It’s been a busy NFL offseason for the Kansas City Chiefs, who’ve been involved in plenty of player movement this spring. Not only have the Chiefs handed out 13 new contracts this spring, according to Spotrac, but they’ve also been a part of their fair share of departures as nine free agents have left Kansas City in favor of fresh starts elsewhere.

Some departing names will find success with their new teams, while others will struggle to do so. When it comes to the latter category, here’s a look at four former Chiefs who will likely fail with their new teams in 2025.

1. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Looking to improve their wideout depth, the Chiefs sent a fifth-round pick to the Tennessee Titans to acquire DeAndre Hopkins before the 2024 trade deadline. It seemed like a good idea at the time, given that the five-time Pro Bowl WR had racked up nearly 13,000 yards and 79 career touchdowns before stepping foot in Kansas City.

Even though he had his occasional moments, Hopkins’ Chiefs tenure was largely forgettable. The former Clemson Tiger barely made a mark on offense, only bringing in 41 catches for 437 receiving yards and four TDs in 10 regular-season games before posting an uninspiring 3-29-1 stat line in three playoff appearances.

Rather than re-sign him, the Chiefs allowed Hopkins to hit free agency, opening the door for him to sign a one-year, $5 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens. Having said that, joining the Ravens likely won’t lead to the former Kansas City playmaker turning his career around.

Hopkins is unlikely to take that many targets away from the likes of Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Mark Andrews. He’s also going to be 33 years old come September, meaning Father Time forcing him to lose a step could see Hopkins descend further down the pecking order.

While he has plenty to be proud of in his career, Hopkins isn’t the player he once was. If the Ravens expect him to turn back the clock, chances are they’ll be left disappointed.

2. Justin Watson, WR, Houston Texans

Sticking with the topic of wideouts, former Chiefs playmaker Justin Watson is another one who could flop in 2025. After spending the last three seasons in Kansas City, the Bridgeville, PA native is heading to the Houston Texans on a two-year, $5 million contract.

Watson often played a supporting role during his time with the Chiefs. Fans thought he was ready to take his game to the next level, though, following a career performance in 2023 that saw him record personal bests in receptions (27), receiving yards (460), and touchdowns (3).

Much to the fanbase’s dismay, Watson couldn’t replicate that success in 2024. Despite suiting up one more time than he did in the previous season, the 28-year-old WR finished with fewer catches (22), yards (289), and TDs (2).

If that wasn’t bad enough, he was also among Pro Football Focus‘ lowest-rated wideouts in terms of receiving (52.9, 120th) and overall offense (53.8, 125th).

Things are unlikely to get better now that Watson is with the Texans. Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, John Metchie III, and Xavier Hutchinson are likely all ahead of Watson on the depth chart already, and that’s without mentioning how Houston also signed Braxton Berrios in free agency.

Unless he completely breaks out, there’s a good chance that Watson will get lost in the shuffle. If that’s the case, the Texans might look to cut ties by the next offseason.

3. Joshua Uche, OLB, Philadelphia Eagles

The Chiefs attempted to bolster their defense by acquiring outside linebacker Joshua Uche just days before the 2024 trade deadline. It was a low-risk, high-reward move for a proven pass rusher who had racked up 20.5 sacks in parts of five seasons with the New England Patriots.

Much like the Hopkins trade, Uche’s run didn’t end up working out, much to the Chiefs’ dismay.

The former Michigan Wolverine was often on the sidelines, playing only 87 defensive snaps across six regular-season games, resulting in only seven solo tackles. Head coach Andy Reid had seen enough by the time January began, choosing to scratch Uche for the entire NFL postseason.

Reid recently admitted that Uche “wasn’t a great fit” for the Chiefs and that his run may have gone differently had he been with the team since training camp. Hindsight is 20/20, though, and all Kansas City can do now is avoid making similar mistakes going forward.

Meanwhile, Uche has since joined the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year contract this offseason. Although joining a Super Bowl winner can sometimes bring out the best in a player, the 26-year-old OLB’s run with the Chiefs last season proved that isn’t always the case; a lesson Eagles fans might have to learn the hard way.

4. Derrick Nnadi, DT, New York Jets

After seven seasons and three Super Bowls with the Chiefs, veteran defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi left Kansas City to join the New York Jets on a one-year contract this offseason. It’s a big change for the 28-year-old defender, who’s only ever played under Reid after being drafted 75th overall in 2018.

Losing Nnadi presented quite a blow to the Chiefs. Not only did the former Florida State Seminole rack up 109 solo tackles and five sacks across 115 career outings, but he was also a pillar throughout the Kansas City community, especially when it came to the animal-related causes he participated in.

While Chiefs fans will miss his off-field presence, little about his recent play suggests that he’s irreplaceable on the field. After all, Nnadi’s production dropped off a cliff in 2024 as he went from being an every-week starter to making one start in 17 appearances. Unsurprisingly, the diminished playing time resulted in a career-low three solo tackles.

Even though Nnadi appeared in all three postseason games, the writing was on the wall at that point. The Chiefs limited him to only 52 defensive snaps throughout the playoffs, making it clear that he was no longer a key part of Reid’s plans.

Based on his career trajectory, Nnadi is unlikely to turn things around with the Jets. It’s going to take some time for him to adjust to his new surroundings, especially in head coach Aaron Glenn’s first year behind the bench. If Nnadi can’t separate himself from the pack early on, it’s going to be tough to get back into Glenn’s good graces.

Although Chiefs fans won’t soon forget what Nnadi accomplished in Kansas City, all signs point to him having a forgettable run with the Jets.