The Chiefs have spent years building a reputation around edge rushers who could wreck a game. Derrick Thomas, Tamba Hali and Justin Houston all left their stamp on the franchise. But the current version of Kansas City’s defensive end room is built on a very different kind of bet: development, patience and a few players who still need to prove they can become real answers.
That pressure is hanging over the group heading into 2026 after a rough pass-rushing season in 2025. Kansas City finished 23rd in the NFL in sacks, and only two players reached five sacks or more. The Chiefs did not make the kind of splashy move some fans were hoping for this offseason, but they are counting on changes around the line to help the ends produce more.
George Karlaftis sits at the center of it all. The former first-round pick from 2022 signed a significant extension last offseason, and now the Chiefs need a better year from him after a disappointing 2025.
Karlaftis has never been viewed as an elite pass rusher, but his steady work off the edge earned him that payday. With major changes inside, Kansas City is banking on that setup helping him take a step forward.
Ashton Gillotte is the name that stands out as the most obvious breakout candidate. The Chiefs grabbed him with the 66th pick in the third round last year, and even though he finished with just 1.5 sacks, he showed enough to matter.
He fits the kind of defensive end Steve Spagnuolo likes: big, physical and reliable setting the edge. Gillotte is in the mix for a starting job this offseason, and he looks like a real candidate to end up starting opposite Karlaftis by season’s end.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah is another former first-round pick trying to turn promise into production. Kansas City took him in 2023 with its top pick, and while the early returns have frustrated plenty of people, the Chiefs’ offseason moves suggest they still believe he can help. Injuries and uneven playing time have made his path messy so far, but 2026 gives him a chance to show he belongs as an NFL contributor.
The biggest swing came in the draft, where Kansas City used the 40th overall pick on R Mason Thomas. The Chiefs were hunting for an explosive edge presence, and Thomas fit that bill despite a dip in production after he returned to Oklahoma for his senior season.
He had a strong junior year in 2024 and still drew the Chiefs’ attention because of what he can do rushing the passer. He is undersized, but his explosiveness, bend and hand usage could make him Kansas City’s best pass rusher right away in Week 1.
Behind that group, the Chiefs are still sorting through depth options. Ethan Downs joined Kansas City after the Jaguars cut him early in training camp following the 2025 draft.
A strong four-year career at Oklahoma helped him stick around, and he spent most of 2025 on the practice squad before getting promoted to the active roster in late December. He is the favorite to land back on the practice squad in 2026, though injuries or a strong camp could push him onto the 53-man roster.
Tyreke Smith followed a similar path. The former fifth-round pick of the Seahawks signed with Kansas City in August and spent time on the practice squad before being promoted in late December, just like Downs.
Smith arrived in college with major recruiting buzz after committing to Ohio State, but he has not produced much since. The Chiefs are hoping he can give them depth again this season, and he will likely open the year on the practice squad once more.
In Other News...
Patrick And Brittany Mahomes Just Sparked Fresh Buzz At Chiefs Wedding
The offseason has a way of turning a simple appearance into a talking point, and Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Mahomes found themselves right in the middle of one after attending JuJu Smith-Schuster and Laura Kruks wedding at the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel, California. The gathering had plenty of Chiefs flavor to it, with several current and former Kansas City players in attendance, along with Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, making it the kind of event that naturally drew extra attention beyond the ceremony itself.
Brittany Mahomes later shared photos from the celebration on Instagram, and those images quickly picked up steam on social media. For a team that is used to having even its social moments scrutinized, a high-profile wedding full of familiar faces was always going to travel fast, especially with the Chiefs star quarterback and his wife at the center of it. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Just Made One Move That Could Reset Their Offense
After a 6-11 season that sent the Chiefs to the offseason earlier than anyone around the franchise expected, the front office wasted little time trying to address the part of the offense that never found its footing. The running game was a glaring issue, and Kansas City answered by bringing in Kenneth Walker III on a three-year contract, a move that gives Patrick Mahomes a different kind of threat in the backfield and signals a clear desire to get the offense back to being more balanced.
The other part of that reset came on the sideline, where Eric Bieniemy returned to the Chiefs' coaching staff with the task of helping fix an attack that fell well short of its usual standard. Kansas City knows what this looked like when Bieniemy was running the offense before, and it also knows how far the unit slipped without that structure in place. The hope now is that the combination of a proven play-caller and a new back can restore some of the rhythm the Chiefs lost a year ago. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs May Finally Have The Year 3 Weapon They Needed
Xavier Worthy has been one of the most encouraging names in the Chiefs offseason work, the kind of young player who can change the feel of a passing game if the growth keeps coming. The early signs have been especially notable because Worthy has looked increasingly in sync with Patrick Mahomes, a connection Kansas City has been eager to sharpen as it builds toward the 2026 season opener against the Broncos on Sept. 14.
For a team that has spent plenty of time searching for another reliable downfield threat, Worthys progress matters beyond the summer buzz. The Chiefs have reason to believe his role can expand if he stays on the field and keeps stacking those reps with Mahomes, and that makes his development one of the more important storylines in camp even before the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]