The Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up for the 2026 season, and there's a lot of intrigue surrounding their roster moves. One standout performer at minicamp is rookie tackle Kahlil Benson, who has caught the eye of coaches with his impressive play. Benson, an undrafted free agent, started for the national champion Indiana team last season and has now signed with the Chiefs after a successful tryout. This is a promising development for the team, as they already have veteran Jaylon Moore and second-year player Esa Pole in the running for the starting right tackle job. Benson's potential is a welcome addition to the team's depth at the position.
In other news, the Chiefs are hosting tight ends Kenny Yeboah and Mason Pline for tryouts during their minicamp. Yeboah, 27, went undrafted out of Ole Miss in 2021 but has since caught on with the Jets. He has had a bit of a rollercoaster ride, being waived and then re-signed to the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster. The Chiefs are taking a chance on him, and it will be interesting to see if he can make an impact on the team.
The team is also dealing with some off-field issues. Rashee Rice, the No. 1 wide receiver, is currently absent from OTAs due to legal troubles. This has created an opportunity for other wideouts on the roster, and third-year receiver Xavier Worthy has been among the standout performers. Worthy has been more of a gadget-weapon than an every-down receiver so far, but his sophomore campaign was a disappointment. Perhaps a breakout is on the horizon for him.
The Chiefs have also made some moves to improve their defensive depth. They waived UDFA DB Marlen Sewell to make room on the 90-man offseason roster for the reunion with L'Jarius Sneed. This move keeps the team at 19 defensive backs, with 12 cornerbacks and 7 safeties. The Chiefs are not afraid to cut UDFA developmental talent if it means improving their roster, and Sewell won't be the last player to get called in and informed of his release.
One interesting development is the potential for the Chiefs to deal with cornerback Kristian Fulton. With the newfound depth, there is a possibility that one of the four cornerbacks capable of starting could be traded. Fulton fits the bill, but his $13 million cap hit in 2026 and $8 million dead cap make it a challenging situation. The team has to weigh the position's depth against the talent available up front to create pressure.
In other NFL news, the Rams are dealing with a domestic violence incident involving Alaric Jackson, who was arrested on a domestic violence charge. The team is taking the matter very seriously, and it remains to be seen how it will affect Jackson's future with the organization. The Bengals, on the other hand, have made a move to gain $10 million in cap space by restructuring a deal, which was necessitated by the predraft trade for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II.
The Broncos are also making some interesting moves. They are entering the 2026 season with remarkable continuity on defense, and their depth spots are largely populated by holdovers with experience in the scheme. This means they are not spending their offseason onboarding a host of key new figures. The team is confident that they can improve one glaring weakness from last season, which was their inability to consistently create takeaways. They caused only 14 turnovers in 2025, a mark that ranked 26th in the NFL.
Overall, the Chiefs are facing a variety of challenges and opportunities as they prepare for the 2026 season. From roster moves to off-field issues, the team is navigating a complex landscape. It will be interesting to see how they handle these situations and whether they can recapture postseason contention.
