It wasn’t a banner year for the Kansas City Chiefs. Coming off a blowout Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, the Chiefs were expected to reload and make another deep postseason run. Instead, a mixture of injuries and declining play led to Kansas City failing to win the AFC West for the first time in nine years and missing the playoffs altogether — something that was likely to occur even before MVP QB Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL.
As the calendar is about to turn to February, the dust is settling on the 2025 season. The Seahawks and Patriots will battle it out in Super Bowl LX next Sunday, but the rest of the league is firmly looking towards the 2026 season. Free agency is just over a month away and the draft is the month after that. Now is the time for the Chiefs to be preparing for all the roster changes that will get Kansas City back to the top of the AFC in short order.
Kansas City Chiefs S Bryan Cook Could Be in Line for a Massive Payday
GettyARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 27: Jaylen Watson #35 of the Kansas City Chiefs intercepts a pass intended for George Pickens #3 of the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on November 27, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The first priority for the Chiefs might be to decide how many of their own free agents they’ll be trying to retain. Despite their poor record, this is still a strong roster, and they won’t want to watch it get decimated by departing free agents.
On Thursday, PFF’s Mason Cameron discussed 10 defensive free agents who deserve big paydays in free agency this year. Two of the players he highlighted hail from Kansas City, and the Chiefs would be hurting if they lost both.
The first is Chiefs S Bryan Cook, a former second-round pick out of Cincinnati. “Although the Chiefs underperformed this past season, Cook made massive strides, earning a career-best 83.5 PFF overall grade, the fifth-highest mark among qualifying safeties,” Cameron wrote. “The 26-year-old stood as the only safety to earn above an 80.0-plus PFF grade in both run defense (80.1) and coverage (83.2). He also ranked above the 90th percentile in missed tackle rate among safeties.”
“While Cook’s grading profile in previous seasons doesn’t jump off the page, he brings experience as a starter in a complex defensive scheme,” Cameron continued. “His talent is undeniable, and at just over $14 million annually, Cook would rank just inside the 12 highest-paid safeties.”
Kansas City Chiefs CB Jaylen Watson Could Also Get a Big Contract
In addition to Cook, Cameron predicted that Chiefs CB Jaylen Watson , a former seventh-round pick out of Washington State, could also be a coveted target by teams in free agency. “Watson is another standout member of the Chiefs’ secondary in line for a lucrative payday,” Cameron said. “Watson has been one of the most consistent performers in [Chiefs DC] Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme, earning a 68.0-plus PFF overall grade in each of the past three seasons. Over that span, he notched a 74.9 PFF coverage grade at outside cornerback, placing him in the 85th percentile.”
“Watson brings high-percentile length at cornerback to make him an enticing option this free agency cycle. At $12.5 million annually, Watson’s projected value would be in line with Brandon Stephens’ three-year, $36 million deal last offseason with the Jets.”
Chiefs Get Big Prediction on Two Defensive Stars Heading Into Free Agency