The Kansas City Chiefs just cannot quit Derrick Nnadi.

Ever since the Chiefs selected Nnadi in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft—general manager Brett Veach’s first ever draft class after taking over the role from John Dorsey—the run-stuffing defensive tackle has managed to find a way to hang on with the team year after year (after year). Despite being a predicted roster casualty, Nnadi has boomeranged back into the Chiefs’ plans for eight consecutive seasons.

Nnadi’s tenure with the Chiefs looked finished one year ago at this time, as Veach decided to let him walk in free agency on a cheap one-year deal with the New York Jets. Five months later, however, Veach would decide to trade back for Nnadi with a future swap of draft assets shortly before active roster cuts are due.

Was the ’25 season a legitimate curtain call for Nnadi in Kansas City? What about the rest of the NFL? Is it silly to bet against another reunion? Let’s take a look at Nnadi’s free agency profile to get a better sense of what’s ahead for both sides in this long-term relationship.

Looking back at Derrick Nnadi’s contract year

Commenting on Nnadi’s contract year is going to bring up the same remarks as 2025, which were the same as 2024, which were the same as 2023. Ever since Nnadi’s four-year rookie deal expired after the 2021 campaign, the Chiefs have exhibited a weird obsession with employing (and using) the below-average lineman.

Derrick Nnadi’s contract history

The only comfort for Chiefs fans in that Steve Spagnuolo at least figured out to set Nnadi in the corner more often than not in terms of snap counts. Even in 2023, Nnadi still garnered 500 snaps, but he dropped to only 20 percent of snaps the last year. That he leaped back up to 34 percent last season tells you at least something about the Chiefs’ ceiling of six wins in 2025.

The truth is that defensive tackle has been a sinkhole of a position that Veach doesn’t seem to know how to fill. When draft picks and veteran flyers fall flat—think of the Keondre Coburns or Marlon Tuipulotus or Danny Sheltons over the years—the Chiefs GM has always come back around to the old standards of Nnadi or Mike Pennel. For better or for worse.

Derrick Nnadi’s market outlook

This has to be the year of the break-up, right? While there’s a section of Chiefs Kingdom that would call Nnadi “washed” and not think any more of the subject, the evidence points to something more for Nnadi at the NFL level, even if it might not be in Kansas City.

Remember, Nnadi wasn’t left waiting until days before training camp, hoping for the phone to ring with an offer of any kind. That might be awaiting him this year, but the Jets signed him in mid-March last year—just days after the new league year began. Yeah, that’s when teams sign their priorities, and the Jets made Nnadi such a target. Of course, it is the Jets we’re talking about here.

But Veach traded back for Nnadi after the Jets signed him early, so there’s at least some evidence pointing to Nnadi being viewed internally as a more significant asset than what the casual Chiefs fan might realize. And that points the way to at least some NFL franchise giving him a chance to make it nine years.

Will Derrick Nnadi return to the Chiefs in 2026?

This year, at least, it feels as if K.C. realizes they need a significant investment inside. Chris Jones is turning 32 before the season begins, and the Chiefs are still riding him like a prized Arabian. It’s organizational malpractice at this point to surround him with veteran scraps and then demand just as much lifting as he did five seasons ago.

Omarr Norman-Lott, drafted in the second round a year ago, will return from a season-ending injury and is one of the season’s most overlooked x-factors. Jerry Tillery is out the door. Pennel is as well. There’s room here for another signing or two as well as a draft pick (or two). The cupboards are that barren.

Of course, so great a need could allow a return for Nnadi in some capacity, even if that’s just competing for a roster spot. Spags absolutely loves him and will have an opinion on the matter. But this relationship should have ended years ago.

Final prediction for Derrick Nnadi

Nnadi finds a home with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year, vet-minimum deal to import some of his championship experience and run-stopping ability for a team that needs a complete culture change.