Among the Kansas City Chiefs' biggest offseason concerns is a secondary that could lose both safety Bryan Cook and corner Jaylen Watson to free agency. While it is clear that KC wants to bring back both players, it is fair to wonder if they will be outbid for proven performers.
This is especially true for Watson, who, according to Spotrac, is expected to garner a deal upwards of $12.4 million in free agency. This is a hefty sum for a cap-strapped franchise dealing with a myriad of roster needs in what could be the most important offseason in recent memory.
Arguably more pressing than corner, the Chiefs have concerns at edge rusher, running back, tight end, and defensive line. While Travis Kelce's potential return could take away one of these, it still cuts into cap space for a veteran who isn't going to play for pennies after being Kansas City's leading receiver in 2025.
This points to a difficult situation due to a projected negative -$54.9 million, according to Over The Cap. Kansas City has the worst cap situation in the league and will be attempting to chase one of the top corners scheduled to hit the market. While the Chiefs should be able to dig themselves out of this cap hole, they won't have the ammo other teams do, making the possibility that Watson is getting ready to walk away from the franchise very real.
Chiefs Face Difficult Road as Hopes of Retaining Jaylen Watson Continue to Shrink
Kansas City's biggest concern here is simply that they are in no position to win a bidding war for one of the most sought-after positions. Watson is a proven champion and can step in and start in any system based on his coverage abilities and elite instincts that aided the Chiefs in winning two Super Bowls and appearing in three straight while the corner was starting.
For Watson, there is no better time to cash in after totaling 53 tackles and a pair of interceptions in what was a solid 2025 performance. While KC might have missed the playoff field, it wasn't due to its defense, with Watson more than holding up his end of the bargain.
The defensive back had a passer rating of 69 when targeted and a Pro Football Focus rating of 74.1. This points to how difficult it will be for the Chiefs to retain a star contributor who has more than earned a top-dollar contract that rebuilding or fringe contenders will be all too happy to hand the corner in the offseason.
With this in mind, fans should mentally prepare for the possibility that Watson will walk away in free agency. The only hope is that the fit within defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's scheme and the promise of championship contention are enough to lure Watson back on a lesser deal. Otherwise, the defensive back has likely played his last down for the Chiefs and will cash in on free agency, walking away in the 2026 offseason.