Three biggest winners and losers from Chiefs first week of training camp

Kansas City Chiefs players and coaches alike are enjoying a much-needed rest day today after four straight practices, which should have gotten everybody accustomed to what the next three weeks will look like in St. Joe. Pads come on as early as Monday's practice, which is when we'll begin to get a real sense of who is capable of taking a grown man's job.

So far, the biggest storyline has been the otherworldly impression Patrick Mahomes has made in camp so far. While he continues to wear a brace on his surgically repaired left leg, if you didn't know he tore his ACL just seven months ago, you probably wouldn't think anything of it.

He's been zipping the ball as usual through the air, but the Chiefs signal-caller is also getting out on the move, putting some weight and pressure on that leg to run upfield, make cuts, and look like the Patrick Mahomes we're used to.

Clearly, the three-time Super Bowl MVP is the biggest winner of perhaps the entire NFL offseason. But let's dive deeper into three players on each side of the ball who, over these four days, have either seen their Chiefs stock rise or taken a dip for the worse.

Kansas City wrapped up week one of training camp practices in St. Joe. Whose stock is rising and whose is falling ahead of week two?

Winners

Kenneth Walker III

Kansas City, for just the second time in the Patrick Mahomes era, invested heavily into the running back position this offseason. The first attempt was drafting Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the first round of the 2020 draft, which did not work out in the least bit. Reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III was one of Brett Veach's earliest free agency additions, locking the 25-year-old rusher down for roughly $43 million over the next three years.

And so far, Walker has been every bit of what was expected and more in camp. Granted, it's padless football, but the explosiveness, change of direction, and speed have been evident. Walker's involvement in the passing game has also been a welcome sight.

Josh Simmons

First-round pick from a season ago, Josh Simmons has come into year two and only impressed every step of the way. Simmons missed a month of his rookie campaign due to a personal conflict, and then returned for a couple of games only to dislocate his wrist, ending his season. But when he was on the field, he dominated.

Now with a full offseason under his belt to recover, Simmons looks primed for a breakout season as the Mahomes' blindside protector. Early reports from camp suggest that "Simmons is a wall," according to ESPN's Nate Taylor. If he can prove to be a Pro Bowl-caliber LT, concerns over Mahomes having to deal with crowded pockets will quickly vanish.

Nohl Williams   

Another second-year guy who KC has poured immense trust into to be a full-time starting outside cornerback. With both Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson departing, Williams will undoubtedly be given every opportunity to play every snap and cover some of the best receivers in the league.

So far in practice, Williams has tallied at least one interception off of Mahomes in 7-on-7 and multiple pass breakups. His 74.5 overall PFF grade from a year ago ranked 15th out of 114 qualified CBs in 2025. Let's hope 2026 is Williams' year to really make a meaningful difference in Steve Spagnuolo's defense.

Losers

Jaylon Moore

Moore's time in Kansas City has been odd. He signed a two-year, $30 million contract to be the team's starting left tackle last season, but to the Chiefs' surprise, Simmons fell to their laps at pick 32 in the draft, and Moore was relegated to a backup role for much of the year. Now entering year two, with a sizable $18.6 million cap hit along with the release of Jawaan Taylor, it seemed as if the right tackle job was Moore's to lose.

However, so far in camp, it's beginning to feel like Moore is losing it. He was part of the starting unit all day for the first go-around but was succeeded by UDFA Kahlil Benson the following three practices. Time will tell where exactly Moore stands along the Chiefs' offensive unit, but if Andy Reid and company deem that Benson may be the guy for the job, they could cut Moore and open up nearly $8 million in cap space.

Jalon Royals

Royals hasn't necessarily done anything to hurt himself in camp so far, but he hasn't helped himself either. Many thought Royals to be a steal of a fourth-round pick last year, and a type of Rashee Rice-esque play style. But after logging just two whole catches on 20% of snaps his rookie year, doubt about whether Royals could be anything of value on the field grew amongst Chiefs Kingdom.

So far, Royals has worked mostly with the second-team offense and has been overtaken on the depth chart by rookie fifth-rounder Cyrus Allen. With Nikko Remigio basically guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster due to his returning duties on special teams, Royals may have to fight much harder to make the team, let alone see any playing time. He's gotta start producing in camp.

Ashton Gillotte

Not a fault of his own but purely bad luck, second-year pass-rusher Ashton Gillotte strained his hamstring early on in camp, and the severity of that injury remains unknown. The 23-year-old third-round pick flashed at various times last year, posting 1.5 sacks, 38 total tackles, and eight quarterback hits.

Charles Omenihu and Mike Danna are longer on the team and eating snaps away from younger guys like Gillotte. His ascension is one the Chiefs are banking on, as the depth chart is now even thinner after Ethan Downs tore his ACL days ago. Hopefully for his sake and the Chiefs, the hamstring ailment doesn't last long.

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