Why the Chiefs could be patient with additional roster moves
Reasons for waiting to make more moves to improve the team
The job of an NFL general manager is to always be evaluating and looking for ways to improve your roster. Brett Veach is continually exploring options to make the 90-man roster more competitive from training camp to cutdown day.
The balancing act is finding ways to take both short- and long-term consideration into the moves he makes. There are financial constraints that the team must operate within for not just this year, but future years.
The Chiefs are currently projected to have around $4 million dollars in cap space for 2026. The team likes to hold some reserve for moves during the season. That doesn’t necessarily keep them from being able to add a veteran, as they could include incentives in a deal that would push some player earnings into 2027’s cap.
That’s at least the thought process used by those of us who look at the roster and see flaws at wide receiver, edge rusher, safety, and linebacker. It looks like one of the more flawed rosters in the Mahomes era. There is a clamoring for additional improvements. And while it doesn’t feel like it there is much time left to make a move, there are still ways the Chiefs could be approaching the 2026.
Here are six reasons why the Chiefs could be patient in making a move before training camp.
Quiet confidence
Some in the national media were surprised to see the Chiefs trade Wanya Morris to the Atlanta Falcons earlier this offseason, given the perceived concerns with the offensive line (which I do not understand).
The local beat saw the emergence of Esa Pole and Khalil Benson as reasons the team felt comfortable moving on from their 2023 third-round pick. Clearly the team agreed.
As much as we see question marks around the roster, the lack of activity could be an indication of what they see from at least some of their existing talent. Players like defensive ends Ashton Gillotte and R Mason Thomas, wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton, linebackers Jeffrey Bassa and Cooper McDonald, and safety Jaden Hicks all have the talent to be meaningful contributors. We just haven’t seen a ton of on-field production from them to this point.
Is it likely that all these players are intentionally being afforded runway to emerge as viable starters/contributors? Probably not. But at least a few of these positions, there is likely a quiet confidence in what they have in the building already.
Early camp evaluations
With several young players on the roster at positions of concern, there is runway for them to take control of a meaningful role.