Chiefs face impossible choice with 3 breakout stars who all deserve new deals

Even though the 2025 NFL regular season is still six weeks from ending, it has felt over for Kansas City Chiefs fans for a while now. And even though the players and coaches are always focused on the next game, general manager Brett Veach and the rest of the Chiefs' front office have to be thinking ahead.

A few of the most pivotal Chiefs players this season are looking for new contracts or even a new team. Three of them have truly put together some tape that should yield them major contracts before next August, but who should Veach and the Chiefs retain? And who do they let go?

Tyquan Thornton, WR / KR

The biggest surprise from the preseason to now has been the emergence of Thornton in the passing game when he's needed most. Originally drafted in the second round by New England (who traded up to pick him out of Baylor), Thornton was underutilized in the Patriots' messy receiver corps. Eventually released, his arrival in Kansas City was viewed similarly to practice-squad legends prior like John Ross III, Josh Gordon, and Justyn Ross.

Luckily, Thornton far exceeded the Chiefs' expectations early this year, especially during the first six games when Rashee Rice was serving his suspension. During those games, Thornton caught 13 of his 25 targets for 272 yards (20.9 ypr) and three touchdowns, including a 49-yard strike against Philadelphia (below).

Since Rice returned, Thornton hasn't been utilized like he was, which could be beneficial for the likes of Veach when it comes to constructing a contract that could fit everyone's needs. With that said, he's a safety net that Patrick Mahomes likes to fire into once or twice a game, typically ending in long completions like his last two receptions, which came in Weeks 7 (39 yards) and 11 (61 yards). So let's look at this as logically as we can:

Pros of a Tyquan Thornton extension

• Thornton's ability to zip behind defenses is a much-needed aid for Mahomes, Rice, Travis Kelce, and Xavier Worthy to succeed over the middle.
• His deep-ball threat is as potent as KC fans have seen since Tyreek Hill left, better than Mecole Hardman, Worthy, Skyy Moore, etc. ever has been.
• His lack of use over four seasons likely makes his contract much easier to absorb, especially with Rice and Worthy still on rookie contracts.

Cons of a Tyquan Thornton extension

• If paid, Thornton could easily become just another in a long line of overpaid decoys in Andy Reid offenses.
• KC's cap space will already be low, and Rice could easily argue to be paid a top-five WR price tag within the next two seasons. Spending extra on Thornton takes money off the table for larger pieces like defensive linemen or the secondary when that contract comes due.
• A speedy, smaller receiver who runs straight ahead for most of his snaps is a dime a dozen. Paying one of them excess funds because of a handful of games could come back to bite KC.

Overall Stats: 40 games in 4 years (12 with Chiefs):

• 54 catches on 107 targets (15/31 in KC)
• 757 receiving yards (372 in KC)
• 5 TDs (3 in KC)
• 50.5% catch rate (48.4% in KC)
• 66.7% target share beyond 20 yards this season
• ZERO drops when targeted in 2025

Could Thornton pull an ace card and secure a Tutu Atwell (LAR) type deal (1 yr/$10M), or could he go more team-friendly like another speedy home-run hitter, Rashid Shaheed, who is on a one-year/$2.1 million deal? The latter could mean Thornton keeps catching deep balls once a month, or it could propel him to contribute more than just the occasional diving catch 40 yards downfield.

Leo Chenal, LB / ST

Chenal has been one of the best-case scenarios to come out of any Veach draft. Picked in the third round (#103) back in 2022, he has done nothing but grow and make plays when the fat lady is about to sing. What's crazy is the former Wisconsin Badger has been successful in more than just his drafted role at linebacker, largely thanks to the depth and experience that Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill bring.

Instead, Chenal has been at his best when brought in to blitz the quarterback or (more often) on special teams when the game is on the line. If you don't believe me, just look at one of his three blocked kicks last year, specifically the one against Denver which kept the then-perfect season alive for KC, leading to some high praise from Mahomes.

Even then, none have been bigger or more impactful than his extra-point block back in Super Bowl LVIII (below). Now it has become just another in a litany of special-teams moments that Chenal has made in his four-year career so far.

When he's not dominating on Dave Toub's special teams, he is also making his mark when placed on the field for Steve Spagnuolo's defense. He showed this specifically in 2023 when he ranked in the top 15 in hurries (10), pass-rush percentage (33.1%), and total DPR (16).

Even though he plays 38% of the defensive snaps per game compared to 66.1% on special teams, he is still averaging over four tackles per game this season. That's on top of his career total of 17 tackles for a loss, 6.5 of which are registered as sacks. Also, as of Week 4 of this season, he has an interception (below) on his stat sheet.

Chenal would be at the top of many teams' lists this upcoming offseason, not only as a starting linebacker but as a key special-teams player who won't buckle under pressure during the biggest moments.

Pros of a Leo Chenal extension

• One of the most reliable players on two separate sides of the field (D & ST).
• Can seamlessly replace an aging Tranquill, who is entering the final year of his contract next season.
• Zero injury risk four years into his career; always ready to play whenever needed by Spags or Toub.

Cons of a Leo Chenal extension

• Paying both Nick Bolton (3 yr/$45M) and Chenal good money at LB, along with Tranquill (3 yr/$19M) on the books, could end poorly.
• Spending big money on players who primarily play special teams is not spending money wisely when Mahomes is in his prime.
• Veach has a good track record of drafting linebackers in KC, a franchise that has been known for great linebacker play over the last 20–30 years. Even now, Jeffrey Bassa waits in the shadows for his time to shine.

Trent McDuffie, CB

The Chiefs' secondary has been known for some great players in the Spagnuolo era, more recently L'Jarius Sneed and the superstar cornerback Trent McDuffie, who ranks among the top five in nearly every statistical grade given to his position. But Sneed was deemed expendable—could McDuffie be too?

Veach decided to move Sneed at the same point in his career that McDuffie is approaching, eventually yielding a third-round pick to KC that would turn into Omarr Norman-Lott at pick #63. That trade has turned out to be one of Veach's smartest moves, which could mean another franchise-tag-turned-trade-bait situation is on the horizon.

Earlier this year, Chiefs fans saw how much the cornerback market imploded when Jaycee Horn signed an extension for four years, $100 million, and Derek Stingley Jr. signed for three years and $90 million. McDuffie is definitely in the same vicinity of those corners and their price tags, and some might even say Sauce Gardner's contract (4 yr/$120.4 million) is a sign of what's to come.

Not only does this make McDuffie a major expense starting next season, but it also makes him one of the Chiefs' best trade assets in recent years. If Veach chooses to franchise-tag McDuffie before trading him, like he did with Sneed, then the market has already been set when Gardner was traded in-conference from New York to Indianapolis for two first-round picks and a low-grade receiver in Adonai Mitchell.

There's little chance that Kansas City would yield that much for McDuffie, especially with the team trading for him also taking on a major cap hit over the next three years. But still, a GM can dream...

Also, it wouldn't be too far off the mark considering how widely it is known that McDuffie is capable of shutting down any team's No. 1 receiver, which he showed against Cincinnati last season when he allowed just one reception to Ja'Marr Chase and locked him down so badly he received a flag and fine for his actions.

If the Chiefs choose to sign him long term, likely choosing him over multiple players like Thornton and Chenal, they will be doing something that Reid has not done often in his illustrious career: give top-three money to a cornerback. But with the way Spagnuolo has been able to find diamonds in the rough at DB and safety, it could be McDuffie who isn't here next season.

Pros of a Trent McDuffie extension

• One of the best shutdown cornerbacks that KC has had in years, even more than Sneed or Marcus Peters in their primes.
• Solidifies the Chiefs' secondary at the top, while projects and rookies filling the rest of the depth chart can grow in Spags' defense.
• Installs a long-term leader for a defense that will desperately need it as Chris Jones and the defensive line continue to age.

Cons of a Trent McDuffie extension

• Top-three cornerback money will be destructive to the Chiefs' already dwindling cap space, even if spread out in a team-friendly way.
• The defense will be top-heavy in contract payouts with Jones, Karlaftis, Bolton, and McDuffie getting top-tier money.
• Corners are always an easy draft home run for Veach and Spagnuolo during their tenure in KC. Even late-round DBs have been turned into goldmines when needed. Losing a good CB will not hurt as badly as possibly losing guys at other positions.

Overall Stats:

• 34 pass deflections
• 8 forced fumbles (6th-most in NFL since 2022)
• 5.5 sacks
• 12 TFL
• 1x All-Pro (2023)
• Led all CBs in 2024 in PFF's advanced coverage grade, earning 75+ grades in run defense, pass rush, and coverage (only CB to do so)

No matter which player(s) Veach ultimately decides to pay, there will surely be fans and haters loudly yelling on both sides of the decision. A case could be made to pay two, or even all three if possible, but with the restructuring that seems inevitable, this doesn't seem likely.

In today's day and age, Veach's decisions are under a microscope from the beginning of talks to the pen signing the paper. The contracts he has already given out to the likes of Karlaftis and Bolton were heavily scrutinized, but even some older ones like Jones' and Noah Gray's are now being critiqued.

This means that Veach has to knock one of these three players' extensions out of the park ... but who should it be?