The Kansas City Chiefs will fight an uphill battle to retain a chunk of their pending free agents this offseason. According to OverTheCap, the Chiefs are projected to have the worst cap situation in the NFL, projected to be more than $62.3 million over the 2026 salary cap.
This is a far cry from the Denver Broncos, with the hated AFC West rival coming in at $27.4 million in projected space. It makes Denver a clear threat to win the division again, opening the door for the Broncos to steal from the Chiefs, especially with a clear desire to upgrade the wide receiver room.
"WRs in the AFC Championship Game: Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Elijah Moore. There is NO greater priority this offseason," Mile High Huddle's Zack Kelberma wrote.
With that in mind, it wouldn't be unexpected to see the Broncos make a play for Tyquan Thornton when the Chiefs WR hits free agency this offseason.
Chiefs WR Tyquan Thornton Could Be on Broncos' Radar in Free Agency
Thornton finished the 2025 season with a career-high 438 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 19 catches, clearly benefiting from a season with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The former second-round pick finally got a chance to showcase his potential, and now that the NFL has taken notice, he could be a prime free-agent target for a team like the Broncos.
Let's also not forget that Denver had a front-row seat to see what Thornton can do. Back in Week 11, the ex-Baylor WR recorded a season-best 61-yard catch against the Broncos, which ultimately led to a Kareem Hunt touchdown.
Adding to the cause for concern is Denver's aggressive front office, which often seeks out speed. Current Broncos WRs Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, and Elijah Moore all serve as evidence of this trend, adding to the increasing possibility that the Chiefs won't retain Thornton when he hits the open market.
While the Chiefs are going to be forced to count every penny and entertain a myriad of roster cuts to get below the cap, the Broncos are in great positioning. The Broncos can easily outbid the Chiefs and offer Thornton far more security as well as a larger role.
For the Chiefs, this points to a deeper problem: a rival that has closed the gap and lost fear of what was a dominating dynasty. No longer do the Chiefs have the edge, financially or on the field. That's why Kansas City might have to get creative if it hopes to re-sign Thornton, ensuring that his only time in the Mile High City will be for road games.