The Kansas City Chiefs continue to attack their biggest needs in the earliest stages of free agency. According to NFL reporter Mike Garafolo, the Chiefs landed defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga to bolster the defensive interior.
The early figures for Tonga's deal with the Chiefs are for a three-year deal with $14 million in guaranteed money. Total potential earnings are $21M. Tonga's payday is well-earned after a breakout season with the New England Patriots that includes a deep postseason run all the way to Super Bowl LX.
Tonga first entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 2021 NFL Draft out of BYU at No. 250 overall. He failed to make the active roster after his rookie campaign and was cut before the 2022 season. From there, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons pracice squad for a month before being poached by the Minnesota Vikings.
The Chiefs have given Chris Jones some considerable help in the defensive interior with the signing of Khyiris Tonga.
Tonga played nearly two seasons for the Vikings as a rotational run-stopper before doing the same with the Arizona Cardinals in 2024. When the Patriots signed him before the 2025 campaign, he was nothing more than a journeyman whose biggest achievement was an ability to string together a series of one-year deals as a role player for as long as he could.
Then came his run with New England, where Mike Vrabel put him to work at a greater level than ever before. Tonya played a career-high 40 percent of snaps last season for the Pats and was a key factor for one of the league's toughest run defenses. It should be noted that Tonga also played a few reps as a fullback, and it could be fun for the Chiefs to toy with that angle as well.
For the Chiefs, Tonga's arrival is a meaningful one because the defensive interior was perhaps the biggest weakness remaining on the roster, rivaled only by cornerback. The Chiefs addressed their need at running back with their first reported signing in free agency of Kenneth Walker III. From there, general manager Brett Veach knew he had to get Chris Jones some support in the heart of the line. The good news is that Jones seems to approve.
Tonga is a dawg
— Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) March 9, 2026
The Chiefs have often leaned on familiar faces to set a rather low floor up front with Derrick Nnadi and Mike Pennel's repeat campaigns in K.C. Instead of relying on retreads, the Chiefs now have an anchor up front to pair with others and give Joe Cullen more to work with.
Further investments will be made, but the acquisition of Tonga pairs well with the return of Omarr Norman-Lott from injury to give the Chiefs a solid core along the interior.