One player whose future in Kansas City is suddenly in question is offensive tackle Wanya Morris. The former third-round pick has served as an important depth piece and has made multiple starts during his NFL career, but his path to a larger role appears increasingly complicated.

According to a new report from Jeremy Fowler, both sides are now exploring whether a fresh start elsewhere could be the best solution. “The Chiefs and OT Wanya Morris have agreed to explore trade options, per sources. Morris would like the chance to play more and Kansas City has tackle depth.”

Will the Chiefs trade Wanya Morris?

Yes. Fowler’s report suggests the situation is not being driven by dissatisfaction from either side. Instead, Wanya Morris is looking for an opportunity to earn a larger role, while the Chiefs have enough depth at offensive tackle to consider moving him.

Morris has appeared in 16 starts during his first three NFL seasons, including 11 starts in 2024. Those experiences could make him an attractive target for teams searching for affordable offensive line help.

For Kansas City, the move would also reflect the confidence in their current tackle depth to protect Patrick Mahomes. If a suitable offer emerges, the Chiefs could decide that acquiring future assets while giving Morris a better opportunity elsewhere is a win-win outcome for both sides.

On Thursday, ESPN reported that the Chiefs were hosting Sneed for a free-agent visit. The cornerback was unexpectedly traded to the Tennessee Titans back in 2024.

Sneed was previously a cornerstone of Kansas City’s defense. However, his stint in Tennessee was disappointing, leading the Titans to release him in March to clear $11.4 million in cap space.

L’Jarius Sneed would not be the starter if he returns

This potential reunion comes after Trent McDuffie’s trade to the Los Angeles Rams. The Chiefs want an experienced cornerback who already understands Reid’s system.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo knows Sneed perfectly from their time together. Still, Sneed’s arrival wouldn’t guarantee him a starting job despite his deep connections to the team.

Nohl Williams is the current starter at LCB, while rookie Mansoor Delane anchors RCB. After investing the 6th overall pick in 2026 on Delane, the Chiefs won’t bench him for Sneed.

The Chiefs face a complicated 2026 season

Reports suggest Patrick Mahomes might not be ready for Week 1, which would deal a severe blow to the offense. However, it is not the only problem the Chiefs face this year.

Meanwhile, the reigning division champion Broncos look like Super Bowl contenders, the Chargers are dangerous dark horses, and the Raiders are rising under Fernando Mendoza and Klint Kubiak. Could the Chiefs finish last in the AFC West for the first time under Reid?

Last season, everyone expected Jalen Royals to be the natural replacement for Rashee Rice during Rice’s suspension. Knee tendinitis put a stop to that, but right now, he is taking advantage of the fact that Rashee Rice is not at OTAs.

“Yeah, so they’re rotating in with the first group,” Reid said. “And Rashee Rice is not here. It gives Jalen Royals some great reps with the wide receiver position. Strong, he looks strong out there and running well, and that whole deal. So, it’s great for him. It’s great for him and for the quarterbacks to see what he’s all about on repeated reps.”

When will the Chiefs return to their OTAs

The Kansas City Chiefs officially concluded their first of two weeks of OTAs on Thursday, May 28. The team will reconvene on Monday, June 1, for their second week of OTAs before a five-day break between OTAs and mandatory minicamp.

A golden opportunity for Royals

A fourth-round pick out of Utah State in 2025, Jalen Royals caught two passes on three targets for four yards during his NFL rookie season. This year, it seems like he will have an opportunity to secure a larger role in the offense.

He needs to stay healthy regarding his knee, but it feels especially true if he continues to take advantage of these early offseason practice days and builds on them going forward.

Andy Reid on Patrick Mahomes’ recovery

Patrick Mahomes is participating in practice, but only in a limited capacity. Coach Andy Reid does not like to use the “ahead of schedule” phrasing; however, it is clear that Patrick Mahomes is making tremendous progress as he returns from a season-ending knee injury. “I like what I’ve seen,” Reid said of Mahomes.

“He’s working hard. This is good for him, I mean, getting out there and throwing it’s good rehab, as he continues rehab, so he keeps a feel with the receivers, where he’s doing partial practice, and, but it’s important, it’s important to keep his timing up, and he’s busted his tail to put himself in this position, most guys wouldn’t even be able to do this, but he’s put himself in that position, and I know we’ve got good communication with the doctors, and they’re, you know, they keep a close eye on it, and what’s real and what’s not real, so and then we just, we listen to them.”

Patrick Mahomes participated in 7-7 team drills, but he is not cleared to participate in 11-11 yet. That is not so much about his ability to run or cut as it is to protect him from incidental contact, and Reid said it is to avoid plays with any fly or sweep motion that could lead to a collision in the backfield.

The head coach shared his thoughts during a recent Chiefs press conference, and the promising declaration was shared on X by Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports. “I like what I’ve seen. He’s working hard. This is good for him. You get him out there throwing; it’s rehab… He’s doing partial practice,” Reid announced.

Reid further elaborated on the collective effort required to get Mahomes back to peak performance without rushing the process. “It’s important. He’s busted his tail to put himself in this position… We’ve got good communication with the doctors. They keep a close eye on him, and we listen to them,“ he stated.

Can the Chiefs survive until Mahomes returns?

The Chiefs absolutely need Mahomes healthy and under center if they want to remain a true championship threat in a highly competitive AFC field. If he can successfully return for the opening weeks of the 2026 season, Kansas City can avoid falling behind in the divisional standings early on.

With former backup Gardner Minshew departing in free agency, the front office had to pivot by trading for Justin Fields. While Fields and backup Chris Oladokun offer unique athletic traits, they simply do not possess the elite throwing power or championship pedigree that Mahomes brings.

Reid is widely regarded as an offensive genius, but winning a Lombardi Trophy without a generational talent like Mahomes remains an incredibly steep hill to climb. Ultimately, the Chiefs’ hopes of a championship run hinge entirely on their franchise quarterback making a full recovery.

Earlier this month, Rice was taken into custody after a drug test revealed he had tested positive for THC, violating the terms of the five-year probation agreement stemming from his high-speed, multi-vehicle crash in Dallas in 2024. His 30-day jail stint means he will completely miss the Chiefs’ Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp.

Following the news, Andy Reid addressed the media on Thursday, confirming that he intends to have a serious conversation with Rice regarding his off-field behavior to prevent any further lapses in judgment.

“When he gets back, we’ve got to get him caught up… and make sure he gets it… Life lessons are important. We’re all given chances to learn,” Andy Reid said, per Charles Goldman.

Chiefs’ long-term commitment to Rice questions surface

Rice joined the Chiefs as a second-round pick in 2023 and put together a stellar rookie campaign, recording 79 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. However, his ongoing off-field issues have created an unexpected barrier between the club and the player.

According to reports, Kansas City has put any potential contract extension talks on ice due to his compounding legal instability. While Rice has proven to be an elite asset in Patrick Mahomes‘ offense when on the field, his lack of availability conflicts with the disciplined, competitive culture Reid is trying to maintain.

With Rice’s long-term future in question, offseason rumors continue to link the Chiefs to external veteran wideouts. Star names like Stefon Diggs or A.J. Brown have surfaced in league circles, suggesting that if the front office does not see significant personal growth from Rice, they may be forced to look for a permanent replacement sooner rather than later.

An overview of the Chiefs’ 2026 wide receiver room

Despite the headaches his legal troubles cause, the reality remains that Andy Reid drastically needs a healthy and focused Rashee Rice. He currently projects as the clear-cut WR1 for a passing attack that faces prominent depth concerns entering the 2026 season.

Behind Rice on the depth chart sits dynamic wideout Xavier Worthy, who is currently managing a shoulder issue. With Rice sidelined for the summer, the top remaining targets at Mahomes’ disposal include a re-signed Tyquan Thornton, alongside younger developmental options like Jalen Royals, Cyrus Allen, and Nikko Remigio.

According to Spotrac: “The Chiefs converted $9.685M of George Karlaftis’ salary into signing bonus, creating $7.7M of 2026 space. KC now carries an estimated $13M of Top 51 cap space into June.” The move gives the Chiefs more breathing room financially as they continue shaping the roster around Patrick Mahomes and another potential Super Bowl run.

Karlaftis remains one of the key pieces of Kansas City’s defense, but the timing of the restructure immediately sparked conversations about what could come next. The Chiefs still need financial flexibility to sign members of their rookie class, yet the extra cap space could also allow the front office to explore adding another major offensive weapon.

Chiefs could sign another wide receiver

The restructure could be an early signal that the Chiefs are keeping their options open at wide receiver, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Rashee Rice’s legal situation.

Rice remains one of the team’s most talented young playmakers, but the possibility of missed time or league discipline has naturally increased speculation about the Chiefs potentially adding another proven target for Mahomes.

One intriguing option still available on the market is Stefon Diggs. While nothing concrete has emerged linking Diggs to Kansas City, the Chiefs creating additional cap space instantly fuels theories about whether they could pursue a veteran receiver capable of elevating the offense immediately.

Chiefs trade rumors with A.J. Brown

There have also been rumors around possible trade interest involving A.J. Brown, although a blockbuster move remains unlikely at this stage. The New England Patriots reportedly appear to hold an advantage if the Philadelphia Eagles ever seriously entertain trade conversations.

Still, in today’s NFL, unexpected moves happen quickly, especially when a contender believes it has a championship window to maximize. The idea of pairing Brown with Mahomes would instantly create one of the NFL’s most dangerous offensive combinations.

With Travis Kelce still playing at a high level and Xavier Worthy continuing to develop, adding another elite receiver could completely transform Kansas City’s offense heading into 2026.

For now, the Karlaftis restructure may simply be smart cap management. But around the NFL, these types of financial moves are often viewed as the first sign that something bigger could be coming for a team determined to remain at the top of the AFC.

The sight of Mahomes back on the field changes the tone around Kansas City entering the 2026 NFL season. There had been growing concerns that the recovery timeline from multiple ligament injuries in his left knee could extend deep into the regular season, potentially putting Week 1 availability in doubt. Instead, the early OTA footage suggests the recovery process may be moving ahead faster than many expected.

While the Chiefs will undoubtedly remain cautious throughout the summer, Mahomes participating in football activities this early provides legitimate optimism inside the organization and across the fan base. Kansas City’s championship window remains wide open as long as Mahomes is healthy, and his return to throwing drills is already fueling hope that the offense could be close to full strength by the start of the season.

Patrick Mahomes’ recovery could change everything for the Chiefs in 2026

The Chiefs are once again positioning themselves as Super Bowl contenders, and Mahomes’ recovery is the centerpiece of those ambitions. They enter the 2026 season with an offense loaded with playmakers, including Kenneth Walker III, Travis Kelce, and Xavier Worthy.

Kelce’s experience and chemistry with Mahomes remain critical for the offense, while Worthy’s explosiveness adds another deep-threat dimension that defenses must respect. The addition of Kenneth Walker III also gives Kansas City more balance offensively, potentially helping reduce pressure on Mahomes early in the season as he continues regaining full mobility and confidence in the knee.

Another major factor for the Chiefs will be the situation surrounding Rashee Rice. The talented wide receiver continues dealing with legal issues that could impact his availability moving forward. Andy Reid knows that having Rice fully available and focused on football would significantly elevate the offense and provide Mahomes with another elite weapon in the passing game.

For now, though, the biggest takeaway from OTAs is simple: Patrick Mahomes is back on the field, throwing passes, and giving the Chiefs a realistic reason to believe another championship run is possible. After the uncertainty surrounding such serious knee injuries, that alone feels like a massive victory for Kansas City heading into 2026.

According to Albert Breer, that’s a potential landing spot for the veteran wide receiver as uncertainty continues surrounding his future with the New England Patriots. “The Chiefs could make sense. The Commanders might, too, since Diggs is from D.C. The Falcons and Rams would also be interesting landing spots.”

The possibility immediately becomes a key topic around the NFL considering the offensive firepower already surrounding Mahomes. If Diggs somehow joined the Chiefs, he would become part of a terrifying offense featuring Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and star running back Kenneth Walker III.

Patriots could still prevent Stefon Diggs from joining Chiefs

Even after Patrick Mahomes’ serious knee injury last season, the Chiefs continue aggressively building around their superstar quarterback for another Super Bowl run.

Adding a proven veteran like Diggs could give Andy Reid one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL once again. However, Breer also explained that everything may ultimately depend on whether the Patriots successfully complete their expected trade for A.J. Brown.

“Pessimism, I do think an A.J. Brown trade will happen. I also don’t think, for a variety of reasons, you’ll see Diggs and A.J. Brown together in New England. Now, I believe the Patriots love Diggs, and Diggs would love to return. But any realistic talk about his return, to me, hinges on whether the Brown trade happens. Assuming Brown does become a Patriot, I think Diggs will probably be somewhere in that one-year, $10 million range.”

That scenario could completely reshape the wide receiver market around the league. If the Patriots finalize a blockbuster move for Brown, Diggs would likely become one of the top veteran receivers available for contenders searching for another offensive weapon.

For Kansas City, the fit would certainly make sense. Mahomes has consistently thrived with elite route runners and experienced receivers, while Diggs would immediately benefit from playing inside Andy Reid’s creative offensive system.

At this point, nothing appears imminent. But if the Patriots land Brown, the possibility of Diggs catching passes from Mahomes in Kansas City could suddenly a possibility.

That could take some time, especially since the successful tandem from the Kansas City Chiefs is still active, meaning its win total (including playoffs) could continue to grow. What they could realistically surpass, however, is the duo of Marv Levy and Jim Kelly, who recorded 108 wins together (99 in the regular season and 9 in the playoffs) with the Buffalo Bills.

Since the creation of the Super Bowl in 1966, the NFL has featured highly successful quarterback-coach duos such as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, as well as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. This is the list in which both Rodgers and McCarthy, who reunite in Pittsburgh many years after their time together on the Green Bay Packers, will look to continue climbing the rankings.

Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh

According to NFL media, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 22nd NFL season after agreeing to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $25 million. The contract is expected to feature a base salary between $22 million and $23 million, with the remaining amount structured through a few million dollars in performance incentives.

Aaron Rodgers looks to build on 2025 success

Heading into his second consecutive year with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Aaron Rodgers is locked in to elevate an offense that leaned heavily on conservative play-calling last season. Despite leading the team to an AFC North title, Rodgers posted a career-low 3,322 passing yards over 16 regular-season games, paired with a modest 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

Reunited with Mike McCarthy—whose system historically pushed the ball much deeper downfield—the 42-year-old signal-caller will look to drastically improve upon his league-worst 6.1-yard average target depth and replicate the aggressive, high-flying aerial attack that once defined their championship years together.

While reports indicate Mahomes is ahead of schedule after suffering devastating ACL and LCL injuries, Schefter warned that returning to the field and getting to peak form are not necessarily the same thing.

“As much as we know Patrick Mahomes, and as great as he’s been, I don’t know that we know what we’re going to get from Patrick Mahomes early on. Let’s not diminish the fact that he tore his ACL, he tore his LCL, he’s had a toe injury. This is a major injury. How does a player come back from that?”

The comments reflect a tough reality for the Chiefs entering the 2026 season. Patrick Mahomes may ultimately be available for Week 1, but there is still uncertainty regarding how explosive, mobile, and physically comfortable he will look immediately after returning from one of the most serious injuries of his career.

Adam Schefter issues strong warning to Chiefs

Adam Schefter doubled down on those concerns while discussing Kansas City’s season opener and the expectations surrounding Mahomes’ return. “When he comes back right away, assuming he plays that Monday Night opener, do you think we’re getting the full-on Patrick Mahomes in Week 1?”

Perhaps the good news for the Chiefs is that the opening month of the schedule does not appear overwhelmingly difficult on paper. Kansas City will begin the year against the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, and Las Vegas Raiders before reaching an early bye week in Week 5.

That lighter opening stretch could become extremely important if Mahomes needs time to fully regain rhythm and confidence physically. However, the challenge grows dramatically later in the season when the Chiefs face a brutal closing schedule loaded with Super Bowl contenders and elite quarterbacks.

For Andy Reid and Kansas City, the goal may simply be surviving the early portion of the season while Mahomes continues progressing in his recovery. If the star quarterback can gradually return to full strength by the second half of the year, the Chiefs could once again become one of the NFL’s most dangerous teams entering the playoffs.

According to Reid, Mahomes is “doing great right now and that’s kinda how you gotta go about this. People go ‘well, he’s ahead of schedule.’ Who made the schedule? Everybody’s different, let’s just take it day by day... He hasn’t missed a day and he wants more, all the things that are Patrick Mahomes.”

By getting two primetime games in the first two weeks, the schedule suggests that the NFL thinks Mahomes will be ready to go. However, Reid did say that the Chiefs haven’t spoke to the NFL about the quarterback’s recovery.

Who are the Chiefs facing in the two first weeks?

Regular season starts in early September, and the Chiefs’ Week 1 opponent is none other than AFC West foe, the Denver Broncos, who they’ll face on Monday Night Football. The Broncos were the ones to end the Chiefs division-winning streak last season.

In Week 2, they’ll host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football. Ironically enough, the Chiefs, Broncos, and Colts are all facing QB uncertainty. The Broncos are racing to see how fast Bo Nix recovers from an ankle injury, while the Colts are monitoring how Daniel Jones recovers from an Achilles tear.

Chiefs have six primetime games in 2026

Besides the first two weeks vs. Broncos and Colts, the Chiefs have a plethora of primetime games awaiting. In Week 7, they visit the Seahawks for a Sunday Night Football showdown. During Thanksgiving, they will play at Buffalo to close out the slate.

Then, Week 13 comes and they play on Thursday Night Football, again as the away side to the Los Angeles Rams. Their last primetime game is a home Monday Night Football matchup against the New England Patriots.