KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs did not waste time mourning their 6-11 finish in 2025. General Manager Brett Veach hit the 2026 free-agency window with clear intentions: fix the running game and reload the roster. Isiah Pacheco is heading to the Detroit Lions. Kenneth Walker III is arriving in Kansas City on a fresh three-year deal. Meanwhile, the rest of the AFC West is throwing massive money around, with the Raiders resetting the offensive line market.
Kansas City needed an offensive spark after averaging an abysmal 106.6 rushing yards per game last season. Veach aggressively pursued and secured former Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III on a three-year deal worth up to $45 million. Walker brings immediate juice to a backfield that struggled to generate explosive plays.
To make room, the Chiefs let hard-running fan favorite Isiah Pacheco walk. Pacheco agreed to terms with the Detroit Lions, where he will step in to replace David Montgomery. Head coach Dan Campbell prefers a two-back system, and Pacheco pairs perfectly with the dynamic Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit’s physical scheme.
“We knew we had to get faster and more explosive on the ground. Kenneth brings that exact spark we missed last year. We are building this team to compete right now, period.”
— Brett Veach, Chiefs General Manager
The financial reality of the NFL salary cap caught up with the Chiefs this week. Linebacker Leo Chenal agreed to a three-year, $24.75 million contract with the Washington Commanders. Chenal’s exit means eight of the ten players from Kansas City’s legendary 2022 draft class have now signed elsewhere.
George Karlaftis stands alone as the last man under contract from that class. The Chiefs wisely locked down their star edge rusher early, signing him to a four-year, $88 million extension. Compared to the massive deals handed out to pass rushers in recent days, securing Karlaftis at $22 million annually looks like a front-office masterclass.
Over in Las Vegas, the Raiders decided to protect their future by opening the checkbook. The Raiders signed former Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum to a jaw-dropping three-year, $81 million contract, featuring $60 million guaranteed.
This deal directly impacts the Chiefs’ future negotiations. Prior to Monday, Kansas City’s Creed Humphrey held the title of the league’s highest-paid center at $18 million per season. Linderbaum just shattered that ceiling, pulling in $27 million annually. Humphrey’s deal suddenly looks like the biggest bargain in the trenches, but the rapidly inflating market will undoubtedly complicate future line negotiations across the league.
The AFC is dealing with massive trade turbulence. The Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders agreed to a blockbuster trade sending star defensive end Maxx Crosby to Baltimore for two first-round picks. Tuesday afternoon, the Raiders officially announced the trade was off. Sources confirmed Crosby failed his physical due to ongoing concerns stemming from knee surgery he underwent in January.
The Raiders did complete a separate deal, shipping veteran quarterback Geno Smith to the New York Jets in a late-round pick swap. Las Vegas will pay the bulk of Smith’s salary to facilitate the move, clearing space in their quarterback room.
Kansas City is aggressively retooling a roster that missed the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era. Adding Walker provides Mahomes with a reliable safety valve and a legitimate home-run threat out of the backfield. The Chiefs also brought back 36-year-old Travis Kelce, signaling a loud “win-now” mentality inside the building.
Keep an eye on defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga. With the Chiefs leaning into heavier formations, Tonga could see snaps as a jumbo fullback—a tactic head coach Andy Reid loves to deploy near the goal line. As the 2026 league year officially opens, Kansas City expects to reclaim the AFC West crown, but the Raiders’ massive spending spree proves the division will be an absolute dogfight.
