The Kansas City Chiefs have a clear offseason focus with Patrick Mahomes working his way back from a torn ACL. No longer can the franchise get by tossing an underwhelming cast together and expecting Mahomes to make it work. The front office needs to bring in pieces capable of supporting the quarterback and taking pressure off the past need for Mahomes to create with his legs. This creates a difficult path for GM Brett Veach, who is entering the offseason with negative cap space.
Still, the Chiefs can make meaningful additions by simply pushing money into the future and cutting failing veterans. Leading us to look at three names, in particular, who stand out as possible free agent signings that would go a long way in taking pressure off Mahomes and helping create explosive plays in the passing game.
1. TE Kyle Pitts
Pitts has been a source of frustration for his previous franchise due to his inability to match a rookie season where he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards and appeared to be on the path to stardom. The next three seasons, Pitts dealt with injuries and underwhelming production, which led to his effort being questioned. This ended in the 2025 season with the pass catcher piling up 928 receiving yards and five touchdowns despite playing in a questionable Atlanta Falcons offense.
Quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins both dealt with struggles and limited the production of the tight end. Now, Pitts is set to hit free agency and would be the perfect addition for the Chiefs. Mahomes is going to have no problem taking advantage of the mismatches that Pitts' 6'6" frame naturally creates.
Whether or not Travis Kelce opts to return, the Chiefs need an upgrade at the position, and Pitts offers Kansas City that chance. It is fun to imagine what heights the tight end might reach within Andy Reid's offense, playing with by far the most talented group of his career.
2. WR Mike Evans
While the Chiefs already have Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, there are health and consistency concerns surrounding both players. If there is one pending free agent that would go a long way toward making Kansas City the AFC favorites once again, it is Mike Evans. The veteran receiver could likely be signed at a discount coming off an injury-riddled 2025 campaign, where the pass catcher was limited to only 368 receiving yards and a trio of touchdowns.
Still, Evans is a perfect fit, offering the downfield shots that are missing from Kansas City's offense. There is also the fact that when healthy, Evans hasn't had a single season in his career where he hasn't surpassed 1,000 receiving yards. The veteran would also be comfortable sharing the huddle with an all-time great, as Evans previously won a Super Bowl with Tom Brady and put up great numbers with the legend as his QB.
Mahomes having the chance to work with the receiver and have him become a part of Kansas City's legacy is another fun twist to the move. No question, Evans is the perfect addition to the Chiefs' starting lineup and should be near the top of potential offseason signings.
3. WR Rashid Shaheed
It seems anytime the Seattle Seahawks put the receiver on the field, great things happen. Still, the franchise uses the speedy pass catcher sparingly, setting up a potential exit no matter how the rest of the playoffs turn out. For Shaheed, signing with the Chiefs represents the chance to be consistently involved in the offense as well as serve in a return role.
Much has been made of the frustration around Nikko Remigio and the lack of explosive plays within Kansas City's return game. Shaheed instantly changes this, in addition to offering Andy Reid a gadget player to utilize within the offense.
Shaheed can be used out of the backfield or simply as a burner at the receiver position. His addition would provide exciting depth that the Chiefs haven't had at the position in recent seasons, as Shaheed's speed on offense could be utilized around Worthy to create big plays. No question, Shaheed is a perfect fit for the Chiefs and should be explored in the early weeks of the offseason.