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[Kansas City Chiefs]

Patrick Mahomes says the Chiefs need to get back to having fun again

Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images

On Monday, the quarterback appeared on “Up & Adams” with Kay Adams.

A previously recorded interview with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes aired this morning on FanDuelTV’s “Up & Adams” with Kay Adams.

In the conversation, Mahomes opened up about the Chiefs’ wide receiver depth, the team’s mindset heading into the season and his thoughts on the offseason chatter — including his ranking on the NFL’s Top 100 list.

Blocking out the noise​

The world is full of haters, and after a Super Bowl loss, they come crawling out of the woodwork. When asked about the outside talk this offseason and his mindset heading into the year, Mahomes made it clear: he hears the noise but is not interested in the back-and-forth.

“I’m honestly just ready to play football again,” Mahomes said. “I’ve had to just sit back and listen to people talk and talk, and I’m like — let’s just play football and handle it all out there. I don’t really want to talk about it. I just want to go out there and show who we are as the Kansas City Chiefs.”

Reclaiming joy​

Kansas City’s expectations are sky-high, and sometimes that pressure can dull the joy of the game. At the end of the day, Mahomes said the team needs to get back to having fun again.

“I don’t want to say it was pressure, but last year, guys wanted to go out there and win every single week — not because it was fun, but because we were supposed to. Let’s go out there and have fun. The wins will come if we play the way we know we can play.”

Mahomes’ deepest wide receiver room yet?​

A significant part of why Mahomes is optimistic? The depth at wide receiver this season. It might be the deepest group he’s had in his entire career.

“It’s going to be hard to make cuts,” he admitted. “We have so many great receivers — we could be eight, nine deep with guys I could see making this roster.”

Last season, injuries decimated the receiving corps. But this year? With everyone healthy, Mahomes sees firepower everywhere.

“It’s going to come from everywhere. Obviously, you got Rashee [Rice] coming back — he looks great. You’ve got Xavier Worthy, who came on strong at the end of last year. You’ve got Hollywood Brown, he’s healthy again... guys everywhere. We have so many weapons.”

Legacy over lists​

Mahomes doesn’t seem phased by where he ranks on the NFL’s Top 100. For him, it’s never been about being No. 1 on a list; it’s about being number one on the field.

“I’m always myself, no matter if you like me or don’t like me,” he said. “You know I’m doing everything I can to win the football game.”

And as for any perceived slight about not being ranked No. 1?

“They can rank me wherever they rank me. At the end of the day, all I want to do is win Super Bowls.”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025/7/7/24463111/chiefs-news-patrick-mahome-fun-again-in-2025

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

How many sacks for the Chiefs this season? Take the ‘Reacts’ fan survey

Dominick Williams/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Let’s hear what you have to say about the Chiefs!

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Kansas City Chiefs fans — and fans across the country.

Sign up here to answer weekly national NFL questions via email — or answer this week’s Chiefs poll right here.

Later in the week, we’ll bring you all the results of this week’s polls. Click here to see recent results.

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

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...fan-survey-july-11-how-many-sacks-this-season

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs just out of top 10 in offensive weapons, per ESPN

Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

While still out of the top 10, Kansas City still received its highest ranking in the last four offseasons.

On Tuesday, ESPN senior NFL writer Bill Barnwell released his annual column ranking the NFL’s best (and worst) playmaker groups, judging which front offices have given their quarterback a good supporting cast of weapons.

First, let’s review where the Kansas City Chiefs landed the last five offseasons:

• 2020: No. 1
• 2021: No. 6
• 2022: No. 16
• 2023: No. 19
• 2024: No. 14

Ahead of the 2025 season, Barnwell lists the Chiefs No. 12 — their highest ranking in four years.

While there were occasional glimmers of the old Travis Kelce, it’s fair to say Father Time might have finally gotten to the best tight end in NFL history. Outside of his one-game debut season in 2013, he set career lows in receiving yards (823), touchdowns (three), yards per reception (8.5, never previously below 10), yards per target (6.1, never once before below 8.0), yards per route run (1.6) and average yards after catch (3.5). He finished last in ESPN’s receiver score among all NFL players, although that owes in part to a Catch Score (zero) that’s way out of line with his historical rates. I’d argue that Kelce is still an above-average tight end with this skill set given how difficult it is to find real upside at the position, but I’m expecting something a lot closer to the 2024 version than the dominant 2022 edition.

The running back situation is also muddled after Isiah Pacheco‘s frustrating season, owing to a fractured fibula. It’s a little easier to project a 26-year-old runner to bounce back to form than a 35-year-old tight end, but then again, Kelce ‘s baseline was a lot more spectacular than Pacheco’s. Kareem Hunt was excellent in short-yardage and underwhelming at just about everything else when forced into the lead role as Pacheco’s replacement.

Instead, I’m cautiously optimistic about the Chiefs’ wide receivers, who have been disappointing for years. Rashee Rice was excellent down the stretch in 2023 and early in 2024 before tearing his ACL in Week 4, and with the injury occurring so early in the season, he should be closer to full health. And while it took Xavier Worthy time to rack up numbers, it wasn’t because he couldn’t get open. He averaged 2.0 yards per route run between Week 10 and Super Bowl LIX, where he finished the season with eight catches for 157 yards and two scores. If the Chiefs can somehow get full seasons out of Rice, Worthy and oft-injured third wideout Hollywood Brown, we could see something more like the younger, more explosive version of Patrick Mahomes. Of course, counting on getting 51 games out of those three players seems extremely optimistic, which is why Kansas City isn’t ranked higher.

My takeaway​

Barnwell delivered Kansas City its best ranking since trading wide receiver Tyreek Hill during the 2022 offseason. The logic tracks.

As tight end Travis Kelce is entering his age-35 season, there is some skepticism about his ability to hit 1,000 receiving yards once again. A key point missing in Barnwell’s offering might be the coverage attention three healthy above-average receivers might take away from Kelce — which could reasonably lead him to a return to that type of production.

We have talked about it often on these pages: in 2024, the Chiefs planned to tilt their primary focus from Kelce to wide receiver Rashee Rice, but the early-season injury thwarted that objective. There is no guarantee of health for any NFL player, but should Rice be able to stay on the field, everyone else’s numbers — including Kelce’s — should be better.

The Chiefs hoped to select a running back on Day 1 or 2 of the NFL Draft, but the board played out in a way that they had to wait until Round 7. That means Kansas City will be banking on Isiah Pacheco’s return to health; the running back added weight this offseason to improve his durability for his contract year. Barnwell notes Kareem Hunt is back but does not mention Elijah Mitchell, who could surprise fans as a Jerick McKinnon-like wild card.

On paper, I believe the Chiefs have top-10 firepower, but I don’t blame Barnwell for stopping at 12 because that will depend on good health, something Kansas City lacked in 2024.

---

Barnwell ranked the rest of the AFC West as follows: Las Vegas Raiders, 20. Los Angeles Chargers, 22. Denver Broncos, 23. Read his evaluations of those offenses and the entire league here.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...t-out-of-top-10-in-offensive-weapons-per-espn

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

10 Biggest Questions: What will be the Chiefs’ best offensive line?

Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

While it isn’t as drastic a change as we saw after 2020, Kansas City’s offensive line will again be different in 2025.

For the third straight year, I’m considering the 10 biggest questions I have for the Kansas City Chiefs for 2025.

Kansas City Chiefs’ fans are well aware that the team’s 2020 and 2024 squads sputtered out in their respective Super Bowls largely because they couldn’t move the ball. In each case, struggles on the offensive line were a big part of the problem.

So in each successive offseason, the team made significant moves on the line. In 2021, it signed left guard Joe Thuney, traded for left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and drafted two young stars: center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith.

While their moves weren’t as dramatic this year, the Chiefs will go into the coming season with a new left tackle and left guard. After trading Thuney to the Chicago Bears, they signed tackle Jaylon Moore — formerly with the San Francisco 49ers — and selected former Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons with the 32nd pick of the NFL Draft.

By this time in 2021, we (mostly) knew what the offensive line would look like. While right tackle was a question — Lucas Niang and Andrew Wylie would compete for the spot in training camp — the other four spots were set.

That’s not the case in 2025. While Humphrey, Smith (and right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who was signed in 2023) are the clear starters at their positions, who will be the Day 1 starter at left tackle — or at left guard? What will be the in-season contingency plan for each position? What should we expect to see in training camp — and in Week 1?

Left tackle​

Going into camp, this is the most interesting position. Simmons is recovering from a torn patellar tendon, but has been cleared to participate in practices. Under the circumstances, it seems likely that Moore (with a dozen NFL starts under his belt) will get the first crack at starting reps.

But how long of a leash will the veteran have? While the Chiefs aren’t paying Moore an outrageous amount of money for the position he plays, they did invest real money into his contract. If Moore has a great camp, that will be great. But what if his performances are up-and-down? How long would it take for Kansas City to make a change? Would the team be willing to do it before Week 1?

How Simmons performs will be a big part of the equation. We simply don’t know how the rookie will look in his first action after the injury he suffered in October. If he immediately performs as he did with the Buckeyes in 2024, there’s zero doubt in my mind he will be the starter — but that’s not a guarantee. Even after he’s fully recovered, there will still be hurdles for the rookie to clear.

So, how quickly can Simmons get up to speed? Do the Chiefs even want him to start Week 1, or would they prefer to give him more time to get into peak shape?

How Moore and Simmons play in training camp (and preseason) will be huge factors in determining what the Chiefs will do at left tackle.

Left guard​

It now seems clear that second-year player Kingsley Suamataia will begin training camp as the starter.

But this might be a mistake. I liked Suamataia as a prospect — and I still have some hope for him — but he was an abject failure as the team’s left tackle in 2024. While there’s a chance he’s just not cut out to be a left tackle, his technique (and get-off from his stance) proved to be well below NFL standards. Maybe it will be easier for him at guard, but he still must prove he can play the position.

A lot will be riding on Suamataia being ready to start — especially if the starting left tackle is a rookie. If he can’t do it, who will be up next? Head coach Andy Reid has acknowledged that Mike Caliendo will also be competing to become the left guard. But if Simmons is ready to go, could we see Moore move inside? Could it be someone else on the roster — such as Wanya Morris, Hunter Nourzad or C.J. Hanson?

Right tackle​

Reid (and offensive line coach Andy Heck) always say their goal is to have their five best offensive linemen on the field. Let’s say that by Week 1, Simmons is starting — and playing well — at left tackle, while Suamataia is holding on at left guard. But on the other side, Taylor continues to struggle. Is it possible that the Chiefs could move Moore into Taylor’s place? Will the Chiefs be willing to pull the plug on a player who will count $27.3 million against the cap this season?

If Taylor’s play doesn’t improve, I’ll be keeping my eye on this potential storyline.

The bottom line​

Given the investments Kansas City has made in them, I would love for Simmons, Suamataia, Humphrey, Smith and Taylor to be the offensive line’s starting five. But it’s very possible that this won’t be the best group. There will be real competition at multiple spots — and we could even see changes during the season.

One thing is certain: the Chiefs will leave no stone unturned. Just as we saw last year, if something isn’t working, they will make changes. It may take much of the season for things to shake out — but as long as the offensive line is stable going into the playoffs, the team will have a shot.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025/7/9/24462601/chiefs-roster-what-will-be-the-best-offensive-line

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

2 Chiefs squads make list of the 21st century’s best NFL teams

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Kansas City won three Super Bowls after 2000, but only two of those teams made a new Yahoo! list.

On Wednesday, Frank Schwab of Yahoo! Sports published his ranking of the top 25 NFL teams of this quarter century. Two of the Kansas City Chiefs’ teams from this era made his list — both of them in the top 10.

6. 2022 Chiefs

14-3 · AFC No. 1 seed · Won Super Bowl LVII

The Chiefs went 14-3, got an MVP season from Patrick Mahomes, and Steve Spagnuolo’s defense made strides that would help Kansas City reinvent itself during a dynasty. The three losses came by a combined 10 points, and like most Chiefs teams this era, it was clutch. The Chiefs’ late-game heroics included a last-minute drive to beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl.

2. 2019 Chiefs

12-4 · AFC No. 2 seed · Won Super Bowl LIV

The Chiefs’ first Super Bowl title team in 50 years was the peak of the dynasty, to date. They lost four games but each of them was by seven points or less. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill were the core of a great offense that had a remarkable comeback to beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl.

My take​

Not every Super Bowl winner made this list. No teams from 2003, 2012, 2018 or 2021 were included, while two teams each from 2013, 2014, 2019 and 2022 were listed. (Yes, the Chiefs had to share their honor with the 2019 Baltimore Ravens and 2022 Buffalo Bills — neither of which made it past the Divisional round of the respective season’s playoffs).

Schwab explained his logic this way:

Since 2000, there have been 10 NFL teams to outscore their regular-season opponents by 200 or more points. There are many ways to measure a team’s dominance, but point differential is a simple and arguably the most telling one.

But then Schwab revealed the problem with this reasoning:

And of those 10 teams that outscored their opponents by at least 200 points, exactly zero won a Super Bowl.

But that was OK with Schwab.

That’s variance in a competitive NFL with a one-and-done playoff format. The best teams don’t always win a title. Some of the greatest teams of the past 25 years didn’t even make the Super Bowl. The best team of the past quarter century — perhaps the best team in NFL history — didn’t get a ring. [Schwab is referring to the 2007 New England Patriots, who were undefeated until losing Super Bowl XLII to the New York Giants]. It happens, and it has happened plenty over the past 25 seasons.

While I’ll give him credit for admitting his approach is “arguably the most telling one,” I don’t totally buy into Schwab’s logic. Personally, I think the NFL postseason formula — winning three (or maybe four) consecutive games against the league’s best teams — is arguably the most telling way to measure a great team.

Anyway, that’s what people told Kansas City fans when their favorite team hadn’t won a Super Bowl for 49 straight seasons.

So I understand why Schawb doesn’t include the 2023 Chiefs, who were 9-6 when they lost to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day — and then won six straight games on the way to becoming the first team to win back-to-back championships since 2004. But to me, that was an exceptional Kansas City team. It exhibited not only skill and talent, but also perseverance and character.

Still, Schwab includes the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers on his list — even though they were 7-5 after losing to the Chiefs in Week 12. “This was a very good team,” writes Schwab, “that took a while to bloom.” I guess a team can only really bloom when Tom Brady is its quarterback.

So I suppose we’ve learned that we can’t expect one person’s opinion of the best teams over 25 years to match the views of every other person, can we? Perhaps Schwab would have been better off by not trying to explain himself.

“This is my list,” he might have said. “If you disagree, that’s too bad.”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...wo-squads-listed-as-best-nfl-teams-of-century

 

[monster_masterpiece]

They could make difference.

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Arrowheadlines: Jaylon Moore is the most likely to bust of all new players

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Chiefs headlines for Friday, July 11

The latest​

Pre-Camp Breakdown: Examining the Chiefs Defensive Line | The Mothership

Coziah Izzard

An undrafted free agent signee from Penn State, the 6-foot-2, 298-pound Izzard recorded 78 tackles, 17.5 tackles-for-loss, nine sacks and two forced fumbles in 51 career games (with seven starts) over his five seasons with the Nittany Lions.

His 4.85 40-yard dash (which took place at his pro day) would have ranked second among all defensive tackles at the NFL Scouting Combine, and his 10-yard split (at 1.56) would have ranked first. Additionally, his 33.5-inch vertical jump would have ranked fourth. Those are all indicators of an explosive athlete.

2025 NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stack Up Entering Training Camp?| | Bleacher Report

2. Kansas City Chiefs

Given how thoroughly the Chiefs have dominated the AFC over the past several years, it might seem weird to call Kansas City a flawed team. But that’s what we saw in a lopsided loss to the Philadelphia Eagles—the Chiefs were absolutely dominated in the trenches, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes spending most of the game either on his back or running for his life.

The Chiefs invested heavily in the offensive line in both free agency and the draft, including spending their first draft pick on Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy told reporters that the unit came to OTAs determined to put last February’s failure behind them:

“It was a struggle from the second play of the game on. We never got into a rhythm. I feel like there were a lot of plays where we were one person off, whether it was a missed assignment, below-par fundamentals and technique, or poor play design. Their defensive line set the tone early on and made it tough for us in both the run and pass game. Our offensive line fought the entire game. The beauty of our team is nobody blames. We all stick together and start with ourselves and what I could have done better. We will use this as motivation to take two steps forward.”

Motivation is all well and good. But if there’s one question mark looming over the team entering training camp, it’s whether Kansas City’s new-look line is actually any better than the old one.

Predicting Every NFL Team’s Biggest Bust of the 2025 NFL Season | Bleacher Report

Kansas City Chiefs: OT Jaylon Moore

While the Broncos didn’t overpay to add Dobbins, the rival Kansas City Chiefs may have given a bit much for former San Francisco 49ers lineman Jaylon Moore. To land the 27-year-old, who has only 12 career starts on his resume, the Chiefs handed out a two-year, $30 million deal.

Will Moore play up to his contract? Probably not. Pro Football Focus ranked Moore 25th among tackles last season, but he played just 271 offensive snaps. Kansas City also used a first-round pick on Ohio State’s Josh Simmons, and if Simmons is ready to start as a rookie, Moore could be little more than an overpriced swing tackle in 2025.

Andy Reid’s One-Liner to Xavier Worthy Hints at Chiefs’ Offensive Plan in 2025 | SI

Chiefs wideout Xavier Worthy joined the Up & Adams Show this week and spoke to Kay Adams about how Kansas City’s offense could look different this year.

When Adams asked Worthy if the deep ball was going to be a big part of the offense in Week 1, Worthy relayed a simple message he got from Coach Reid.

“Coach Reid told us... when you get back, get your hamstrings ready,” Worthy said.

“Coach Reid told us… when you get back get your hamstrings ready”

Xavier Worthy on the deep ball being a bigger part of the Chiefs offense this year.@heykayadams | @XavierWorthy #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/vlabbXhxxG

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) July 10, 2025​

Top 25 worst NFL coaching hires this century: From Bobby Petrino to Nick Saban to Urban Meyer and more | CBS Sports

15. Steve Spagnuolo (Rams)

Record: 10-38

Another example of a fearsome coordinator who couldn’t translate defensive genius to head coaching dominance, Spagnuolo is currently the face of the Chiefs’ perennially stingy Super Bowl-contending defense. Long ago, however, right after a separate successful stint running the Giants’ defense, “Spags” struggled to keep Sam Bradford upright and supported while the Rams bumbled through some of their last seasons in St. Louis.

Around the NFL​

Demarcus Robinson pleads no contest to DUI charge, gets probation | ESPN

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson pleaded no contest this week to a misdemeanor DUI charge and was sentenced to three years’ probation.

Robinson’s plea and sentencing took place Tuesday in Los Angeles. He also was ordered to pay a $390 fine and to complete court-mandated programs, including a three-month alcohol education program, according to multiple media outlets that cited court records.

“Mr. Robinson has taken this process extremely seriously by already completing most of the terms of his probation. We expect that his probation will terminate early at the 18-month mark after which his case will be expunged,” Robinson’s attorney, Jacqueline Sparagna, told TMZ Sports.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

Chiefs Salary Cap: Is there a looming crisis?

A new deal for Patrick Mahomes

The unconventional decade-long extension to which the Chiefs signed their quarterback in 2020 has certainly worked out for both parties. Still, years of annual restructures now have the face of the league scheduled to count $78.2 million against the salary cap in 2026 — followed by $74.4 million in 2027.

Veach will certainly not go into the next offseason with a fourth of the team’s salary cap space tied to Mahomes.

Enough years remain on the back end of Mahomes’ contract that Veach can continue using it as a salary cap bank for two more offseasons. But with the leaguewide quarterback market largely settled, it is probably time to start thinking about Mahomes’ next deal, which will almost certainly average over $60 million per season. Whether he will again be willing to accept a nominally lower average so that the team can spread out his salary-cap impact, however, will likely dictate how Kansas City’s contract finances will be handled for the rest of his career.

Social media to make you think​

#Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo to Bengals QB Joe Burrow after last year's game: "Other than our guy, you are the best in the business."

(via 'Quarterback' on Netflix)pic.twitter.com/Efe4najsSp

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 8, 2025​

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Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...is-the-most-likely-to-bust-of-all-new-players

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Arrowheadlines: Trent McDuffie makes debut on NFL’s ‘Top 100 Players’ list

Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

Chiefs headlines for Saturday, July 12

The latest​

8 NFL Players With the Best Chances to Turn Into Superstars in 2025 | Bleacher Report

Xavier Worthy

Speaking of finishing strong, Xavier Worthy did exactly that with 243 yards and three touchdowns in the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl for the Chiefs.

The 22-year-old is one of the fastest players in the sport, and there’s a clear path for him to become Patrick Mahomes’ No. 1 target in the Kansas City offense considering there is no established top dog and Travis Kelce is fading.

With his first full offseason under his belt for 2025, we wouldn’t be surprised if we saw shades of 2018 Tyreek Hill from Worthy in the fall.

Trent McDuffie Checks in at No. 81 Overall in the “NFL Top 100” Rankings | The Mothership

Another week, another member of the Kansas City Chiefs has appeared in the “NFL Top 100” rankings.

A week after center Creed Humphrey checked in at No. 93 overall in the annual rankings, cornerback Trent McDuffie landed at No. 81 on Friday. The rankings, which seek to list the league’s top performers as voted on by the players themselves, are gradually being released over the next several weeks.

NFL Top 100 Players of 2025:@Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie ranks No. 81 on the list! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/1e9E0OyCk5

— NFL (@NFL) July 11, 2025​

Patrick Mahomes Reveals True Thoughts on Potential 18-Game Season | SI

Most notably, Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes, regarded as the face of the league by some, addressed the subject during an interview with CNBC that aired on Friday.

“I think that you’d have to find a way to have more bye weeks, more time spread out,” Mahomes said. “Because, I mean, you’ve seen the amount of injuries that have kind of piled up there at the end of seasons, and you want to have the best players playing in the biggest games. And so if there were a way to get to 18 games, I’m not—I’m not a big fan of it. But if there were a way, I think you got to add some bye weeks in there to give more time for guys’ bodies.”

Around the NFL​

4 NFL coaches on the hot seat in 2025 you might not expect | SB Nation

Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins

It wasn’t long ago that McDaniel was considered one of the great young offensive minds in the game. He is clearly a strong offensive coach and he is a bright personality, but there have been some questions of leadership in Miami and that’s on the head coach. If the Dolphins flounder this season, McDaniel may be shown the door. And the Dolphins just might flounder. They had a suspect offseason and there will always be questions of the health of Tua Tagovailoa. If things go south in South Beach, McDaniel, who is 28-23 in the regular season and 0-2 in the postseason as Miami’s coach, may pay. If so, I could still see McDaniel, 42, having a future as a head coach and he could get a second chance fairly soon.

Sources: Bears extend general manager Ryan Poles through 2029 | ESPN

The Chicago Bears and general manager Ryan Poles have agreed to a three-year contract extension that runs through the 2029 season, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.

Poles had two years remaining on the five-year contract he signed upon becoming Chicago’s general manager in 2022. He is now aligned with head coach Ben Johnson, whose contract runs through the 2029 season.

ESPN first reported the Bears’ plan to extend Poles during the 2025 offseason in January.

Chargers RB Najee Harris injured in fireworks accident but expected to be ready for season, agent says | CBS Sports

Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris was injured during a Fourth of July fireworks accident, his agent Doug Hendrickson told multiple outlets.

In a statement, Hendrickson said Harris “sustained a superficial eye injury” but is “fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season.”

“Najee Harris was present at a 4th of July event where a fireworks mishap resulted in injuries to several attendees,” Hendrickson’s statement reads, via NFL Media. “Najee sustained a superficial eye injury during the incident, but is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season.”

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

Chiefs Roster: Trey Smith has a bad taste in his mouth after Super Bowl

After being told that during Mahomes’ interview with Adams, Mahomes had called Smith “one of the best protectors in the business,” Smith beamed.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “It’s something that I take a lot of pride in — and for him to say that means a lot to me. I lose sleep thinking about protecting Patrick. I know there are things I need to get better in my game to be the best protector that I can — and just be an asset for my team.”

Smith believes the team has acquired another player who can help protect Mahomes: the Chiefs’ first-round draft selection.

“I love his mentality and demeanor,” Smith said of former Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons. “Coming into it, I could tell he’s very talented in terms of his lower body and the capabilities that he has in terms of movement. And he’s a hard worker. [So] I love him already. I just want to take him under my wing and help him out in any aspect that he needs in his game. I’m just really looking forward to working with him.”

In the meantime, there’s the little matter of his own business with the team. Sometime before 3 p.m. Arrowhead Time on Tuesday, he and the Chiefs hope to have an agreement for a new long-term contract. But Smith — as he has done throughout the negotiation — volunteered little about it.

“I just leave it [in] the hands of my agents,” he explained, “and obviously, the front office staff of the Chiefs is elite. [So] at the end of the day, I just let them take care of it. I just have to focus on being the best version of myself, being the best football player and being prepared for training camp.”

Social media to make you think​

And the highest ranked corner. Well deserved, @trent_mcduffie pic.twitter.com/YRDni3SHM1

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 21, 2025​

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Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...ffie-makes-debut-on-nfls-top-100-players-list

 

[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.

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, July 12, 2025
Friday, July 11, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

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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/2025/7/13/24466780/sb-nation-chiefs-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Can you guess this Chiefs DB 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​

Sunday, July 13, 2025
Saturday, July 12, 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/2025/7/14/24467392/sb-nation-chiefs-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

A new ESPN ranking finally puts a Chiefs star in the right spot

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

According to NFL executives, coaches and scouts, Kansas City’s quarterback is still the man to beat.

On Monday morning, ESPN’s Field Yates continued his yearly NFL positional rankings based on the voting of league insiders. This time, he focused on quarterbacks. While the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes has been taken down a peg (or two or four) in some of the rankings we have seen this offseason, the league’s executives, coaches and scouts see it differently.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Highest ranking: 1
Lowest ranking: 4
Age: 29
Last year’s ranking: 1

Mahomes’ grip on the top spot is loosening slightly. After dominating the voting with back-to-back No. 1 rankings in convincing fashion, Mahomes garnered around 60% of the first-place votes this year, which is still impressive but well short of last year, when he received all but one first-place vote.

He has finished eighth in QBR the past two years; from 2018 through 2022, he finished first or second four times. Rarely does Mahomes look as frazzled as he did vs. Philadelphia in Super Bowl LIV.

But context is key with these discussions, and Mahomes’ modest-by-his-standards performance in 2024 (3,928 yards, 26 touchdowns, 11 interceptions) requires a lot of it.

“OL in decline, particularly at tackle, WR group completely cleaned out by injury, [Travis] Kelce not near the same player,” a veteran NFL coordinator said about Mahomes’ supporting cast. “I thought he had more command of time/score/situation and better fundamentals from within the pocket than ever. He’s a one-man army. And no NFL coach wants to deal with him. Complete dawg. No one like him. Maybe [Joe] Burrow, but Burrow isn’t as dangerous as a player.”

Mahomes still leads the NFL in virtually every passing category — from passing yards to touchdowns and yards per attempt — since becoming the starter in 2018. No quarterback was more efficient on third down than Mahomes last season. He led the NFL in third-down QBR (90.4) with a league-high 53.1% of his passing attempts resulting in first downs.

An AFC scout noted that Mahomes “probably doesn’t have that same fear factor” from opponents that he had a few years ago but also expects him to bounce back in 2025, with a healthier receiving corps and a rebuilt offensive line.

Mahomes is squarely in his prime, but he must contend with three elite quarterbacks also in their late-20s arc who are gaining on him.

“Other guys played great,” an NFC executive said, explaining why he voted Mahomes fourth. “He took a little step back based off the last few seasons. I don’t expect it to last.”

My take​

At last! A ranking that isn’t based on volume stats (such as passing yards, touchdowns and interceptions), goes well beyond what can be seen in a box score and — doesn’t mark down a top-tier competitor just to elevate a flavor-of-the-season player.

I mean no disrespect to Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and others — all of whom deserve to be (and are) listed highly in this ranking — but Mahomes is still The Man. We know this because he led his team to consecutive Super Bowls with less-than-elite wideouts (and offensive tackles) at his disposal. The quote from the “veteran NFL coordinator” bears repeating:

“I thought he had more command of time/score/situation and better fundamentals from within the pocket than ever. He’s a one-man army.”

Someday, Mahomes won’t deserve that description. But this isn’t that day. Just ask the guys who have to figure out a way to beat him.

I’m well aware: some of those guys figured out a way to do exactly that in Super Bowl LIX. But the next time, that method won’t work — because Mahomes learns very well from his occasional defeats. The next time, they’ll have to try something else.

Good luck to them.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...-new-espn-ranking-puts-patrick-mahomes-on-top

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Tuesday Takes: Who will be the next Chiefs assistant coach to be promoted?

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Which Kansas City coach is in line for a promotion? Let’s hear what you think!

In Andy Reid, the Kansas City Chiefs have a coach who loves to see his assistant coaches move up the ladder — whether it’s for his own team or another one; few NFL coaches have had more of their assistants promoted into top jobs. Among those now on Reid’s staff, who will be next in line for a better job in Kansas City or elsewhere?

Let’s talk about it!

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...he-next-chiefs-assistant-coach-to-be-promoted

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Breaking down the salary cap impact of Trey Smith’s extension

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Kansas City’s star guard will give the Chiefs some cap relief, but the team showed some financial restraint.

The Kansas City Chiefs managed to ink franchise-tagged guard Trey Smith to a four-year extension before Tuesday’s deadline. Rather than playing for $23.4 million on the franchise tag, Smith and the Chiefs agreed to a $94 million pact to make him the highest-paid guard in league history.

Mike Florio of NBC Sports soon reported the contract terms, potentially keeping Smith in Kansas City through 2028.

Smith is now guaranteed to earn $46.75 million over the next two seasons. For the coming season, he will receive a $10 million base salary on top of a $17 million signing bonus. The former sixth-round selection also gets a fully guaranteed $19.75 million base salary in 2026.

For 2025, Smith will now carry a salary cap charge of $14.25 million, and he is now set to count $24.25 million against the 2026 limit.

A $23.25 million base salary for 2027 is also already guaranteed for injury, and it fully vests on the third day of the 2026 league year. With Smith also able to earn a $250,000 workout bonus in each of the next three offseasons, he has likely secured a total of $70.5 million over the next three seasons.

No salary is guaranteed for 2028, the final season of the agreement. Should Smith remain in Kansas City on the contract, he will again make a $23.25 million base salary and be able to earn another $250,000 workout bonus. Playing out the entire four years would also allow Smith to reenter free agency in 2029, just before his 30th birthday.

Smith will have a scheduled salary cap charge of $27.75 million in 2027 and 2028.

Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images

Most observers expected general manager Brett Veach to follow the familiar four-year precedent of two fully guaranteed seasons with a third season fully vesting early in the contract. The Chiefs did frontload the cap impact of Smith’s contract more than anticipated, with a lower-than-expected signing bonus paired with a higher first-year base salary than commonly seen.

While the Chiefs did substantially trim Smith’s previous 2025 cap charge of $23.4 million, they potentially could have cut it to under $7 million.

It will be interesting to see how the numbers impact the Chiefs’ already murky 2026 cap situation — or if Veach has other moves coming before the season, such as a potential extension for cornerback Trent McDuffie.

With the details of Smith’s contract, we estimate Kansas City to be about $20.6 million under the 2025 salary cap, with only days to go before training camp kicks off at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...he-salary-cap-impact-of-trey-smiths-extension

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

‘Which’ Wednesday: Do you approve of the Trey Smith contract?

Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images

Vote in our Wednesday poll — and tell us what you think, too!

Hours before Tuesday’s deadline, the Kansas City Chiefs came to terms with right guard Trey Smith on a four-year, $94 million contract. So let’s make that our Wednesday question.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...day-do-you-approve-of-the-trey-smith-contract

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs waived WR Justyn Ross on Wednesday

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

A long-time hopeful will not get a fourth chance at Kansas City’s roster.

On Wednesday, the NFL transactions report revealed that the Kansas City Chiefs have waived wide receiver Justyn Ross, only five days before the team is due to report to training camp.

During his freshman season at Clemson in 2018, Ross appeared to be a future superstar. In that season’s College Football Playoff games against Notre Dame and Alabama, Ross and now Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence connected 12 times for 301 yards and three touchdowns as the Tigers were crowned national champions.

Unfortunately, Ross would later miss the entire 2020 season after having spinal fusion surgery. While he did return for the 2021 season, Ross went undrafted in 2022 and signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.

Ross’ troubles then continued with the Chiefs. After unprecedented hype for an undrafted free agent, he missed his rookie season with a foot injury. Ross returned healthy and made the Chiefs’ active roster in 2023, but he then missed six games of that campaign on the Commissioner’s Exempt List following an October domestic violence arrest. He finished the season with six catches for 53 yards.

Photo by David Berding/Getty Images

Ross did not make the Chiefs’ 53-man roster in 2024, and he signed to the practice squad. Although he was elevated for a pair of games, he did not record any stats.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network later reported that Ross asked Kansas City for his release last week.

No corresponding move was announced, meaning the Chiefs have an opening on the 90-man training camp roster.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025/7/16/24469015/chiefs-waived-wr-justyn-ross-on-wednesday

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs’ rookie Omarr Norman-Lott may soon sign his rookie deal

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

A standoff between the NFLPA and NFL teams over second-round contracts may be coming to an end.

Over the last 10 weeks, there’s been a roadblock standing in the way of 30 NFL teams — including the Kansas City Chiefs — signing their 2025 second-round picks. Thankfully for the Chiefs (and their second-round defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott), the situation now appears to be on the way to a resolution.

It started on May 8, when the Houston Texans signed wide receiver Jayden Higgins, who was the draft’s 34th selection. The former Iowa State wideout became the first-ever second-round pick to sign a fully guaranteed rookie contract. The next day, former UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger (who had been picked 33rd) signed a fully guaranteed contract with the Cleveland Browns.

And then... the signings of second-round players ground to a halt.

Why has this been happening?

“We work alongside the players and their agents to help them secure the best deal possible, while acknowledging that our members can organize as they see fit for the collective benefit of their financial futures,” an spokesperson for the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) told Yahoo! Sports.

To put it another way: the players’ union had organized the second-rounders to push for fully-guaranteed contracts — something that became standard for first-round selections in 2022, the first year that all opening-round picks got them.

You may wonder why this is happening, since the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the league and NFLPA was supposed to end these holdouts with its rookie wage scale. Teams and players, however, may still negotiate contract guarantees. The natural effect has been that players taken later and later in the draft are getting all of the money promised to them at signing.

Now, however, things have been coming to a head. Last Saturday, former Mississippi wide receiver Tre Harris became the first rookie holdout of the season, as he remained unsigned when the Los Angeles Chargers’ rookies reported for camp.

(Note: Rookies can participate in OTAs without being under contract, but cannot report to camp while unsigned.)

This week, nine more joined Harris, as rookies for the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions and Las Vegas Raiders were all due to report.

Then, on Wednesday night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that “the next big domino” had fallen in the standoff, as 43rd overall pick Alfred Collins — who had not reported with the rest of the 49ers’ rookies on Tuesday — signed a $10.3 million deal with over $9 million guaranteed. That works out to 88% of his total compensation, compared to the 78% that cornerback Max Melton received as the 43rd pick in 2024. And on Thursday morning, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Chicago Bears’ second-round pick — defensive tackle Shemar Turner — has also signed his contract.

Now, agents across the league are getting out rulers and graph paper, drawing lines that will connect the dots to determine how much money their second-round clients can have guaranteed to them.

We can expect many of these players to sign their deals over the next few days. Hopefully, one of them will be Norman-Lott, who will report to training camp with the rest of his rookie teammates on Sunday.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...e-omarr-norman-lott-may-soon-sign-rookie-deal

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Rashee Rice receives court sentence; NFL continues to monitor

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Rice pleaded guilty to two felonies, resulting in five years of probation and 30 days of jail time.

Roughly 15 months after Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice’s involvement in a six-vehicle crash in Texas, it seems the case has finally come to a resolution.

On Thursday, FOX4 in Dallas reported that Rice pleaded guilty to “felony racing on the highway and felony accident causing serious bodily injury.”

FOX4: In exchange, he’ll serve five years of probation. He’ll be required to spend 30 days in the Dallas County jail as a condition of that probation. Restitution has also been made in advance to the victims. The plea agreement also resolves the six other cases related to the crash.

At the time of this writing, it is unclear when Rice will actually serve his month of jail time. Rice’s attorney, Royce West, released a statement on his behalf:

“Last March, I was involved in a high-speed accident in Dallas. There have been a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages that my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole. I urge everyone to mind the speed limit, drive safe and drive smart. Last and certainly not least, I am profoundly sorry for the physical damages to person and property. I fully apologize for the harm I caused to innocent drivers and their families.”

The NFL also shared a note when reached for comment:

“We have been closely monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review,” NFL vice president of communications Brian McCarthy said in a statement.

The legal process concluding means the league is now expected to come down with a suspension for Rice’s personal conduct policy violation. Still, with little to no precedent on these matters, predicting its duration is difficult.

For reference, the Chiefs visit the Chargers (Brazil), host the Eagles, visit the Giants, host the Ravens, visit the Jaguars, host the Lions, host the Raiders and host the Commanders in their first eight games of the 2025 season.

In three games in 2024, Rice caught 24 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. A knee injury in Week 4 cost him the rest of the campaign, but head coach Andy Reid said he expects the wide receiver to be fully healthy at the start of training camp.

Players under league suspension may participate in training camp and preseason but are prohibited from regular‑season practices and games.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...e-rice-courts-sentence-nfl-suspension-unclear

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs Market Movers heading into training camp

Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images

As the team prepares to open camp in St. Joseph, which Kansas City players are trending up (or down)?

During this offseason, things have been relatively quiet for the Kansas City Chiefs. But I’d argue that for the team’s fans, training camp is one of the most exciting times of the year. Optimism and anticipation is always fun, right? We’ll be paying close attention to every little nugget of news from Missouri Western University in St. Joseph — especially ones that confirm our optimism for our favorite players.

It’s also a time to revamp my Market Movers rankings for the coming season. Each year, I rank every member of the 53-man Chiefs roster (plus the predicted practice squad) based on my opinion of each player’s impact on the team. I compare this to their salary-cap impact, so I can see who is overvalued or undervalued. Finally, I divide them into tiers based on how they compare with others across the league.

This year, I’ve added a new tier: Future Hall-of-Famers. That group now includes quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and defensive tackle Chris Jones. All of them moved from the previous top category: Among NFL Elite. Center Creed Humphrey, right guard Trey Smith and cornerback Trent McDuffie have all moved into that tier.

As we head into training camp, here are a few Kansas City players who might be moving up (or down) in the rankings — or at least have a golden opportunity to make a move.

Bulls​

Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images

T Josh Simmons: The hype train has left the station! The former Ohio State tackle has been getting rave reviews on his attitude, work ethic — and most importantly — his health. Could this be a situation similar to what we saw with Trey Smith’s rookie season, where Simmons begins camp as a starter and never lets go? Based on the trajectory we’ve already seen with the team’s first-round pick, don’t be surprised if he gets the left tackle job quickly.

WR Xavier Worthy: In his rookie season, the former Texas wideout was pressed into action a bit faster than the team probably intended. But when Rashee Rice went down at the start of Game 4, plans had to change. As the season wore on, Worthy delivered, scoring 12 total touchdowns (including playoffs), with two of his best performances in the AFC Championship and Super Bowl. Now it looks like Rice will be suspended, missing part of the upcoming season. When you combine that opportunity with the team’s stated plan to bring back the deep passing game — and (hopefully) have improved pass protection — it adds up to a potential monster season for Worthy. That will start in training camp, as he and Mahomes put in the work to be on the same page downfield.

Others trending in the right direction: Guards Trey Smith and Kingsley Suamataia, tight end Noah Gray and Jake Briningstool, safety Jaden Hicks, running back Isiah Pacheco and linebacker Brandon George.

Bears​

Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

T Jaylon Moore: He’s got to be wondering why he took this job (other than the nice payday — and a chance at a ring, of course). Moore went from backing up the great San Francisco 49ers tackle Trent Williams to backing up the next Trent Williams. (OK... it’s far too early for that hyperbole). Still, it can’t be encouraging for Moore to hear the glowing reviews of his replacement before either of them hits the field in St. Joseph. But for Moore, the good news is that even if his rival gets the job, he has enough versatility to not only stick on the roster, but thrive at another spot on the line.

TE Travis Kelce: He’s leaner and more motivated — but also in his 36th trip around the Sun. While we’ve seen the “best shape of my life” stuff about Kelce, we’ve also heard general manager Brett Veach basically say the offense won’t run through him any longer. In camp, I would expect the team to focus on developing its next wave of tight ends, while Kelce gets the “farewell tour” treatment. He’s still the GOAT (and a first-ballot Hall of Famer), but he’ll likely be eating a lot less this season (pun intended).

Others who could be trending in the wrong direction: offensive linemen Mike Caliendo and Wayna Morris, wide receivers Nikko Remigio, Skyy Moore and Rashee Rice, running backs Carson Steele and Kareem Hunt, defensive lineman Jerry Tillery and cornerback Joshua Williams.

Value (sleeper) pick: Tight end Jared Wiley​

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

With Kelce getting a reduced role, there will be plenty of reps for younger tight ends to make their move. Wiley is one who showed promise before the injury that ended his rookie season. He’s tall and athletic — and seems to have soft hands — which is the exact profile for every season’s training camp star. Watch for his development as soon as he’s healthy enough to hit the field. He’ll be easy to spot.

Other sleepers to watch: Running backs Brashard Smith and Elijah Mitchell, plus wide receiver Jalen Royals

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...ayers-are-trending-heading-into-training-camp

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Examining Trey Smith’s new long-term contract with the Chiefs

Photo by Kara Durrette/Getty Images

Trey Smith and the Chiefs reset the NFL’s guard market, so how does the deal compare to the rest of the league?

Major contract news broke this week, as the Kansas City Chiefs signed offensive lineman Trey Smith to a record-breaking four-year, $94 million deal, making him the highest-paid guard in NFL history.

Smith, 26, was the lone player remaining on the franchise tag, which the Chiefs applied back in March, and he was slated to play the 2025 season on a one-year, $23 million contract.

However, he now has a long-term deal with the Chiefs that includes $70 million guaranteed, the most money ever awarded to an NFL guard. Smith and the Chiefs had until Tuesday’s 3 p.m. deadline to reach a deal, agreeing to one just hours before that.

Smith is an integral part of a retooled Kansas City offensive line that includes free agent signee Jaylon Moore, All-Pro center Creed Humphrey, first-round pick Josh Simmons and right tackle Jawaan Taylor.

Earlier in the offseason, Kansas City traded fellow guard Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears for a 2026 fourth-round pick, creating $16 million in cap space while reaffirming their commitment to the younger Smith.

Now, Smith is under contract through the 2028 season, with the four-year deal replacing the franchise tag that was previously in place.

I shared a prediction for Smith’s contract late last month, saying I expected him to reset the guard market. Let’s compare the prediction to what the actual deal became.

Comparing Trey Smith’s deal to the rest of the NFL market​

Back at the end of June, I projected Smith to become the NFL’s highest-paid guard, noting that he already held that stature after earning a whopping $23.4 million one-year contract on the franchise tag.

However, I didn’t expect Smith to earn a deal that topped his franchise tag figure, given that the previous top guard contract was Landon Dickerson’s four-year, $84 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Instead, I projected a four-year, $86.5 million deal for Smith with $60.25 million guaranteed, which would’ve been the second-most in the NFL behind Carolina’s Robert Hunt, who got $63 million guaranteed on his five-year, $100 million deal.

Given that Creed Humphrey got nearly 70 percent of his deal guaranteed and Jawaan Taylor got 75 percent of his deal guaranteed, I set Smith’s guarantee percentage close to that 70 percent range as well.

Smith got more than both of those numbers, receiving a four-year deal worth $23.5 million annually, which eclipses Dickerson’s $21 million salary by nearly 12 percent. Additionally, his $70 million in guarantees is nearly 75 percent of the total contract, coming out to a record-breaking $70 million.

How strong is the Trey Smith contract with the Chiefs?​

Smith certainly got a strong deal to become the highest-paid guard, and all of it was new money, erasing the one-year franchise tag that was previously in place.

The left guard has two years fully guaranteed at signing, while a third seems likely to guarantee, as his $23.5 million salary for the 2027 season is guaranteed by the third league day of 2026.

It’s funny to think about, but Smith could have potentially gotten even more money on the open market next year with the continuous rise of the salary cap.

Nonetheless, he got a record-breaking deal that eclipsed my projections and gave him long-term security with an extension that keeps him in Kansas City through the 2028 season.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...ing-trey-smith-four-year-contract-kansas-city

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Omarr Norman-Lott agrees to terms on rookie contract, according to a report

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

All of Kansas City’s draft picks have now signed their rookie deals.

One day ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs’ report day for training camp, they have come to terms with second-round rookie defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was the first to relay the news on his official X account.

The #Chiefs have agreed to terms with second-round pick DT Omarr Norman-Lott, sources say, their 63rd overall selection. Deal was done by @IanGrutman of @GSEworldwide. pic.twitter.com/zYT3B06ZXj

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 19, 2025​

The Chiefs selected the 23-year-old out of Tennessee with the No. 63 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. Our John Dixon recently explained why it has taken second-rounders longer to sign this offseason than ever before.

It started on May 8, when the Houston Texans signed wide receiver Jayden Higgins, who was the draft’s 34th selection. The former Iowa State wideout became the first-ever second-round pick to sign a fully guaranteed rookie contract. The next day, former UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger (who had been picked 33rd) signed a fully guaranteed contract with the Cleveland Browns...

To put it another way: the players’ union had organized the second-rounders to push for fully-guaranteed contracts — something that became standard for first-round selections in 2022, the first year that all opening-round picks got them.

Given the Chiefs’ depth at the defensive tackle position and the offseason departure of Turk Wharton, Norman-Lott projects to play a key role for Kansas City right away. With the contract done, the club has ensured he will be involved for the full duration of training camp.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2025...orman-lott-agrees-to-terms-on-rookie-contract