Mahomes has already delivered everything the Chiefs could have hoped for when they selected him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Since then, he has transformed the franchise into a perennial contender and helped bring three Super Bowl championships back to Kansas City.

According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the latest agreement is unlike anything the NFL has seen before. “Record deal: The Chiefs are adding two years to Patrick Mahomes’ contract, tying him to Kansas City through the 2033 season at a value of $504.75 million, making it the first NFL deal valued at over a half-billion dollars.”

How much money will Patrick Mahomes earn with Kansas City Chiefs?

Patrick Mahomes will earn $64 million per year after his new deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. Schefter explained the record numbers. “Mahomes can make up to $522.25 million through incentives and escalators. Beginning in 2027, when the new money begins, the deal averages $64 million per year, setting an NFL record for average annual value.”

The journey to this historic agreement began with one of the greatest bargains in modern NFL history. Mahomes entered the league in 2017 on a four-year rookie contract worth approximately $16.4 million.

While standard for a first-round quarterback, the deal quickly became one of the NFL’s best values as Mahomes developed into a superstar and led the Chiefs to multiple championships.

In 2020, Kansas City rewarded him with an amazing 10-year, $450 million extension. Even though the deal shattered records at the time, many analysts viewed it as team-friendly because it provided long-term flexibility and helped the Chiefs manage the salary cap while continuing to build a championship roster around their franchise quarterback.

Patrick Mahomes’ contract compared to other NFL QB’s

Now, the Chiefs have adjusted that agreement once again to better reflect the modern quarterback market. The NFL’s financial landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, with Dak Prescott reaching the $60 million-per-year mark and other elite quarterbacks such as Joe Burrow and Josh Allen approaching or exceeding $55 million annually.

By revising Mahomes’ contract, the Chiefs ensure their most important player remains compensated in line with the league’s top quarterbacks while maintaining a partnership that has already produced one of the NFL’s greatest dynasties.

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?

“Bieniemy has this ability to kind of tweak the culture in the right direction. I think this is going to really help us out this year. It’s awesome. He knows how much I’m ready to run through a wall for him this year.”

Those comments highlight the level of respect Bieniemy continues to command inside the Chiefs’ locker room. Few assistants have been more closely associated with Kansas City’s rise to NFL dominance over the past decade.

Eric Bieniemy’s return could be exactly what Kansas City needed

Eric Bieniemy played a crucial role in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning teams in the 2019 and 2022 seasons while serving as offensive coordinator under Andy Reid. Despite his success, the longtime assistant never received the head coaching opportunity many expected.

After leaving Kansas City, Bieniemy attempted to build his résumé elsewhere. He spent time with the Washington Commanders and later joined UCLA, but neither stop produced the breakthrough he was seeking. His career revival began last season as running backs coach for the Chicago Bears under Ben Johnson, a role that helped restore his reputation around the league.

That success ultimately convinced Reid to bring him back to Kansas City. Now, the Chiefs are hoping that the coach who helped build one of football’s most explosive offenses can once again help elevate the team to championship level.

Can the Chiefs win the Super Bowl?

It’s possible. The Chiefs’ confidence is understandable given the amount of star power on the roster. Patrick Mahomes remains the face of the franchise and one of the league’s premier quarterbacks, while Kelce continues to be a focal point of the passing attack. The addition of Kenneth Walker III has also given the offense another dynamic weapon capable of creating explosive plays.

However, questions remain at wide receiver. Xavier Worthy is expected to take on a larger role after flashing his big-play potential, but uncertainty continues to surround Rashee Rice due to his ongoing legal issues. How those situations develop could have a significant impact on the offense’s overall ceiling.

Even so, Kelce clearly believes Bieniemy’s return could be the ingredient that brings everything together. If the veteran coach can once again maximize the talent around Mahomes, the Chiefs may find themselves right back in the Super Bowl conversation by the end of the season.

“I didn’t do much recruiting; I’ll leave that to (General Manager Brett) Veach and the guys,“ Mahomes said during the recent OTAs. “I think we recruit ourselves just by who we are.

“I like having veterans around and guys like that, and at that tournament, they’re the only guys that can get off work that week. There was some good football players there, but I didn’t do any recruiting in that standpoint, I think I’ll leave that to Veach and the guys.”

When Mahomes refers to a “veteran,” he might be talking about Cam Jordan, who remains a free agent. His interaction with the QB during the ’15 and the Mahomies Vegas Golf Classic fueled speculation about a potential move to Chiefs Kingdom.

Will Jordan arrive in Kansas City?

The Kansas City Chiefs are heavily linked to pass rusher Cameron Jordan, a potential move made highly plausible by his strong connection to Steve Spagnuolo from their 2012 stint with the New Orleans Saints. Despite being 36, Jordan proved he still has plenty of gas in the tank by recording 10.5 sacks last season, making him an ideal target for a Chiefs defense that urgently needs to reinforce its edge-rushing depth.

Behind George Karlaftis, Kansas City relies heavily on unproven depth like Ashton Gillotte and rookie R Mason Thomas, a vulnerability that became more glaring after losing key secondary players.

With the Chiefs recently restructuring contracts to clear over $13 million in cap space, adding an elite, ring-chasing veteran who already understands Spagnuolo’s complex defensive scheme makes perfect sense for both sides.

Mahomes aims to be 100% for Week 1

Even after suffering a devastating torn ACL and LCL against the Chargers last season, Patrick Mahomes is already out there moving around at OTAs, fully driven to hit Week 1 at 100%. Naturally, Brett Veach is keeping a close eye on his franchise QB’s progress, but the energy around the facility is incredibly high as Mahomes addresses next step in recovery. He’s beating the usual timeline, looking remarkably fluid and focused on being completely ready for the opener.

Mahomes spoke on having Bieniemy back and said, “It’s just a standard that you have to practice with, and you have to play with, and he’s gonna hold you to that standard no matter who you are… he has brought in a lot of concepts and a lot of things that I’ve really liked that we’ve added in now.”

Mahomes also addressed the next step in his recovery, but the fact is he sounds like he is ready to go. Bieniemy could become one of the most underrated moves in the offseason if he can turn this offense around.

Bieniemy has a keen eye for detail

Mahomes stated the fact that Bieniemy came back with new concepts. Bieniemy is relentless and loves to try new things. In fact, he likes to go and spend time with all the units on offense. Mahomes loves that about the OC.

Bieniemy has a catch phrase, even Bears’ head coach Ben Johnson quoted him in February, saying “the standard is the standard.” Newly-arrived Kenneth Walker III also spoke on Bieniemy saying, “He’s got high standards, and that’s good if you wanna be better.”

Mahomes was better when Bieniemy was on the roster

Mahomes is an all-time great quarterback. However, he’s hit a bit of a slump in recent years. When Bieniemy was on the Chiefs during Mahomes early years, he thrived in ways the NFL hasn’t seen before.

Under Bieniemy, Mahomes won two MVPs, led the NFL in touchdowns twice, had two 5,000-yard seasons and led the league in QBR twice. Then, under Matt Nagy, he only got to the 4,000-yard mark once. He never had a full season under 4,000 with Bieniemy.

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.

Per Charles Goldman of AtoZ Sports, Mahomes said, “Next step will be getting with team and getting under center. It’s a process, you’ve got to stay apart of it… You have to stay great everyday, if you do that… you get the opportunity to get out there on the field.”

Hence, Mahomes’ mission right now is to be able to fully practice with the rest of the Chiefs roster. Mahomes has been working separately but is on pace to recover way before the original timeline of late September to early October. In fact, there is confidence that he will be able to play in Week 1 for the Chiefs.

The Chiefs have a primetime game in Week 1

The NFL seems to believe that Mahomes is actually ahead of schedule and that’s why the Chiefs have a primetime game in Week 1 against divisional rivals Broncos. The Broncos swept the Chiefs last season, so Kansas City is ready to take revenge.

Mahomes didn’t play in the second game against the Broncos. Hence, it was not shocking to see the Broncos won 38-0. Kansas City had Carson Wentz under center that time. The Chiefs hope to have Mahomes in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season and not have to use a backup.

The Chiefs offense need more than just Mahomes

Yes, Mahomes is the one guy that can change the season for good or worse depending on his availability. However, even if he is able to play from Week 1, the fact is that Mahomes needs help from his weapons.

Rashee Rice is in jail right now. Xavier Worthy hasn’t been what he was supposed to be. Travis Kelce is in what can be the last year of his NFL career. There is no real depth to the team’s skill positions right now. Mahomes needs help now more than ever.

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.