The Kansas City Chiefs did not qualify for the playoffs last season, and you can bet they are intent on ensuring that doesn’t happen again in 2026. The team has been hard at work over the past few months in an attempt to rebuild its roster, and while most of its offseason work has already been done, there may still be some moves to make.
In recent years, the Chiefs have struggled to properly support superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes on offense, and while the team has added several offensive playmakers ahead of the new season, they could still use some help at the wide receiver position. The good news is that there are still several big names up for grabs on the free agent market, with one insider suggesting that Kansas City could be a team to watch in this department.
Chiefs Linked to Several Veteran Wide Receivers
Ever since the Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins after the 2021 campaign, they have struggled to properly replace him to this point. Travis Kelce has remained a force at the tight end position, but the team’s top two wide receivers heading into the 2026 campaign, Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, have struggled to stay on the field early in their respective careers.
If even one of Rice or Worthy could consistently make himself available for Mahomes, that would surely make his life significantly easier. Making matters even worse from a depth perspective at this spot is the fact that Marquise Brown departed for the Philadelphia Eagles, so as of right now, the No. 3 wide receiver is Tyquan Thornton, who has also struggled to stay healthy so far in his career.
In a surprising move, K.C. hasn’t really addressed this spot yet this offseason, but they could still conceivably do so, with guys like Keenan Allen, Stefon Diggs, and even their old friend Hill still available in free agency. Eventually, these guys are going to find new homes, and NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN believes the Chiefs could pounce on the veteran wide receiver market before the start of the new season.
“A lot of free agent receivers available,” Fowler said on “SportsCenter.” “You’ve got Keenan Allen, you’ve got Stefon Diggs, you’ve got Tyreek Hill, and you have a lot of teams that need help. The Kansas City Chiefs are a little thin at receiver.”
Should the Chiefs Sign Another Wide Receiver?
GettyLos Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen.
When Rice, Worthy, and Thornton are on the field, they have proven capable of making plays for Mahomes in the passing game. The problem is that the lone constant last season was Kelce, and he’s not the player he once was. If any one of those three wideouts has to miss time, Kansas City could be in trouble, and based on what we have seen so far from them, there’s a good chance all three of them won’t be able to suit up for all 17 games.
Just because these guys are still free agents doesn’t necessarily mean they will be cheap, but Allen and Diggs in particular have proven to be reliable targets who can create separation at all three levels of the field. Given the question marks surrounding the rest of the players at this position, it would certainly make sense for the Chiefs to see if they can add another option here before the season gets underway.
Insider Names Chiefs as NFL Team That Could Still Add Veteran Wide Receiver