The Kansas City Chiefs' to-do list is lengthy this offseason, especially on the offensive side of the ball. On top of needing upgrades in the wide receiver and running back rooms, the Chiefs also need to find a backup quarterback.
Gardner Minshew is getting ready to hit free agency after a season-ending knee injury, while starting QB Patrick Mahomes is facing an unknown timeline to return from a torn ACL. Chris Oladokun proved at the end of the 2025 campaign that he wasn't ready for the job, while Jake Haener — who was signed earlier this month — isn't exactly a foolproof solution.
With this in mind, the Chiefs should be paying attention to ESPN's recent trade rankings. Coming in as the 10th-ranked player expected to be traded is New Orleans quarterback Spencer Rattler. The third-year quarterback has two years remaining on his rookie deal and could be an enticing piece for the Chiefs to add as a reclamation project who also offers starting experience.
Spencer Rattler Could Help Chiefs Solve QB2 Concerns
The Saints likely want to move on to help further solidify Tyler Shough as the starter. Rattler lost the job and doesn't have a path back into the lineup, motivating the franchise to turn the page, potentially opening the door for a trade to Kansas City.
While Rattler didn't have much success with the Saints, he would be working in a better system under head coach Andy Reid and is a promising reclamation project.
Rattler has 2,903 passing yards in two years of experience to go with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. These aren't elite numbers, but show enough capability and talent that the Chiefs have reason to believe they could mold him into a reliable backup. It could be similar to the success that the Green Bay Packers saw with Malik Willis after his career started poorly with the Tennessee Titans.
A prospect once considered a bust was acquired by Green Bay for a seventh-round pick, and now the Packers are likely going to garner a 2027 third-round pick in return for his expected free agency exit.
With this in mind, the Chiefs should attempt to take a flyer on Rattler with the idea that they could end up getting a comp pick that carries more value than the one they give up for the signal-caller. Furthering the potential fit is that Rattler has 14 career starts, indicating the experience and ability to step into the role if Mahomes needs extra time before he returns.
Acquiring Rattler would also give the Chiefs a multi-year solution. Spotrac has him carrying cap hits of $1.1 million and $1.2 million in 2026 and 2027, respectively, giving Kansas City an affordable option that allows general manager Brett Veach to spend money elsewhere.
The Chiefs want a backup QB they can mold into a possible asset with starting experience, not a player that is going to light it up and raise unwanted questions. Rattler fits this description perfectly and could end up being a potential offseason bargain.