It sounds crazy, but in terms of games played, the Kansas City Chiefs are already a third of the way through the 2026 regular season. Their 5-1 record is tied for the top in the AFC with the always- dangerous Josh Allen-led Buffalo Bills.
While it was hard to stomach the 20-3 loss at the hands of the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, it was one game, and the Chiefs need to move past it. They now travel to another hostile environment at Mile High Stadium to take on a 5-2 Denver Broncos team, looking to take back control of the division.
In this team's first matchup this year, Kansas City handed Denver a can of whoop-ass, winning 31-10, on the back of Kenneth Walker III. His Chiefs debut was filled with big plays, and has been ever since. Walker was just one of Brett Veach's truly notable free agent signings this offseason.
With a somewhat adequate sample size of six games, let's dig into how this past offseason's additions have gone so far playing in red and gold.
How well did Brett Veach nail the 2026 offseason additions?
Kenneth Walker III
Walker was not only the Chiefs' first free-agent signing this offseason, but he was nearly the first player to be nabbed by any team. Veach and front office personnel were quick to award the reigning Super Bowl MVP a three-year, $43.05 million contract. So far, it's safe to say that Walker has far outperformed any expectations set for him, even with his name attached to a massive payday.
Through six games, Walker is on pace for just under 2,000 rushing yards (5.8 YPC), over 20 total touchdowns, and has forced the most missed tackles in the league this season (47). He has completely changed the complexion of the Chiefs offense and made it not so Patrick Mahomes- centric. Teams now have to game plan for another superstar on the offense. A home run signing by Brett Veach.
Khyiris Tonga
The hulking defensive nose tackle, Khyiris Tonga, was signed seemingly just minutes after Walker by Kansas City to a three-year, $21 million deal. It's clear that in the years past, the Chiefs' personnel at nose tackle has been greatly undermanned. Despite being a bit of a journeyman throughout his first handful of years in the NFL, Tonga has impressed at every stop. And it's been no different in Kansas City.
In Tonga's grueling line of work in the trenches, individual stats are not necessarily the barometer for how well a NT is playing. But for what it's worth, Tonga is on pace to set a career high in total tackles and has even been a plus on the field when pass-rushing. He takes up double teams constantly, allowing others easier paths to success. The Chiefs are a top-10 rushing defense, in large part due to Tonga's efforts.
Alohi Gilman
It took the Chiefs until day two of free agency to nab Gilman up, but they felt very confident in his abilities. And they showed it by giving him a three-year, $24 contract to lead Steve Spagnuolo's safety room. In six games, Gilman has been a bit of a mixed bag, totaling a respectable 24 tackles, but just one TFL and no forced turnovers or a big, game-changing play.
He has had one of his better coverage seasons so far, allowing a 53.8 completion rate when targeted and a below-100 passer rating. Kansas City's pass defense has been able to force more turnovers as a whole, but ranks dead middle in the league in passing yards allowed per game (214). I'd say Gilman, up to this point, has underperformed just a tad, but there's still lots of football left to be played.
Tyquan Thornton
Thornton played on the Chiefs last year, but he was a free agent signing nonetheless. His two-year, $11 deal was a true testament to the impact he showed during his time in Kansas City last season and the downfield chemistry that he had built with Patrick Mahomes in a short time.
Unfortunately, what was a career best start to the season, Thornton suffered a fractured and dislocated left ankle late in Week 4, potentially ending his regular season with a possible return in late December. For the time he was on the field, he was a game changer for the Chiefs and if nothing else will come back next year with hopefully the same vigor.
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