After sorting through which in-house free agents the Kansas City Chiefs should retain, the next step is evaluating external options who can elevate the roster. While Brett Veach’s offseason priorities extend across all three phases, this installment focuses on the offensive side of the ball. Andy Reid's offense needs an infusion of explosiveness and reliability after a deeply disappointing 2025 season. The offense doesn't need a massive overhaul, just some targeted additions who can raise the floor around Patrick Mahomes.
Before identifying specific players, it’s important to establish what Kansas City should be seeking in free agency. For an offense that struggled to generate chunk plays and sustain positive yardage, the Chiefs need to become more explosive overall and more reliable on a down-to-down basis. The most persistent issues over the past few seasons have been a lack of speed, reliability, and consistency. With that lens in mind, the following free-agent options represent realistic, scheme-friendly additions who can help move this unit forward.
Quarterback
Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco is a name that might be surprising to see atop this list. He's a 41-year-old veteran entering his 19th season in the NFL. He presents a special case, with Mahomes rehabbing from the ACL and LCL injuries that shortened his 2025 season. Flacco matches the aesthetic Kansas City has pursued in recent years: experienced, steady, and capable of keeping an offense on schedule for short spans. Mahomes may or may not be ready to start the season. Adding a veteran like Flacco could keep the Chiefs afloat if their star quarterback needs a few weeks before his 2026 debut—although the veteran says he's looking for a "meaningful situation" where he can compete.
Marcus Mariota
Marcus Mariota is another veteran with extensive experience as both a starter and a backup. After an odd departure from Atlanta in 2023, he spent the past three seasons in the NFC East with Philadelphia and Washington. Unlike Flacco, Mariota brings mobility and the ability to extend plays under pressure. He is not as consistent a passer, but he can run a pared-down version of the offense if needed. He started eight games last season in place of the injured Jayden Daniels and, despite losing six of those starts, provided serviceable play.
Running back
Travis Etienne
Travis Etienne is the most explosive, scheme-friendly back in this free-agent class, and his skill set fits exactly what Kansas City needs. He brings home-run speed and proven receiving value, giving the offense elements that were not consistently available behind Isiah Pacheco. Etienne should be attainable given the cap flexibility the Chiefs have created, and his market will likely fall in the two- to three-year range at $7–8 million per year. That number could rise into the $10–11 million tier if Breece Hall or Kenneth Walker become unavailable, but even at the higher end, Etienne remains one of the few backs who can raise both the floor and ceiling of this offense.
Kenneth Gainwell
Kenneth Gainwell hasn't consistently shown the ability to be a feature back, but he's a solid dual-threat option who fits the profile of a reliable RB2/RB3. He caught 73 passes last season in Pittsburgh, showing the kind of receiving value Kansas City has lacked behind Isiah Pacheco. Gainwell can function as a third-down back, protect the quarterback, and give the offense a steady outlet in the passing game. Gainwell is versatile and reliable and would be a signing in the mold of Jerick McKinnon, with a similar skill set and usage profile.
Tyler Allgeier
Tyler Allgeier brings a different profile than the other backs on this list. He is not an explosive player, but he offers a physical, downhill style that fits the early-down and short-yardage work Kansas City may need if Kareem Hunt departs in free agency. Allgeier runs with balance, finishes through contact, and rarely creates negative plays, making him a steady complement to Isiah Pacheco. He's reportedly seeking a three-year, $22 million deal in FA.
Rico Dowdle
Rico Dowdle brings a mix of burst and physicality, the kind of runner who hits creases with speed and stays upright through contact. He produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in Dallas and Carolina, showing he can handle volume when it’s available. The question is whether that opportunity exists in Kansas City. Dowdle may be looking for a larger workload than the Chiefs can offer in a committee-based backfield, and apart from the addition of Jeremiyah Love, that structure is unlikely to change. He’s a strong rotational option, but his market will depend on how much usage he expects with a new team.
Wide Receiver
Tyreek Hill
Tyreek Hill will be the most polarizing name on this list. He suffered a significant knee injury early last season, and there is real uncertainty about how quickly he can return to form. Hill has also been a frequent source of off-field controversy, which complicates the picture for a Kansas City team already dealing with a serious legal matter involving one of its top receivers. But if Hill regains most of what made him the league’s premier deep threat, the on-field fit is obvious. He knows the offense, understands the structure, and has well-established chemistry with Patrick Mahomes.
Rashid Shaheed
If Tyquan Thornton departs, Kansas City will need another true vertical threat, and Rashid Shaheed fits that role cleanly. He brings field-tilting speed and the ability to generate chunk plays, traits the Chiefs need more of in 2026 with a more stable offensive line capable of giving Patrick Mahomes time to push the ball downfield. Shaheed has reliable hands, can be moved across formations, and adds value as a return specialist on special teams. Kansas City needs to stress defenses vertically more often next season, and Shaheed gives them a clear path to doing that.
Romeo Doubs
If Kansas City wants a more physical receiver who can be trusted at the catch point, Romeo Doubs fits that profile. He brings size and play strength, giving the Chiefs a sturdier presence in a room that has leaned smaller in recent years. His catch radius and body control make him effective in contested-catch situations, which adds value on third downs, even if tight-window throws are not the core of this offense. JuJu Smith-Schuster once filled that role for Patrick Mahomes, but with his future uncertain, the Chiefs may need a younger option who can provide the same reliability in traffic.
Jauan Jennings
Jauan Jennings is another receiver who fits the WR4, Smith-Schuster mold Kansas City has leaned on in recent years. He will be 29 before the 2026 season but has been durable across his five NFL seasons and brings the same physical edge JuJu once provided. Jennings is an above-average blocker, which matters in an offense that often asks its receivers to work downfield on screens, quick-hitting concepts, and motion plays. As a pass catcher, he can win over the middle and hold up on high-leverage downs when the Chiefs need someone to finish a play. He isn’t a volume option, but his toughness and situational reliability make him a natural fit in a complementary role.
The 2026 NFL Draft will be another key piece in reshaping the Chiefs’ offense, but adding two or three players from this free-agent board would put Kansas City on a stronger trajectory for next season. This team does not need splashy signings, just solid and affordable additions that fit the scheme and raise the floor. With cap space opening and more moves likely ahead, the start of the new league year should give the Chiefs a real chance to accelerate their offensive reset.