. But I really like the fit here based on the Chiefs’ leveled concepts, run-pass options and three-step throws. These types of plays will allow him to find open grass and gain even more yards after the catch.

NFL schedule wish list: Eagles-Chiefs on Christmas among ideal NFL matchups | FOX Sports

Week 1 international game, São Paolo: Chiefs vs. Chargers

I’ll be honest, I’m not always sold on the NFL’s philosophy that more is better, but I was a big fan of last season’s Friday night opener in Brazil. After a seven-month wait for the season to start, fill up opening weekend with as much football as possible.

The Chargers have been tapped as this year’s São Paolo team, and who better to help them grow the game in South America than the Chiefs? Kansas City is already used to opening the season on Thursday night, so kicking over one day to Friday should be no sweat.

The Chiefs have owned the AFC West for a decade, and they haven’t dropped a game to the Chargers since 2021, but don’t let that fool you. These games are always good, with seven of the past eight being decided by a touchdown or less. Sounds like a perfect Friday night to me.

Who Still Needs a QB? Describing Each Team’s Urgency After 2025 NFL Draft | Bleacher Report

Probably Not In the Quarterback Market Until 2027 or Later

Kansas City Chiefs: Future Hall of Famer Patrick Mahomes is under contract through 2031.

2025 Fantasy Football Busts 1.0 from Heath Cummings: Players to avoid in all drafts | CBS Sports

Isiah Pacheco RB

I am hopeful Pacheco bounces back from his disappointing 2024, but I am not confident. The Chiefs brought back Kareem Hunt, who was functioning as their RB1 at the end of last year, acquired Elijah Mitchell was has been very good when healthy, and drafted Brashard Smith who could function as the team’s pass catching back. While I do expect Pacheco to lead the team in touches I also expect the team to implement a committee, and that committee could have Pacheco stuck in a role without short yardage work or receiving work. The former 7th round pick has averaged about 13 touches per game for his career and that is pretty close to my expectation for 2025, if he’s fully recovered from the broken leg that slowed him in 2024.

Around the NFL​

A Colorado fan is suing the NFL $100M for the stupidest reason imaginable | SB Nation

Nothing is part of the fabric of the United States more than a frivolous lawsuit, and a Colorado fan is putting that to the test. Named in court documents as “John Doe,” the man is seeking $100M in damages from the NFL for Shedeur Sanders falling to the 5th round of the NFL Draft.

Doe, who is listed to be a resident of Georgia, is a self-professed die-hard fan of Colorado football, detailing that he had spent extensive time watching Shedeur Sanders on TV and in person, as well as consuming massive amounts of media content related to Sanders’ transition to the NFL. The lawsuit alleges that the league engaged in violations of the Sherman Anti-Trust act by colluding to tank Sanders’ draft stock, as well as violating the Civil Rights Act due to Sanders being discriminated against as a black quarterback, and finally violating consumer protections laws by misrepresenting the selection process of the draft itself.

Apparently this Colorado fan was so devastated by Shedeur falling to the 5th round that he believes a $100,000,000 payment is warranted for damage to his emotional well-being.

Stefanski — Browns’ QB evaluation will be ‘all-encompassing’ | ESPN

But when the Browns broke the huddle for the first snap of team drills in rookie minicamp Friday, it was third-round pick Dillon Gabriel — not Sanders — who took the first half-dozen snaps. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, though, downplayed it, saying the quarterback competition in Cleveland will be an “all-encompassing evaluation” over the next few months.

“I wouldn’t look into, really, anything,” Stefanski said after the Browns’ first rookie minicamp practice. “I think you’ll see the whole weekend, going through the spring, we don’t pay too close attention to who’s in there first.”

Friday marked the first NFL practice for Gabriel and Sanders. The two alternated about three dozen passes in individual drills before throwing to pass catchers and then breaking into 11-on-11 drills, which were followed by 7-on-7s.

GM Andrew Berry: Nick Chubb returning to Browns ‘increasingly unlikely’ | NFL.com

It sounds as if a reunion is growing less likely with each passing week. General manager Andrew Berry spoke Friday and didn’t seem too optimistic the franchise legend would return in 2025.

“I wouldn’t rule anything out, but I would say that it’s probably increasingly unlikely,” Berry said during an appearance on 92.3 The Fan. “We do have two young guys that we liked. We think Jerome (Ford) plays a role. It’s basically kind of maybe seeing how the roles shake out in the running back room.

“You’re never going to rule out someone as near and dear to our heart as Nick, and I would expect him to take another step being a year removed from the knee injury. But I’d say a return is less likely, at least in the short term, with us right now.”

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

NFL Rookie Premiere 2025: Chiefs WR Jalen Royals selected to attend

According to the NFL Players Association, Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals has been named to the “rookie premiere” class of 2025. This is the first major business and marketing event featuring players just selected in the most recent NFL Draft.

This year’s event will be held in Los Angeles from May 14-17. Royals and 41 other rookies will have the opportunity to earn a leg up on endorsement deals by getting in front of some big-name brands.

Partners engage with players through two primary channels: content creation and product experiences, each designed to build authentic brand connections. Content partners such as Panini America, EA Sports, Fanatics, Fanatics Collectibles, NFL Social Lab, New Era, and Microsoft rotate through scheduled sessions with players to capture custom content for upcoming campaigns. These one-on-one interactions offer a chance to build early relationships, highlight player personalities, and generate fresh, player-driven marketing assets. Product and activation partners – including Nike, Sony, Oakley, WHOOP, Lululemon, Pro Standard, Highland Mint, Funko, FedEx, On The Mark, Gatorade, Gillette, Shiftwave, EXOS, Pepsi, Procter & Gamble, and Jersey Mike’s – deliver curated experiences and products that connect with players.

Social media to make you think​

Jalen Royals to the Chiefs

#1 fastest 10-yard split in this WR class & dominated man coverage

Andy Reid & Patrick Mahomes will love him pic.twitter.com/1DKO87PE5R

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 26, 2025​

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Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...len-royals-and-the-chiefs-named-a-perfect-fit

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs could once again appear in 10 or more nationally-televised games

Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images

At least one aspect of Kansas City’s schedule will be pretty much as we expected it to be.

In the seven seasons since Patrick Mahomes became the team’s starting quarterback in 2018, the Kansas City Chiefs have appeared in a total of 37 regular-season primetime (evening) games. That’s second only to the Green Bay Packers with 38. And among the nine teams with at least 29 of these appearances, no team has a better record than Kansas City’s 26-11 mark.

So it’s not surprising that the NFL continues to get the Chiefs into as many national matchups as possible.

In 2024, Kansas City appeared in 10 nationally-televised games. Five were in primetime, while three others were also “standalone” contests: the Black Friday game against the Las Vegas Raiders, December’s Saturday afternoon matchup versus the Houston Texans and the Christmas Day game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Two other matchups were broadcast in every market: Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers and Week 11 versus the Buffalo Bills.

Despite the team’s big loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs are likely to appear in at least 10 national games this season, too — at least according to Mike North, who is the league’s vice-president of broadcast planning and scheduling.

“When a team gets good (and has an MVP quarterback) and is the kind of must-see television that our network partners hope for, expect [and] request,” he said on a recent episode of the “It’s Always Gameday in Buffalo” podcast, “you can’t get into a routine. So you do end up seeing the same teams kind of over and over again in primetime.”

North said the Chiefs won’t be the only team that gets a lot of exposure to national audiences.

“For teams like Buffalo, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Green Bay, Dallas [and] Pittsburgh,” he noted, “you’re talking about probably six, seven, eight, nine [or] 10 nationally televised games — when you factor in some of these other windows and the doubleheaders. They’ve got to go somewhere. They might mass up a bunch — kind of in a row — somewhere.”

Last season, seven of the Chiefs’ 17 games were against the previous season’s playoff teams. This year, however, they will play 10 playoff squads: the Texans, Eagles, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens Detriot Lions and Washington Commanders at home, plus the Broncos, Chargers and Bills on the road.

The league has noticed.

“The Chiefs have a spectacular schedule,” said North. “I mean, honestly, you could almost just read down the Chiefs’ schedule. They play Detroit. They play Washington. They play Baltimore again. Those are all going to be fun.”

That’s what will draw the most viewers for the league’s broadcast partners — and why the Chiefs will once again be among the NFL’s most visible teams.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...ld-play-10-or-more-nationally-televised-games

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs undrafted DT Coziah Izzard has a strong athletic profile

Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Chiefs’ new UDFA defensive tackle may have a chance to crack the active roster.

The Kansas City Chiefs signed former Penn State defensive tackle Coziah Izzard to an undrafted free agent contract, allowing him to fight for a roster spot. A fifth-year senior in 2024, Izzard was a four-year player who brought a nice blend of strength and explosion to the mix for the Nittany Lions.

Player profile​

Izzard is slightly undersized to play defensive tackle in the NFL, but he makes up for it with a great blend of athletic ability.

Coziah Izzard is a DT prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.71 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 59 out of 2022 DT from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/ai2Zzphj7z pic.twitter.com/PhdmrPDqQe

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 1, 2025​

At 6’2” and 298 lbs., he isn't a load or a space-eating defensive tackle, but his solid testing numbers in all categories show a player with the needed explosion and strength to play at the professional level.

A regular contributor through four seasons at Penn State, Izzard has seen high levels of college competition and was a mainstay in the front seven rotation.

Izzard played primarily as a 3-technique in college, but could be rotated into other spots along the line based on down and distance.

Finishing his college career with nine sacks and 21 tackles for loss, Izzard’s production wasn't tremendous, but with his athletic tools and film, he was a player worth taking a shot on post-draft.

Run defense​

Izzard isn't a traditional run-stuffing defensive lineman; instead, he uses his quick first step and athletic ability to shoot gaps and create penetration in the backfield.

Chiefs UDFA Coziah Izzard could be a guy who has a chance to crack the active roster this year. Good first step to penetrate the B-gap, and I like how he turns and reacts to help make the stop on the play. pic.twitter.com/MRLq18f6m0

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) May 9, 2025​

Izzard has impressive short-area movement skills, and when combined with his burst off the ball, they help him make athletic plays around the line of scrimmage.

A spot where Izzard thrived in college was playing as the back-side 3-technique on zone plays, going to the opposite side of the field.

Izzard does a good job of beating the tackles' reach block and creating penetration in the backfield. He does not make the stop, but he takes away any lane for the RB to go through and sets up his teammates. pic.twitter.com/ZYVM5tLg8J

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) May 9, 2025​

Izzard made these look tough on offensive tackles, who would be tasked with reaching blocking him by play design. By using his quickness and agility to prevent himself from being reached, Izzard took away the critical cutback lanes that running backs rely on in zone looks.

Izzard works across the RG's face, holds up the center from climbing, and nearly tackles the RB. His teammate swarms, but he blows up the play before it can get very far. pic.twitter.com/AyJag80VDT

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) May 9, 2025​

The Chiefs play multiple defensive fronts, but defensive tackles who can play shades and create penetration on the backside of running plays return to the core fundamentals of Steve Spagnuolo’s 4-3 under base looks.

Finding players athletic enough to create penetration and close running lanes consistently is not easy, and this is the skill set that likely caused the Chiefs to give him a chance to compete for a job.

Pass rush​

Izzard was only a modest pass rusher at Penn State and didn't often see the field on throwing downs. Still, with his quickness and lateral mobility, he does have the physical tools to develop into a quality rusher.

Izzard likely doesn't provide a ton of pass-rush upside in the NFL, but he does have a nice bull rush. Good job here to knock off the guard, and good athletic ability to break off and sack the QB. pic.twitter.com/EaRqu33KtC

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) May 9, 2025​

The best tools that Izzard has for rushing the passer are his quick first step and 34-inch arms. The good first step will allow him to get off the ball quickly, while his long arms and power will help him to engage with tackles and get off blocks if he can develop his game further.

Izzard relied heavily on his athletic ability to make plays as a pass rusher in college, and he will have to develop his game further to make an impact in the NFL.

The bottom line​

Undrafted rookie free agents have no guarantees of making even the practice squad, let alone the roster. Izzard was a solid contributor in college, but he will need to make drastic improvements to find a home on an active NFL roster.

The Chiefs are banking on his high athletic profile, which will give them something to work with and set a baseline for how his game will come together.

In some respects, Izzard’s game is comparable to the Chiefs' second-round pick Omarr Norman-Lott, who also uses an explosive penetrating style of play to impact games. They are worlds apart regarding talent and roster security, but they both play a similar game style.

Izzard won't provide much value as a true run stuffer, and his pass rush is not close to the professional level at the moment. Still, he is a tremendous candidate to be a practice squad player during his first year in Kansas City, where he will be able to develop his skills further and adjust to the speed of the NFL game.

With top-notch athletic ability and a nose for the football, the Chiefs' defensive coaching staff should be more than willing to work with Izzard and help him unlock his potential.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...s-coziah-izzard-has-a-strong-athletic-profile

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Tuesday Takes: Which Chiefs rookie will have the biggest impact this season?

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Which Kansas City rookie will break out in 2025? Let’s hear what you think!

As we wait for the NFL to reveal the rest of the 2025 schedule, let’s consider the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 rookie class.

Which one of these players — whether it’s one of the seven young men taken in the NFL Draft or an undrafted free agent signed since then — will have the biggest impact this season? And while we’re at it, which one of them will have the biggest impact on the team over his whole career?

Tell us what you think!

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...h-chiefs-rookie-will-have-biggest-2025-impact

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

The Chiefs get the Lions at home on Sunday Night Football

Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images

Early schedule leaks point to the Chiefs still being a big draw for the NFL.

During the final stretch of the 2024 NFL season, many felt it seemed destined that the Kansas City Chiefs would represent the AFC in the Super Bowl against the would-be NFC Champion Detroit Lions.

It wasn’t to be.

The Chiefs held up to their end of the bargain, but the Lions were upset by the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round.

We know how the rest of the playoffs played out.

As it turns out, the Chiefs and Lions will indeed meet on a Sunday night — but it will be in the regular season in Week 6, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. The game will kick off on NBC at 7:20 p.m.

As the perennial AFC West winner, the Chiefs’ schedule is always a bit difficult, but 2025’s opening stretch is already proving to be somewhat of a gauntlet. At the time of this writing, the Chiefs are reported to open in Brazil against the Los Angeles Chargers, followed by a Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2.

Just four weeks later, it will be Chiefs-Lions on Sunday night at Arrowhead.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...host-lions-on-sunday-night-football-in-week-6

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

3 initial observations on the Chiefs’ 2025 schedule

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Kansas City will (again) have a prominent place among NFL telecasts.

On Wednesday, the NFL released the 2025-26 regular season schedule. Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs should make plans for some late nights — and to plan two major holidays around football. Here’s what to know about the team’s 17 regular-season games.

Game on. pic.twitter.com/UZkM4jqftX

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 15, 2025​

The NFL doesn’t buy into ‘Chiefs fatigue’​

You may have a friend or cousin living in another market groaning that the Chiefs have too many high-profile slots. Someone you’ve interacted with on social media might even swear off watching Kansas City in prime time for fear that a few seconds of the broadcast may feature a high-profile romantic partner of a certain tight end. Someone somewhere still clings to anger over perceived biased officiating, vowing to never tune in to the Chiefs — or possibly football in general — again.

The NFL appears ready to call the bluff of its most angry clients.

Via early schedule leaks, we have known that the Chiefs would be visiting the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving and hosting the Denver Broncos on Christmas night. The first third of the season, however, will feature Kansas City early and often.

In Week 1, the Chiefs will face the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil on a Friday night. The event, which will air for free on YouTube, will almost certainly set a record for the most-streamed live event. Kansas City will then appear on two of the first six Sunday Night Football telecasts on NBC — traveling to face the New York Giants in Week 3 while hosting the Detroit Lions in Week 6. The Chiefs will also play a road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on ESPN’s Week 5 edition of Monday Night Football.

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Even the first two Sundays with 3:25 Arrowhead Time kickoffs will have massive viewership. In Week 2, the Chiefs will host the Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowl rematch that will be nationally televised on FOX. The vast majority of the country will likely also see their CBS-affiliate broadcast the Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4 — outside a small sampling of markets likely getting the Las Vegas Raiders hosting the Chicago Bears.

Many football fans may well be tired of seeing the Chiefs win. The league is betting, however, that many of the disillusioned will tune in to root for Kansas City’s opponents.

The Chiefs likely have a brutal first half of the season​

A caveat in assessing the schedule should be that we do not know which teams will fail to take an expected next step, which teams will rise above meager expectations, and — most importantly — which squads will be blessed with optimal health. All things being equal, however, the Chiefs’ first nine games appear frontloaded with the best opponents.

Kansas City will play five of the other seven squads who advanced to the second round of last season’s playoffs in that span (a sixth, the Houston Texans, will subsequently visit Arrowhead in Week 14). With always tough divisional contests against the Chargers and Raiders mixed in, we may learn much about how the Chiefs will rebound from a disappointing Super Bowl loss over the season’s first half.

Kansas City will become well acquainted with the top of the 2025 NFL Draft​

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Former Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter and Colorado’s two-way superstar Travis Hunter were widely considered the best players in last month’s draft. The Chiefs will first encounter both top prospects on the road during the first five games of the season, with Carter now a Giant and Hunter a Jaguar.

Late in the season, the Chiefs will get their initial look the draft’s top selection, former Miami quarterback Cam Ward, when they visit the Tennessee Titans during Week 16.

Kansas City will also now face generationally talented former Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty — now a Raider — twice each season, beginning with a home contest in Week 7 before concluding the season by traveling to Sin City in Week 17.

Time will tell on the rookies’ star power, but four of the draft’s top six selections will line up against the Chiefs in their first season.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...-2025-nfl-schedule-initial-observations-slate

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Tailgate Thursday: What is Kansas City’s best workout spot?

Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Let’s talk about everyone’s weekend plans!

We might not work as hard as the Kansas City Chiefs do at their workout facility, but many fans like to stay in shape, too. Some run in their neighborhoods or work out at home. Others visit gyms to stay in shape. How do you do it? And what’s your favorite place to do it?

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...ursday-what-is-kansas-citys-best-workout-spot

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Weekend Waypoint discussion: What will be the Chiefs’ record this season?

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

What would you like to talk about this weekend?

As this weekend begins, let’s open it up for whatever you’d like to discuss! We’re particularly interested in your opinion about the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 schedule. What will the final regular-season record be? How will Kansas City fare in the playoffs? Will the team win its 10th straight AFC West crown and make its fourth straight Super Bowl?

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...on-what-will-be-the-chiefs-record-this-season

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

The Chiefs are on the way to becoming the ‘World Team’ of NFL football

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Move over, Dallas! Kansas City is coming for your title — and could even exceed your popularity.

As we were counting down one of the NFL’s manufactured tentpole events — Wednesday’s schedule release — we brought your attention to remarks made by the league’s vice-president of broadcast planning and scheduling Mike North, who often serves as the face of the NFL’s scheduling team.

“For teams like Buffalo, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Green Bay, Dallas [and] Pittsburgh,” North had noted on a recent episode of the “It’s Always Gameday in Buffalo” podcast, “you’re talking about probably six, seven, eight, nine [or] 10 nationally televised games — when you factor in some of these other windows and the doubleheaders. They’ve got to go somewhere. They might mass up a bunch — kind of in a row — somewhere.”

It turned out that North was exactly right about the Kansas City Chiefs. Just as they did in the 2024 season, the team will play a total of 10 games in front of a national audience. In 2025, that will be more nationally-televised games than any other team.

You may have read that the Chiefs are tied with the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys with a total of eight primetime (and so-called “standalone”) games. But that doesn’t consider two other games available to almost every American television: the Week 2 FOX matchup between Kansas City and the Philadelphia Eagles and Week 9’s CBS game featuring the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. Both will be played in the late-afternoon window — and will be the only game on each network’s schedule.

These two contests are among only eight that will get this treatment in 2025. Both the Eagles and Bills will have one more nationally televised late-afternoon matchup, while the Seattle Seahawks and Las Vegas Raiders will each get two. Six other teams will have one apiece.

When these are added in, the Chiefs have the most national games with 10, followed by the Eagles with nine, the Commanders, Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings with eight and the Bills and Detroit Lions with seven.

There’s been some bellyaching about this. Our Jared Sapp grasped it very well in his Thursday-morning take.

You may have a friend or cousin living in another market groaning that the Chiefs have too many high-profile slots. Someone you’ve interacted with on social media might even swear off watching Kansas City in prime time for fear that a few seconds of the broadcast may feature a high-profile romantic partner of a certain tight end. Someone somewhere still clings to anger over perceived biased officiating, vowing to never tune in to the Chiefs — or possibly football in general — again.

The NFL appears ready to call the bluff of its most angry clients.

But the league isn’t doing this to make its fans angry. It’s doing it because the Chiefs draw big ratings. That’s not because Kansas City is a big market. It’s just that the team is fun to watch.

Except for two of last season’s games (one of which he spent on the sidelines), quarterback Patrick Mahomes always keeps the team in a position to win — and routinely snatches victory from the jaws of defeat. Even if you’re a fan of another team, that’s exciting to watch.

And while some complain about seeing Taylor Swift during the game, there are many more who tune in hoping to catch a glimpse of the world’s most famous pop star.

What’s most interesting, however, is what all this means for the team’s future. As the Cowboys have demonstrated during the 47 years it has been known as “America’s Team,” it isn’t necessary to be one of the league’s best teams every season to maintain that standing. People who become fans of an NFL team tend to remain fans of that team.

We know this well. Most Kansas City fans who began following Hank Stram’s Chiefs didn’t bail out during the 1980s — and those who started during Marty Schottenheimer’s tenure have generally stuck around, too.

So as the team’s dynasty continues, it seems likely the Chiefs will soon eclipse the Cowboys as “America’s Team.” As Pete Sweeney noted in this week’s edition of Arrowhead Pride’s “Editors’ Show,” they may soon be vying to become the league’s “World Team,” too.

While Kansas City still has a long way to go to catch the Jacksonville Jaguars — who have played 13 games overseas — it will have its fourth international matchup in September. The Chiefs have also been granted marketing rights in seven countries. The Cowboys, in contrast, have played overseas just once — and only hold marketing rights in Mexico.

Watch out, world. Here come the Chiefs!

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...l-schedule-release-chiefs-becoming-world-team

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

The Chiefs added a veteran guard on Friday

Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Former Rams lineman Tremayne Anchrum is likely to be competing for a depth role with the Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs have signed free-agent veteran offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum, according to the league’s official Friday transactions report.

Anchrum, 26, first entered the league out of Clemson as a seventh-round pick made by the Los Angeles Rams during the 2020 NFL Draft.

A tackle in college, the 6-foot-2, 314-pound lineman transitioned to the guard position with the Rams, appearing in 31 games but making his one and only career start in 2022. However, that start only lasted two snaps, as Anchrum fractured his fibula. During the four seasons in Los Angeles, Anchrum compiled a total of 101 snaps on offense and 133 snaps on special teams.

In 2024, Anchrum had preseason stops in Seattle and New Orleans before ultimately landing on the Houston Texans' practice squad. Anchrum never appeared in a game for Houston.

Kansas City has a vacancy at its left guard position, but it’s likely Anchrum will be competing for a depth role. He owns a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Rams’ 2021 roster.

The Chiefs made two other roster moves on Thursday.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025/5/17/24432119/the-chiefs-added-a-veteran-guard-on-friday

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs will play in plenty of ‘grudge matches’

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs headlines for Saturday, May 17

The latest​

From Aaron Rodgers’ revenge to Super Bowl rematch, here are the 10 must-watch grudge matches of 2025 NFL season | Yahoo Sports

8) Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs — Week 4, Sept. 28

The Ravens lost to the Chiefs last season with an out-of-bounds touchdown attempt deciding the league season opener. And Baltimore dropped the AFC championship — and that elusive Super Bowl berth — to the Chiefs the playoffs prior. Mahomes and Co. will always be a reminder that Jackson’s two-time MVP status and perennial excellent performance has not taken his franchise where he most wants to go. Slaying the Kansas City dragon is his next step.

NFL schedule overreactions: Cowboys, Lions really need to play on Christmas? Chiefs in prime time too much? | CBS Sports

Chiefs play in too many prime-time games

Overreaction or reality: Reality

The Chiefs are a ratings juggernaut and are fun to watch every week. That being said, the NFL gave the team that has won three Super Bowls over the last six seasons too much exposure. This year, the NFL decided to give the Chiefs seven prime-time games — the most in the league. The Chiefs are playing in five prime-time games over the first eight weeks, tied for the most of any team in NFL history.

In fairness to the Chiefs, they have a loaded schedule of quality opponents. The Eagles, Bills and Ravens are part of the Chiefs’ schedule gauntlet, along with the Lions and Commanders. There’s five potential prime-time games, but the Chiefs ended up having just two of them on the prime-time slate.

The Chargers (Brazil game), Giants and Jaguars were three of the five prime-time games in the first eight weeks. Did the NFL really need to make Chiefs-Giants and Chiefs-Jaguars prime-time games? Couldn’t they fall into the Sunday afternoon slate in favor of a better matchup?

The Chiefs also play of Thanksgiving and Christmas, which is also part of their standalone slate (Christmas also counts as a prime-time game since the Chiefs are the night game). Kansas City actually has 10 standalone games, or 58.8% of the regular-season schedule.

Kansas City is in the national window too much, but the Chiefs deliver massive ratings. The NFL clearly used high ratings as part of its scheduling formula for networks this year.

The All-PFF Team: NFL’s best players of the past 25 years | PFF

WIDE RECEIVER: Tyreek Hill (93.8 Career PFF Grade)

Hill is entering Year 10 of his NFL career and boasts a significant sample size of dominance, featuring the third-best PFF receiving grade for his position and several single-season records.

Hill broke Julio Jones’ PFF record for receiving grade in a season by delivering a 93.8 mark, and he also set a record in yards per route run in a season (3.72) — a title previously held by Steve Smith for 15 years (2008).

Honorable Mention: Calvin Johnson

Best, worst of NFL 2025 schedule: Chiefs-Chargers, Sam Darnold vs. Vikings must-watch TV | The Athletic

Best international showdown: Chiefs-Chargers in Brazil, Week 1

The NFL schedulers started off the 2025 international series with a bang, treating the Corinthians Arena fans to a matchup between a pair of AFC West rivals and 2024 playoff teams. In Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, we could see two of the best quarterbacks of this generation engage in a shootout — if the game doesn’t wind up being a defensive struggle. The Chiefs swept the Chargers last season, but those two contests produced a combined 63 points, and Kansas City’s margins of victory were only seven and two points, respectively.

NFL’s highest-paid QBs: Brock Purdy joins Top 10, Dak Prescott remains highest-paid per year | CBS Sports

The $53 million average annual value on the deal ranks tied for seventh at the position, behind only Dak Prescott, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence and Tua Tagovailoa. The reported $181 million in guarantees, if accurate, would rank eighth. The total value of $265 million is fifth behind Patrick Mahomes, Allen, Lawrence and Burrow.

Prior to Purdy, Josh Allen was the most recent quarterback to break the bank with the Bills superstar receiving a six-year, $330 million extension from Buffalo. The deal includes an NFL-record $250 million guaranteed.

Allen still had four years and $140 million left on his current deal, but after an MVP season, the Bills rewarded their franchise cornerstone with a deal that ties him to the team through 2030. He certainly earned the pay bump after becoming the first player in league history with at least 25 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns as well as 10 or fewer interceptions.

Around the NFL​

Sources — Brock Purdy, 49ers agree to 5-year, $265M deal | ESPN

On Friday, the Niners put significant action behind those words as they agreed to a five-year, $265 million deal that includes $181 million in overall guaranteed money with Purdy, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

It’s a massive pay raise for Purdy, known as Mr. Irrelevant for being the last pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

He earned $2.6 million total over his first three NFL seasons, making him the NFL’s 76th-highest-paid QB over that span (2022-24), according to Roster Management System. His new contract has an average salary of $53 million, meaning he will get paid more per week under his new deal ($2.9 million) than he did over the first three years of his career combined.

At the league meeting in Florida, general manager John Lynch made it clear that he believed a deal was in the offing.

“I think we’re going to get the deal done,” Lynch said March 31. “That’s what I believe. We’ll just leave it at that.”

Pete Carroll Explains How Tom Brady Influenced His Decision to Join Raiders | SI

“When Tom came on board here, it changed my outlook to come here,” Carroll said during an appearance on Brock & Salt. “I thought that would be one of the great opportunities of all time, to have his presence. His presence is strong, big factor with John Spytek as well. ... We’re trying to infuse Tom’s mentality. We’re trying to bring it into the organization because it’s so good, so unique, so one of a kind. I think it helps us have the opportunity to have a one of a kind franchise.”

Carroll also noted that though Brady isn’t often at the facilities, he speaks with him “pretty regularly” over the phone and raved about the conversations they’ve had.

“We’re phone buddies,” Carroll said. “We’ve talked a ton of times. Talking philosophy with Tom, you can imagine what a thrill it is. He’s the all-time competitor. It’s not just how he played, it’s how he lives and how he sees the world and attacks every opportunity that he has. We’re so eye-to-eye on that, it’s been a blast. That’s really been fun. The challenge of it is to bring that mentality and connect it to an entire franchise.”

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

2025 NFL Schedule Release: Chiefs becoming ‘World Team’ of NFL football

You may have read that the Chiefs are tied with the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys with a total of eight primetime (and so-called “standalone”) games. But that doesn’t consider two other games available to almost every American television: the Week 2 FOX matchup between Kansas City and the Philadelphia Eagles and Week 9’s CBS game featuring the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. Both will be played in the late-afternoon window — and will be the only game on each network’s schedule.

These two contests are among only eight that will get this treatment in 2025. Both the Eagles and Bills will have one more nationally televised late-afternoon matchup, while the Seattle Seahawks and Las Vegas Raiders will each get two. Six other teams will have one apiece.

When these are added in, the Chiefs have the most national games with 10, followed by the Eagles with nine, the Commanders, Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings with eight and the Bills and Detroit Lions with seven.

There’s been some bellyaching about this. Our Jared Sapp grasped it very well in his Thursday-morning take.

You may have a friend or cousin living in another market groaning that the Chiefs have too many high-profile slots. Someone you’ve interacted with on social media might even swear off watching Kansas City in prime time for fear that a few seconds of the broadcast may feature a high-profile romantic partner of a certain tight end. Someone somewhere still clings to anger over perceived biased officiating, vowing to never tune in to the Chiefs — or possibly football in general — again.

The NFL appears ready to call the bluff of its most angry clients.

But the league isn’t doing this to make its fans angry. It’s doing it because the Chiefs draw big ratings. That’s not because Kansas City is a big market. It’s just that the team is fun to watch.

Social media to make you think​

The Vet vs. The Rook pic.twitter.com/gOFe1pXOZ2

— NFL (@NFL) May 16, 2025​

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Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...-chiefs-will-play-in-plenty-of-grudge-matches

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Can you guess this Chiefs tight end in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Chiefs player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Arrowhead Pride in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Arrowhead Pride in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Saturday, May 17, 2025
Friday, May 16, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Arrowhead Pride in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Chiefs player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025/5/18/24432507/sb-nation-chiefs-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Can you guess this Chiefs receiver in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Chiefs player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Arrowhead Pride in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Arrowhead Pride in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Friday, May 16, 2025
Thursday, May 15, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Arrowhead Pride in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Chiefs player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025/5/17/24432051/sb-nation-chiefs-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

ESPN’s Louis Riddick: Chiefs’ RB Brashard Smith is an ‘Alvin Kamara clone’

Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Kansas City’s rookie running back looks like a player who could stick in the NFL.

ESPN analyst Louis Riddick is all-in on the Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie running back Brashard Smith.

Louis Riddick on Chiefs rookie RB Brashard Smith: ‘Alvin Kamara’s clone with 4.3 speed.’ @LRiddickESPN knows what he’s talking about #ChiefsKingdom #NFLRookieWatch pic.twitter.com/MKskyLgxIR

— Chief Concerns (@ConcernsChief) May 15, 2025​

“Keep an eye on this kid Brashard Smith from SMU who they drafted in the seventh,” Riddick told an ESPN panel last week. “He is an Alvin Kamara clone with like 4.3 speed. They have got a lot of things going on right now in Kansas City. They may have addressed their issues as good as anybody.”

Smith comes by his speed naturally, since he played as a wide receiver in three seasons at Florida State before transferring to SMU (and running back) in 2024, when he recorded 1,332 yards (and 14 touchdowns) on 235 carries — an average of 5.7 yards per attempt — along with 327 yards (and four touchdowns) on 39 receptions.

Those numbers suggest that Smith really could become the kind of versatile weapon that the New Orleans Saints’ running back has been during his eight NFL seasons, when Kamara averaged 1,443 yards (and more than 10 touchdowns) per season.

It’s also likely that Riddick — who is known to have strong connections with Kansas City head coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach after working with both of them as a scout and personnel executive during their time with the Philadelphia Eagles — is tuned in to what the Chiefs are thinking about their new running back.

Smith could easily end up being yet another late-round ball carrier who makes some noise in Reid’s offense.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...s-chiefs-rb-brashard-smith-alvin-kamara-clone

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs land a player on Pro Football Focus ‘25 under 25’ list

Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images

For the second straight season, Kansas City is represented by cornerback Trent McDuffie.

For the second straight offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs have landed a single player on the Pro Football Focus “25 under 25” list: cornerback Trent McDuffie.

McDuffie — already a two-time All-Pro — will be just 24 when the season starts. It is worth noting he turns 25 on September 13, one day before the team’s Week 2 Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles.

McDuffie climbed to the fifth rank after being listed at No. 10 in last year’s showcase.

5. CB TRENT MCDUFFIE, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

McDuffie went from being a top-five nickel cornerback in PFF overall grade for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense in 2023 to a top-five outside cornerback in 2024. He is the NFL’s highest-graded cornerback since 2023 (89.7).

McDuffie has earned an 89.4 PFF coverage grade since entering the league in 2022, which is a top-five mark among all cornerbacks and makes him the only one in the top 10 to have spent more than 25% of their career snaps in the slot.

Takeaway​

The Chiefs struck gold in landing McDuffie, who has managed to play at an elite level on his rookie contract. Only four players — Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (No. 1), Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (No. 2), Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (No. 3) and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (No. 4) — were listed ahead of McDuffie.

The Chiefs are expected to turn their attention to extensions for both McDuffie and defensive end George Karlaftis after ideally finalizing a long-term deal with franchise-tagged right guard Trey Smith. Kansas City exercised fifth-year options for both McDuffie and Karlaftis in late April.

Speaking of Karlaftis, he was snubbed for the second year in a row. The former Purdue pass rusher followed his 10.5-sack season in 2023 with 8.0 in 2024 — and PFF listed him with 76 quarterback pressures, fifth in the NFL among edge rushers in 2024.

Other under-25 Chiefs with less of a case than Karlaftis include 24-year-old linebacker Leo Chenal, 22-year-old wide receiver Xavier Worthy and 21-year-old safety Jaden Hicks. It would not be surprising to revisit this post a year from now and see both Worthy and Hicks as Kansas City’s 2026 representatives.

In total, the AFC West saw three players on the list: McDuffie (No. 5), Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (No. 14) and Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (No. 19).

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...player-on-pro-football-focus-25-under-25-list

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Latest PFF quarterback ranking keeps Patrick Mahomes in top spot

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Mahomes may no longer be well ahead of the pack — but he is still deserving of No. 1.

On Tuesday, football analytics site Pro Football Focus released its 2025 preseason quarterback rankings — with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at No. 1.

Here is the explanation from PFF writer John Kosko:

1. PATRICK MAHOMES, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Mahomes still holds the top spot, but the margin has never been slimmer. His passing grade over the past two seasons sits at 86.0, a strong number but a step below the elite level we saw from 2018 through 2022. The supporting cast hasn’t always helped, particularly at receiver, but it’s fair to say his otherworldly level of play we saw from him from 2018 to 2022 is starting to get further and further away in the rearview mirror. That said, no one blends poise, playmaking and postseason performance like Mahomes, which is why he remains at No. 1 entering 2025, even if the field is closer than ever.

The Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow (No. 2), the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson (No. 3) and the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen (No. 4) all fell into behind Mahomes within the Tier 1: Elite category.

Around the AFC West, the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert came in at No. 8, Las Vegas Raiders’ Geno Smith at No. 10 and the Denver Broncos’ Bo Nix at No. 19.

Takeaway​

Despite the Chiefs trading Tyreek Hill ahead of the 2022 campaign, Mahomes had his most productive season in terms of yardage that year with 5,250. Since then, he’s thrown for 4,183 yards (2023) and 3,928 yards (2024), likely due to weaker personnel at receiver and defensive coordinators adapting to his tendencies.

Over the last two years, the drop in production has seen plenty of national analysts rank Mahomes lower than he deserved, but I think Kosko nailed it in this write-up.

I agree that it is fair to say the margin between Mahomes and the pack has slimmed, though I still maintain that if most NFL decision-makers were anonymously polled to name the league’s best option, the Texas Tech product would still be the pick.

In 2023, wideout Rashee Rice emerged late in the season and into the playoffs, helping the Chiefs win their second straight Super Bowl title. The receivers behind him were Justin Watson and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who each finished under 500 yards.

2024 projections showed a much stronger wide receiver room for Mahomes, but a preseason injury to Hollywood Brown and Week 4’s season-ending injury to Rice changed that dramatically. Rookie Xavier Worthy took time to develop and — like Rice in his first campaign — looked the part for the final stretch, but Mahomes’ numbers were still impacted. It’s also worth remembering that future Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce got another year older.

2025 should serve as a do-over for what might have been with that trio — and theoretically, Mahomes has a legitimate shot to return to his 2022 form. Despite the big dips in yardage, the quarterback actually had a slightly higher completion percentage in 2023 (67.2%) and 2024 (67.5%) than he did during the 5,000-yard season in 2022 (67.1%). With the additions of offensive tackles Jaylon Moore and Josh Simmons, he should also be better protected.

I see 2025 as a potential renaissance year for Mahomes, one that sees him back in the thick of the MVP conversation. Of course, for that to happen, Kansas City’s receivers will need to stay healthy.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...ack-ranking-keeps-patrick-mahomes-in-top-spot

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs sign third-round pick Nohl Williams; down to single unsigned draft pick

Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images

Only second round defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott has not agreed to terms.

Per the NFL official transactions report, the Kansas City Chiefs agreed to terms with cornerback Nohl Williams on Tuesday. The Chiefs traded up to the 85th selection in last month’s NFL Draft to select the former California defender.

With Williams inked to his rookie contract, the Chiefs have now signed six of their seven draft picks.

Linebacker Jeff Bassa and running back Brashard Smith — the team’s fifth and sixth-round selections — were inked at the start of rookie minicamp. Tackle Josh Simmons, the team’s first round pick out of Ohio State, officially signed shortly after.

Kansas City’s other third round selection, former Louisville defensive end Ashton Gillotte and fourth round wide receiver Jalen Royals signed their contracts on May 13.

Signing draft picks was once a potentially messy process. Slotted values for the entire draft — and the precedent that all first-round selections since 2022 have received fully guaranteed contracts — have largely streamlined rookie contracts. One exception to the rule, however, has been the round of the Chiefs’ lone unsigned rookie — former Tennessee defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott, the team’s second round pick.

Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The league’s 32 teams have been inconsistent in the amount of money guaranteed to second-round selections. This has at times led to standoffs between players, agents and teams, driven by concern of other players at a given position receiving more favorable contract terms.

The trouble signing second-rounders is set to greatly compound this year. The first two picks of the second round — former UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger and Iowa State wideout Jayden Higgons — received fully guaranteed contracts from the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans respectively.

Not surprisingly, no other second-round selections have agreed to terms given this shock to the league’s rookie compensation system.

With now even more gray area to Round 2 — and Norman-Lott one of the frame’s eight selections along the defensive line — the Chiefs’ final rookie contract could take some time to iron out.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...l-williams-down-to-single-unsigned-draft-pick

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Tush push survives vote of NFL owners; play will remain legal in 2025

Green Bay’s proposal to ban the play Philadelphia made famous did not have enough votes for passage.

On Wednesday, NFL owners failed to pass a proposal by the Green Bay Packers that would have outlawed a play made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles: the tush push.

The final vote on Green Bay's push-play ban proposal was 22-10. That means the proposal actually gained support between the March meetings and today, with the NFL's desire to enact a ban falling just two votes shy of the 24 needed to pass.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 21, 2025​

In this variation of the quarterback sneak, two other players line up behind the quarterback — one on either side — and help push the quarterback through the line. As run by the Eagles, the play almost always gains at least a yard, so it is frequently called in short-yardage and goal-to-go situations — most recently against the Kansas City Chiefs in their 40-22 loss to Philadelphia in Super Bowl LIX.

Multiple reports indicate the proposal fell two votes short of adoption. According to another report by Albert Breer, Philadelphia owner Jeffrey Lurie, his assistant GM Jon Ferrari and former Eagles center Jason Kelce spent about 45 minutes speaking against the proposal. While Kelce refused to comment after the session, sources say he focused on how Philadelphia runs the play — and insisted it is not dangerous to players.

The Dallas Cowboys’ Jerry Jones, the San Francisco 49ers’ Jed York and the Buffalo Bills’ Terry Pegula also spoke during the session.

Immediately afterwards, Philadelphia used a YouTube video that seemed to emphasize the Eagles’ intention to continue using the play.

The @Eagles just posted this on their YouTube page.https://t.co/XFfoCOdYE2

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 21, 2025​

This may not be the final word on the matter. But for 2025, it appears the tush push will live on.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...ush-push-survives-vote-will-remain-legal-2025