The Chiefs’ roster is in a state of motion again, and two starting jobs on defense already look vulnerable heading into the 2026 NFL season.
Kansas City’s championship run has kept the franchise at the top of the league - three Super Bowl wins and five trips in the past seven seasons - but that kind of success comes with constant turnover. The Chiefs have spent plenty of time retooling around Patrick Mahomes, and after missing the playoffs for the first time in his era last season, they entered another offseason full of change. With no official or unofficial depth chart released, ourlads.com was used for this projection.
One of the biggest names in the mix is L'Jarius Sneed. He spent 2020 to 2023 in Kansas City, won two Super Bowls, and emerged as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks.
His final season with the Chiefs was packed with big plays, but it also pushed him beyond what the team could comfortably pay. Kansas City traded him to the Tennessee Titans, where he spent the last two seasons.
That move never really took off. Injuries limited Sneed to just 12 games across two years in Tennessee, and the Titans eventually cut him loose. He has now returned to Kansas City on a one-year deal, but ourlads currently has him listed as a second-stringer.
That may not last long. If Sneed gets back to the level he showed before leaving, he has every chance to reclaim the role he owned not long ago.
The Chiefs also need the help. Trent McDuffie went to the Los Angeles Rams via trade, and Jaylen Watson left in free agency, leaving Kansas City thinner at corner.
Right now, Nohl Williams is listed ahead of Sneed, even though Williams started only five games as a rookie. For a team trying to win now, development is not the priority.
A healthy Sneed is still the more proven option, and he could wind up not only starting, but playing at a high level again.
The other situation to watch is on the defensive line, where Kansas City has spent real resources trying to get younger and more disruptive. The Chiefs drafted R Mason Thomas and Peter Woods this year, but both rookies are listed behind George Karlaftis and Chris Jones, so they are not expected to crack the opening lineup unless injury changes the picture.
Khyiris Tonga, though, is the veteran who may have the most to lose. Kansas City signed him to a three-year, $21 million deal in the offseason, a notable commitment for a player whose career has taken him through six teams since he was drafted in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Tonga has only half a sack in five seasons, and while he does his job as a run stuffer, Omarr Norman-Lott brings a different kind of upside.
Norman-Lott was a second-round pick just last year, but a torn ACL in Week 7 of his rookie season has kept him out of training camp and landed him on the PUP. If he gets back on the field soon, he could make a real push for Tonga’s spot. Kansas City is looking for more burst and more juice up front, and Norman-Lott has the kind of explosiveness that can change that conversation fast.
In Other News...
Chiefs Stars Patrick Mahomes And Travis Kelce Face New Off-Field Fight
A new off-field dispute has landed around Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes as the Chiefs stars face a lawsuit tied to the name of their steakhouse restaurant. The case, filed by 1587 Sneakers, centers on the use of 1587, a number closely associated with the two players, and it puts an unusual business-side wrinkle on what has been one of the more visible ventures attached to Kansas Citys biggest names.
At the heart of the complaint is a disagreement over how much control Kelce and Mahomes really have over the project. The plaintiffs say the players are downplaying their involvement, while the restaurants website presents 1587 Prime as a collaboration between the teammates and Noble 33. For now, the case is ongoing, and the broader fight over branding, naming rights and merchandise is still playing out. [Read more 🡒]
Mahomes And Kelce Just Got Dragged Deeper Into Restaurant Legal Fight
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelces move into the restaurant world was supposed to be another sign of how far their 1587 Prime steakhouse brand could stretch beyond the field. Instead, the September 2025 opening has quickly turned into a federal trademark dispute, with 1587 Sneakers suing over the restaurant name and pushing the issue into a much more public spotlight than either star likely wanted.
The latest court filings have only sharpened the fight, as the plaintiffs are challenging the idea that Mahomes and Kelce are detached from day-to-day control of the business. With the legal back-and-forth still active, the name on the door remains at the center of a case that could shape how the restaurant is viewed while both sides line up their next arguments. [Read more 🡒]
Felix Anudike-Uzomah Suddenly Has Real Stakes In Chiefs Camp
Felix Anudike-Uzomah is back in the mix at Chiefs camp, and the early signs are encouraging. After a lost season, the defensive end is healthy again and getting first-team reps, a notable development for a player the staff still needs to sort into the long-term pass-rush picture. Andy Reid has offered positive feedback on his progress, and George Karlaftis has also praised the work ethic that has shown up through the opening stages of camp.
The stakes around Anudike-Uzomah are bigger now than they were a year ago, because every rep matters for a player trying to turn promise into a clearer role. Kansas City has reason to keep watching closely as camp continues, not just for what he can do right now, but for what he might mean to the defense moving forward. [Read more 🡒]