The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the steadiest quarterback situations in the entire league—and that’s not changing anytime soon.
Patrick Mahomes is heading into his eighth year as the Chiefs' starting QB. He hasn’t started fewer than 14 games in a season, and he’s gone 16+ starts in each of the last four years. As long as he’s healthy, there’s no doubt who’s under center.
That stability likely means KC will roll with just two quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster. But with four currently on the books, someone’s getting cut—or at least bumped down to the practice squad.
Here’s a look at where each signal-caller stands heading into camp:
Roster Lock
Patrick Mahomes
No surprise here. Mahomes is still smack in the middle of his prime and ready to bounce back after a “down year” by his sky-high standards. The Chiefs are chasing revenge after their Super Bowl loss, and that mission starts with keeping No. 15 upright and well-protected. With an improved O-line and revamped receiving corps, Mahomes is locked in for another MVP-level run.
Strong Bet
Gardner Minshew
Minshew inked a one-year, $1.17 million deal to back up Mahomes this offseason. He’s one of the more experienced backups in the league, with 46 career starts across stints with Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and Las Vegas. That said, he’s now on his fourth team in four years, which raises some questions. Still, he’s the favorite to hold down QB2 duties unless someone seriously outshines him.
On the Bubble
Bailey Zappe
It’s rare for one team to carry three QBs with legit starting experience, but that’s exactly where the Chiefs are with Mahomes, Minshew, and Zappe.
Zappe, a former fourth-rounder, has a 4-5 record as a starter and is now with his third team in three years. He’s got enough game to hang around the league, but his long-term spot is murky. Unless he completely outplays Minshew in camp, Zappe is likely headed for the practice squad.
Camp Body
Chris Oladokun
Oladokun got his first NFL snaps in Week 18 last season, mopping up against the Broncos. While that was a nice milestone, he’s a long shot to stick around. With three more experienced QBs ahead of him, Oladokun is firmly on the outside looking in, barring injuries or some preseason magic.
The Chiefs’ QB room is deep, but only one job behind Mahomes is truly up for grabs. Camp battles may heat up, but when the dust settles, don’t be surprised if the room looks just like it does now, with one man watching from the practice squad.