Nnadi is signing with the Jets, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Nnadi has been incredibly durable so far in his career, playing in all 17 regular-season games each of the past four seasons and missing just one contest overall during seven campaigns with the Chiefs. However, he saw a reduced role last year, logging career-low marks with 215 defensive snaps and 11 tackles. With his move to the Jets, Nnadi should have an opportunity to receive more work, though he could compete with fellow new signee Byron Cowart to start next to Quinnen Williams (hamstring) at defensive tackle.
... See More... See Less
Eagles' Joshua Uche: Bolsters Philly's defense
Rotowire
The Eagles signed Uche to a one-year contract Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Uche began the 2024 campaign with New England but was traded to Kansas City in late October, where he struggled to carve out more than a reserve role. He tallied just 2.0 sacks across his tenure with both the Patriots and Chiefs in 2024, Uche's lowest mark since his rookie campaign. He'll work to bounce back and help replace Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham for the Eagles.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Jack Cochrane: Tendered at lowest level
Rotowire
The Chiefs extended a right of first refusal tender to restricted free agent Cochrane on Wednesday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
If Cochrane signs the tender, he'll earn a $3.263 million salary in 2025. The former undrafted free agent out of South Dakota appeared in 15 regular-season games for Kansas City last season, logging five tackles (three solo) as a key cog on the Chiefs' special-teams units. He played just nine snaps on defense.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Chris Jones: Restructures contract
Rotowire
Kansas City restructured Jones' contract Wednesday, Adam Teicher of ESPN reports.
Along with the restructuring of teammate Patrick Mahomes' contract, the Chiefs have freed up nearly $50 million in cap space with the move. Now there will be more space on the books for recent free-agent acquisition Kristian Fulton, who will be joining Jones on Kansas City's starting defensive unit in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Justin Reid: Heading to New Orleans
Rotowire
Reid is slated to a sign a three-year, $31.5 million contract with the Saints, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Reid spent the last three seasons in Kansas City and played a pivotal role in the Chiefs' three straight Super Bowl appearances (including victories in 2022 and 2023). Across 16 regular-season games in 2024, he posted 87 tackles (61 solo) and nine pass defenses (including two interceptions), and the 2018 third-round pick has logged at least 80 combined tackles in five of seven NFL seasons. Reid and Tyrann Mathieu are expected to serve as the Saints' starting safeties for the 2025 campaign.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Inks big deal with Chiefs
Rotowire
Bolton signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Chiefs on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Bolton's deal includes $30 million in fully guaranteed salary, indicating that he'll remain a stalwart over the middle of Kansas City's defense moving forward. The 5-foot-11 linebacker, who turns 25 years old Monday, was set to hit free agency after putting up over 100 tackles in all but one of the last four seasons. This includes the 2022 campaign, when he finished second in the NFL in tackles with 180. Bolton should have a great chance to record over 100 tackles once again in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Joshua Uche: Mixed bag season in 2024
Rotowire
Uche finished the 2024 season with 23 total tackles (17 solo), including 2.0 sacks, over 13 regular-season games with the Patriots and Chiefs.
Uche was dealt to Kansas City in late October after spending the first four-plus seasons of his career with the Patriots. The defensive end was limited to just 2.0 sacks this season, his lowest total since his rookie year in 2020. Uche will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, potentially looking to join a new team, though sticking around Kansas City isn't usually a bad idea.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Mike Pennel: Returns to form in 2024
Rotowire
Pennel finished the 2024 season with 25 total tackles (10 solo), including 3.0 sacks, while also recording a forced fumble over 17 regular-season games.
Pennel returned to operate in a weekly role with Kansas City in 2024 after spending the majority of the 2023 campaign on the team's practice squad and appearing in just three regular-season games. The defensive tackle was able to compile a career-high 3.0 sacks this season, and he'll enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Felix Anudike-Uzomah: Tallies 2.5 sacks in 2024
Rotowire
Anudike-Uzomah logged 27 tackles (16 solo), including 2.5 sacks, across 17 regular-season appearances in 2024. He added five tackles (three solo), including 1.0 sack, in three postseason games.
Anudike-Uzomah didn't see a significant jump in production from his 2023 rookie season. The first-round pick served as the Chiefs' fourth defensive end behind George Karlaftis, Mike Danna and Charles Omenihu, all three of whom played the majority of snaps when healthy. With Omenihu currently slated to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, it's possible that Anudike-Uzomah could step into a bigger role in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Jaden Hicks: Picks off three passes in 2024
Rotowire
Hicks recorded 29 tackles (23 solo) and five pass breakups, including three interceptions, in 17 regular-season games this season.
The rookie saw his defensive snap count increase as the season went on, and he also recorded 13 tackles (10 solo) in Kansas City's three playoff games. Hicks played on 312 defensive snaps and 305 special-teams snaps during the regular season, and he will look to continue increasing that defensive workload in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Tershawn Wharton: Sets multiple career highs
Rotowire
Wharton finished with career highs in tackles (29), sacks (6.5) and pass breakups (two) during the 2024 regular season.
The defensive tackle also played in all 17 regular-season games and in all three of Kansas City's playoff contests. Wharton has played on one-year deals in each of the last two seasons, though he started 12 times in 2024 between the regular season and playoffs, the first season in his career in which he started more than once. The career Chief will be an unrestricted free agent come March.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Jaylen Watson: Contributes in limited action
Rotowire
Watson played in only six regular-season games in 2024, but he finished with 32 tackles (21 solo) and six pass breakups.
The cornerback missed the last 11 games of the regular season with fibula and tibia fractures, but he returned for the playoffs and recorded five tackles (four solo) and a pass defensed across three games. Watson also started six games as a rookie in 2022 and two more in 2023, but this was the first regular season in which he started every game he played in. The seventh-round pick in 2022 is entering the final year of his rookie deal.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Josh Williams: Splits time again this season
Rotowire
Williams played on 393 defensive snaps and on 220 special-teams snaps during the 2024 regular season, recording 33 tackles (19 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and six pass breakups.
The 2022 fourth-round pick's snap counts were similar the last two years: 312 on defense and 303 on special teams in 2023 and 414 on defense and 215 on special teams in 2022. Williams was believed to have a chance at starting opposite Trent McDuffie going into the 2024 campaign, but Jaylen Watson ended up taking over that role. Williams is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Christian Roland-Wallace: Finds special-teams role in 2024
Rotowire
Roland-Wallace recorded 34 tackles (23 solo), an interception and a forced fumble in 17 regular-season games this season.
The cornerback played on 248 special-teams snaps and on 183 defensive snaps during the regular season. He played almost exclusively on special teams in the postseason. Roland-Wallace signed a three-year, $2.84 million contract with the Chiefs last May and will try to find a role again in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' George Karlaftis: Gets after QB again in 2024
Rotowire
Karlaftis recorded 35 tackles (21 solo), including 8.0 sacks, and five passes defensed in 16 games during the regular season.
The defensive end added 13 tackles (nine solo), including 4.0 sacks, over Kansas City's three playoff games. Karlaftis finished with 10.5 sacks during the 2023 regular season and 6.0 as a rookie in 2022. The 2022 first-round pick also played on more than 700 defensive snaps in 2024 for the third year in a row.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Chris Jones: Another All-Pro campaign
Rotowire
Jones (knee) finished the 2024 regular season with 37 tackles (19 solo), including 5.0 sacks, and a forced fumble in 15 games.
As usual with Jones, the stats didn't tell the whole story: He was named a first-team All-Pro for the third year in a row. The defensive tackle also played on more than 70 percent of the defensive snaps in all 15 regular-season games he played in. The six-time All-Pro signed a five-year, $158.75 million contract with the Chiefs last March, and he will look to maintain his high level of play in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Mike Danna: Forces two fumbles in 2024
Rotowire
Danna recorded 41 tackles (20 solo), including 3.5 sacks, a pass breakup and two forced fumbles in 13 regular-season games this season.
The defensive also posted seven tackles (two solo), including 1.0 sacks, and another forced fumble across Kansas City's three playoff games. Danna missed four regular-season contests due to calf and pectoral injuries, but in the games he did play, he saw the field on more than half of the Chiefs' defensive snaps, with the exception of the regular-season finale in which KC rested its starters. The 2020 fifth-round pick has started 35 of the last 36 games he's played in, and he will look to retain his role in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Nazeeh Johnson: Sees more action in 2024
Rotowire
Johnson finished the regular season with 56 tackles (33 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and three pass breakups across 16 games and six starts.
The 2022 seventh-round pick, who missed 2023 with a torn ACL and barely played as a rookie, saw extended action when Jaylen Watson was out for 11 games with a fractured fibula and tibia. Even with Watson back, Johnson played on 51 defensive snaps over the Chiefs' first two playoff games. Johnson will be a restricted free agent this offseason, meaning Kansas City can match any offer from another team.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Charles Omenihu: Returns for second half of 2024
Rotowire
Omenihu logged six tackles (four solo), including 1.0 sacks, and one forced fumble across six regular-season games in 2024.
Omenihu started the 2024 regular season on the reserve/PUP list while rehabbing from a torn ACL that he suffered in the AFC Championship Game against the Ravens during the 2023 postseason. He returned for Week 13 against the Raiders and was able to play in nine of the Chiefs' final 10 games of the season (including playoffs). Omenihu enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and will look to sign with a team in need of depth on the defensive line.
... See More... See Less
Chiefs' Trent McDuffie: Starts 16 games for Kansas City
Rotowire
McDuffie finished the 2024 season with 59 tackles (45 solo), including 0.5 sacks, 13 pass breakups, including two interceptions, and one forced fumble across 16 regular-season games.
McDuffie has started all 32 regular-season games in which he's appeared over the last two seasons. After being named a first-team All-Pro in 2023, McDuffie was a second-team All-Pro this season and also finished 22nd in Defensive Player of the Year voting. His 13 pass breakups marked a new career high, and the two interception were the first two of his career. McDuffie has become a quality No. 1 cornerback on the outside for Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo.
