Three Chiefs defenders are prime targets on the NFL free agent big board. Can Kansas City keep these rising stars amidst financial woes?
After a 6-11 season that nobody would have ever expected in their wildest dreams, the Kansas City Chiefs are heading into their most important offseason in recent history. With multiple key players set to head into free agency and sticky financial capabilities, the Chiefs are fighting an uphill battle heading into the 2026 season.
Three Kansas City players, all of whom are defenders, found their way onto Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report’s top-50 free agent big board. These three players are safety Bryan Cook, cornerback Jaylen Watson, and linebacker Leo Chenal.
Cook, ranked as the 46th best free agent this offseason, logged 85 tackles and six passes defended in 2025. Taken in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Cook has started 47 games for the Chiefs in four seasons. His versatility in the secondary and his young age of just 26 will surely attract multiple teams in free agency.
The 22nd-ranked free agent, Chenal, had 58 tackles, two sacks, five QB hits, and one interception in 14 games last season for Kansas City. Despite excelling as a starter, he’s not yet been able to be an every-down linebacker, playing in just 53% of snaps last season. At just 25 years old, Chenal is sure to garner interest from teams, with the hope that he can become a more consistent presence on defense.
The highest-ranked Kansas City free agent, Watson, comes in at No. 8 on Bleacher Report’s big board. Coming in as a seventh-round pick in 2022, Watson has made 29 starts for the Chiefs over the last four seasons. Last season, he recorded 64 tackles, two sacks, and six passes defended. He allowed a passer rating of just 79.0 against QBs in 2025, earning his spot as one of the best corners in the game.
Watson’s 6’2” frame at the cornerback position is enough to have NFL scouts drooling, but his injury history could bring a wrinkle to his market. A broken fibula had Watson out for the majority of 2024 and ended 2025 on the sidelines with a groin injury. Still, his ability at his young age of 27 will have many teams disinterested in the former seventh-rounder.
With its current financial position, the Chiefs won’t be able to bring back all of its players. Kansas City ranks dead last in cap space this offseason at a bleak -$43 million. With quarterback Patrick Mahomes out with a torn ACL and the likelihood of a 2026 return in the air, the Kansas City front office may be more enticed to let all three walk in free agency. It feels wrong to expect that from the Chiefs, however, who have shown a never-wavering commitment to being competitive. After an embarrassing season, the Kansas City front office will have to be strategic in its approach to returning to winning football in 2026.