With a looming cap deficit, a star cornerback's future in Kansas City hangs in the balance. Injuries may force the Chiefs' hand on retaining key talent.
Things aren’t looking bright for the Kansas City Chiefs. At 6-10 and down to their third-string quarterback after their franchise QB, Patrick Mahomes, suffered a torn ACL, the future is as uncertain as it ever has been for the Chiefs.
There will be a lot of shakeup in the Kansas City roster this coming offseason, from rumors swirling about tight end Travis Kelce’s retirement to simply not being able to afford to retain key players.
Kansas City will be working with a $39.7 million projected cap deficit, making it extremely difficult to keep some of its top players at Arrowhead Stadium in 2026. Some of the Chiefs' top upcoming free agents include Kelce, running backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, receiver Hollywood Brown, safety Bryan Cook, and cornerback Jaylen Watson.
It’s safe to say the Chiefs won’t be able to keep all of their upcoming free agents, meaning the front office will have to pick and choose in the coming months. With his recent injury concerns, the Chiefs may choose to let Watson walk in the offseason.
Watson was shut down after being eliminated from playoff contention with a groin injury and previously suffered a broken fibula in 2024. The recent injury concerns may be the deciding factor in the Chiefs’ decision this offseason, as when he is on the field, the 27-year-old has been great.
He’s second on the team in passes defended this season while leading the Chiefs' secondary with two interceptions. Watson allowed a passer rating of just 79.0 in 15 starts in 2025. He’ll be one of the most intriguing free agent cornerbacks on the market this offseason, making it even harder for Kansas City to retain the former seventh-round pick.
In a recent Bleacher Report article from Kristopher Knox, Watson was predicted to leave Kansas City on a three-year, $40 million deal with the Tennessee Titans.
“The Titans need an influx of talent and are projected to have the third-most cap space in the league in 2026,” Knox wrote. “They could also use corner help to bolster a defense ranked 29th in net yards per pass attempt allowed.”
It’s becoming increasingly likely that Watson has played his final snap in a Chiefs uniform, where he won two Super Bowl rings. Though the Chiefs' dynasty seemed like it’d be rock steady for years to come, 2025 had other plans, forcing a huge roster shakeup to occur in the upcoming offseason. Watson will likely be a casualty of such a shakeup.