Everything feels a little weird in Kansas City right now. Usually, by mid-January, we’re talking about AFC Championship ticket prices or whether the grass at Arrowhead is going to hold up for a deep playoff run. But this year? The Chiefs are on vacation.
It’s a bitter pill. Honestly, seeing a 6-11 record next to the KC logo looks like a typo, but here we are. Patrick Mahomes is rehabbing a torn ACL and LCL, the locker room is being cleaned out, and Brett Veach is already buried in scouting reports for a roster that clearly needs a massive facelift. If you’ve been following the latest kc chiefs roster moves, you know the team isn't just sitting around moping. They are quietly rebuilding the bottom of the depth chart, and some of these early "Futures" signings actually tell a pretty big story about where this team is headed.
The Quarterback Room Just Got Very Quiet
The most eyebrow-raising move didn't involve a flashy trade or a high-profile signing. It was the release of Shane Buechele.
For a second, it felt cold. Buechele basically came off the Buffalo Bills' practice squad mid-season to help the Chiefs when Gardner Minshew went down with a knee injury. He was the "break glass in case of emergency" guy. But with the season over, Veach did him a solid. By waiving him now, the Chiefs gave Buechele a chance to catch on with a playoff team—likely heading back to Buffalo to chase a ring while the Chiefs' season is in the rearview mirror.
That leaves the QB room in a strange spot. Mahomes is the sun around which everything orbits, but he's currently recovering from surgery. He said on a Zoom call just today that he’s "hitting all the checkpoints" and plans to be ready for Week 1.
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But who's behind him?
- Chris Oladokun is still hanging around.
- Gardner Minshew is a pending free agent.
- The draft is looming.
For the first time since 2017, the Chiefs might actually have to use a mid-round pick on a signal-caller. Not to replace #15, obviously, but because the "journeyman carousel" failed them this year.
Taking a Flyer on "Upside" Skill Players
If there was one glaring issue this past season—besides the injuries—it was the lack of speed and separation. The offense looked sluggish. Teams weren't scared of the deep ball anymore.
To fix that, the Chiefs have already started bringing in young, fast projects on Reserve/Future contracts. These aren't household names yet, but keep an eye on ShunDerrick Powell and Andrew Armstrong.
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Powell is a 23-year-old running back out of Central Arkansas who runs a 4.40. With Isiah Pacheco losing some of that trademark "angry" explosiveness after his own injury struggles and Kareem Hunt getting older, the Chiefs desperately need someone who can hit a hole and actually disappear. Powell is a total lottery ticket, but he's the kind of speed-first back this system thrives on.
Then there’s Andrew Armstrong. He's a big-bodied receiver (6'3") from Arkansas who led the SEC in yards back in '24. He’s struggled to find a permanent home in the NFL because people worry about his "twitch," but the Chiefs need a red-zone target who doesn't involve Travis Kelce having to carry three defenders on his back.
The Defensive Foundation and the Futures List
While the offense gets the headlines, the defense is quietly being patched up. The Chiefs recently signed several guys to Reserve/Future deals to ensure they have bodies for camp. Here’s a quick look at who’s officially on the "2026 project" list as of mid-January:
- Kam Arnold (LB): A former defensive back turned linebacker. He's fast and fits the Steve Spagnuolo mold of "positionless" defenders.
- Marcus Harris (DT): A big body to help shore up a run defense that got bullied at times this year.
- Jimmy Holiday (WR): Another speedster who has bounced between the practice squad and the active roster.
- Matt Waletzko (T): A massive tackle who has been the swing guy lately. With the offensive line facing potential free-agency departures, keeping a guy like Waletzko is vital.
- Tre Watson (TE): Signed just a few days ago. With Kelce’s future always a topic of conversation (and his age being a real factor now), the Chiefs are hoarding tight ends like they're going out of style.
What This Means for the 2026 Draft
The kc chiefs roster moves we're seeing right now are "floor-raising" moves. They aren't meant to win the Super Bowl in January; they’re meant to make sure that when the draft rolls around in April, Brett Veach isn't forced to reach for a player just to fill a spot.
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There’s a massive list of pending free agents. Travis Kelce, Hollywood Brown, Charles Omenihu, and Nick Bolton are all staring at the end of their current deals. It’s highly unlikely everyone comes back. The Chiefs have about $30 million in effective cap space, but that disappears fast when you're trying to retain All-Pro talent.
Expect the next few months to be defined by "tough goodbyes." The era of keeping the "Super Bowl core" together at all costs might be over. This 6-11 season was a wake-up call that the roster had become top-heavy and thin.
Actionable Next Steps for Chiefs Fans
If you're trying to keep up with the rebuild, don't just watch the highlights. The real work is happening in the fine print.
- Watch the Waiver Wire: Now that the Chiefs' season is over, they have a high waiver priority. Any young talent released by playoff teams (like they did with Buechele) is fair game for KC to grab for 2026.
- Monitor Mahomes’ Rehab: Everything depends on his left knee. If his recovery slows down, the Chiefs will be forced to overpay for a veteran backup like a Sam Darnold or a Jacoby Brissett.
- The Franchise Tag Window: Keep an eye on late February. Trey Smith is a prime candidate for the tag if a long-term deal isn't reached. Losing him and Joe Thuney (who has been at the center of trade rumors) in the same window would be catastrophic for the interior line.
The roster is in flux, but for a team with Patrick Mahomes, the "rebuild" is usually more of a "refurbish." These early January moves are just the first few bricks.