1. Charles Omenihu, DE
The Chiefs could try to sneak in and snag Charles Omenihu on a bargain deal, capitalizing on his 2024 injuries and 2023 off-the-field issues.
Omenihu has been a solid rotational piece on Kansas City’s defensive line over the past few seasons. With 15 combined sacks in 2022 and 2023, he’s proven he can get to the quarterback—and may still have some gas left in the tank.
The key factor will be his price tag. He made $8 million last year, which is a bit rich for the Chiefs this time around. If both sides can agree on a deal closer to half of that, it could be the perfect middle ground. Kansas City knows how to get his career back on track and Omenihu could benefit from a get-right season.
2. D.J. Humphries, LT
It’s safe to say the D.J. Humphries experiment in Kansas City was about as successful as a no-look pass performed by any quarterback not named Patrick Mahomes.
The issues started right away, as Humphries struggled to keep his man off Patrick Mahomes in the season-opener. That led to a quick trigger and him losing his starting job to the now-traded Joe Thuney, and he never managed to reclaim it, spending the rest of the season on the bench.
The Chiefs have since signed Jaylon Moore as their new starting left tackle, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t use some extra depth. Humphries, now another year removed from the torn ACL he suffered in 2023, could be a solid insurance policy despite being on the wrong side of 30. Hopefully, another year removed would help him reclaim his previous form.
If the price is right, the Chiefs might be willing to roll the dice—because when it comes to protecting Mahomes, having a backup plan is always a winning bet.