The Kansas City Chiefs are headed to a long offseason filled with difficult roster decisions, including what to do with a big offseason acquisition that failed to pan out as expected.
The Chiefs signed veteran cornerback Kristian Fulton with the hopes of shoring up their secondary, but he struggled with injuries and inconsistent play. One analyst believes the Chiefs could cut ties with Fulton this offseason, cutting their losses and going a different direction.
Kristian Fulton Struggled to Stay on the Field
As SI.com’s Dominic Minchella noted, the Chiefs signed Fulton to a two-year contract worth $20 million last offseason, hoping he could replicate the success he had with a division rival.
“Fulton came off his best season in the NFL in 2024 with the Los Angeles Chargers, and the signing looked to be smart with that in mind,” Minchella noted. “However, playing in only seven games this season, Fulton has yet to live up to the contract he’s been given.”
Though head coach Andy Reid has shared some praise of Fulton when healthy, Minchella suggested the Chiefs could find a more cost-efficient option in free agency.
“There are several cornerbacks set to hit free agency this offseason, and if the Chiefs feel they need to improve that position for next season, they will have options who are relatively inexpensive compared to what they’re on the books for in paying Fulton,” Minchella wrote.
The Chiefs struggled on defense at times this season, leading to the team’s first season without the playoffs in more than a decade.
Big Decisions Looming on Offense
The Chiefs face some even bigger decisions on offense in the coming offseason, with some of their major skill players headed to free agency. That includes tight end Travis Kelce, who is expected to make a decision about retirement but would need to sign a new contract if he returns.
The Chiefs will also have both running backs heading to free agency, with Kareem Hunt becoming an unrestricted free agent and Isiah Pacheco a restricted free agent. Wide receivers Marquise “Hollywood” brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton are also unrestricted free agents.
The Chiefs also have an unexpectedly important decision to make at quarterback. Backup Gardner Minshew has reached the end of his contract, but the Chiefs may need a veteran who can start early in the season while Patrick Mahomes recovers from a torn ACL and LCL.
The Sporting News reporter Daniel Chavkin suggested the Chiefs could turn back to the rival Buffalo Bills for help at quarterback. The Chiefs already poached quarterback Shane Buechele from Buffalo’s practice squad for the final two games of this season, and Chavkin wrote that Josh Allen’s No. 2 could be an option to start next year.
“[Mitch] Trubisky has been Josh Allen’s backup for the Buffalo Bills over the past several years,” Chavkin wrote. “He has started just seven games since leaving the Chicago Bears after the 2020 season. However, Trubisky used to play for Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy in Chicago, giving him a connection to the team and the offensive system.”
