The Chiefs’ 4-0 start has a lot to do with the roster reset Brett Veach pulled off after last year’s collapse, but the long-term picture is starting to matter too. Kansas City now has one of the youngest rosters in the league, and that changes the contract conversation. There aren’t many obvious veterans staring down huge extension decisions, yet there are still a handful of players the Chiefs could try to lock up before they ever reach free agency.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah is one of the most interesting names in that group. The former first-round pick from the 2023 NFL Draft has had a rough road early in his career, with injuries and inconsistent playing time slowing him down.
This season, though, he has looked like one of the best defensive linemen on the roster. Because of the uneven start to his career, any deal would probably be a short one, with the chance to revisit it later.
Still, Kansas City would be smart to get something done before he hits the open market. Projected extension: 1 year, $10M with player option for $12M in 2028.
Kingsley Suamataia has also put himself in the extension conversation. The 2024 second-round pick has made a major jump since moving to guard in 2025, and he has become one of the more underrated pieces on the team.
He still has another season left on his rookie deal after this one, but the Chiefs could try to move early and get ahead of the market. The one wrinkle is the mystery around why he was benched for the Week 4 game against the Raiders.
If the coaching staff believes the off-field issues are behind him, he looks like the kind of player worth extending now. Projected extension: Four years, $60M.
Noah Gray has been a different kind of answer for Kansas City, but just as important. He’s been one of the most improved players on the team this year and has fit perfectly into the heavy packages the Chiefs have leaned on early in the season.
Gray has done the dirty work as a blocker and still held up as a pass catcher, which is exactly why he could be worth keeping around. He’s viewed as a likely cut candidate this offseason, but an extension could help the Chiefs keep him while lowering his cap hit.
Projected extension: Two years, $20M.
Kristan Fulton deserves more attention than he’s gotten, too. He has quietly been one of the Chiefs’ most valuable players this season and has stacked together two strong years.
Fulton is set to become a free agent this offseason, but his future depends on whether he’s willing to embrace a depth role. With Delane and Williams established as outside stars, Fulton would likely be the third corner.
Even so, his veteran presence off the bench has already mattered, and if he’s open to that role, an extension makes sense. Projected extension: Two years, $20M.
Rashee Rice is the most obvious name on the list, and also the trickiest. On talent alone, he would seem like the clear next extension candidate.
But injuries and off-field issues have complicated everything around him. The Chiefs understand what he can bring to the offense, and they have already shown a willingness to live with the baggage.
If they do decide to extend him, the deal probably won’t be straightforward. It would likely have to be short-term, more of a “prove to us you can stay available” arrangement than anything else.
In Other News...
Chiefs Still Arent The AFC Team Oddsmakers Trust Most
Kansas City has opened the 2026 season 5-0, stacking up wins over the Broncos, Colts, Dolphins, Raiders and Chargers while looking every bit like one of the leagues most complete teams. The Chiefs offense leads the NFL in total yards per game and sits fifth in scoring, and the defense has been just as sturdy, ranking eighth in yards allowed and second in points allowed.
Even with that start, oddsmakers still have them chasing someone else in the AFC conversation. In the latest Super Bowl 61 market, the Chiefs are tied for second at +750, with Buffalo installed as the conference favorite, a reminder that the betting world is not yet ready to hand Kansas City the throne despite how well it has played through five weeks. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Have A Tempting WR Chance They May Need To Act On
Jauan Jennings has quickly become one of the more intriguing names to watch on the trade market, and the Chiefs are among the teams that could use a player built in his mold. After signing a one-year deal with Minnesota, Jennings has been on the field plenty, but his role in the passing game has stayed strangely limited. That has turned him into a possible midseason move, with interest reportedly coming from several receiver-needy teams, including Kansas City, as clubs around the league look for tougher, more versatile help on the perimeter.
For the Chiefs, the appeal is pretty straightforward. Jennings fits the profile of a receiver who can bring physicality and reliability to an offense that can always use more answers, especially when the passing game is looking for consistency. Kansas City is not alone in eyeing him, though, and the competition could matter if the Vikings decide to listen. The real question now is whether the Chiefs view him as the kind of affordable swing worth making before the market gets crowded. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Need This Xavier Worthy Version To Stick Fast
Xavier Worthy gave the Chiefs a much-needed lift in their win over the Chargers, and it came at a time when the receiving room needed someone to seize the moment. With other options sidelined, Worthy handled an expanded role and looked the part of a player Kansas City can lean on, finishing with a strong all-around showing that hinted at a bigger responsibility ahead.
The real test now is whether this version of Worthy becomes the norm rather than a one-game spike. Kansas City has seen enough flashes to know the speed is real, but the next stretch will say more about whether he can carry that same trust when the defense is keyed on him and the supporting cast is still in flux. [Read more 🡒]