Chiefs NFL Free Agency Predictions: A Backup QB for Patrick Mahomes?

The 2025 season was a rare bad year for the Kansas City Chiefs, and the 2026 season might be a murky year for them with Patrick Mahomes rehabbing from an ACL tear. However, we might have an answer at quarterback for the Chiefs if Mahomes can’t go to start the 2026 season. FOX Sports NFL writer Greg Auman predicted Kansas City would land two players in his top 100 NFL free agents list. One of those players was a veteran quarterback with plenty of experience, but he also had the Chiefs losing three players from the list. The Chiefs are roughly $54 million north of the salary cap entering the offseason, per Over The Cap. So, it isn’t unimaginable to think that Kansas City is set to have a relatively quieter year in free agency. But let’s look at Auman’s free-agent predictions for the Chiefs. Sign Giants QB Russell Wilson (71st-best free agent, third-best free agent quarterback) Wilson, 37, has fallen hard over the last three years, going from a $40 million starter in Denver to barely playing on a bad Giants team. He went 0-3 as a New York starter, and after making $10 million this past season, he might draw half that. His best scenario is likely a bridge starter who goes to a team with a young starter so they don’t have to rush him. Go back to 2024, he had 16 touchdowns against five interceptions while going 6-5 for the Steelers, and that’s the hope for a team that brings him in as a stopgap. Re-sign LB Leo Chenal (66th-best free agent, ninth-best free agent linebacker) Chenal, 25, isn’t an every-down linebacker, but he’s stout against the run and improving as a pass-rusher. He’s totaled seven sacks in four years under Steve Spagnuolo and averaged 55 tackles a year. Would another defense try to develop his coverage skills to make him someone who doesn’t have to come off the field in nickel or obvious passing situations? He’s had a tackle for loss in three different Super Bowls, so his experience doesn’t hurt if you’re trying to create a playoff culture in the locker room.