Ranking Chiefs' 3 Worst Offseason Moves So Far

The Kansas City Chiefs have made some questionable decisions this offseason that could impact their 2026 season.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 5:07pm

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The Kansas City Chiefs had a disappointing end to their 2025 season, going 5-5 before losing their final six games. A key turning point was when safety Bryan Cook was injured in Week 13, leading to a steep decline in the team's defensive performance. The Chiefs made several questionable decisions this offseason, including allowing Cook to sign with the Cincinnati Bengals, overpaying for veteran tight end Travis Kelce, and failing to retain backup quarterback Gardner Minshew.

Why it matters

The Chiefs' offseason moves could have significant implications for their 2026 season. Losing a key defensive player like Cook and failing to adequately replace him could hurt their ability to stop third-down conversions. Overpaying for Kelce limits their salary cap flexibility, while letting Minshew go leaves them without an experienced backup quarterback to potentially start early in the season if Patrick Mahomes requires more recovery time.

The details

The Chiefs allowed safety Bryan Cook to sign a three-year, $40.25 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, despite Cook's strong performance in 2025. His replacement, Alohi Gilman, had a much higher missed tackle percentage last season. The Chiefs also re-signed Travis Kelce to a one-year, $12 million contract with $3 million in incentives, which is more than they likely would have had to pay. And they let backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, who had one start for the team in 2025, sign with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year, $8.25 million deal.

  • In Week 13 of the 2025 season, safety Bryan Cook tweaked his ankle in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys, leading to a six-game losing streak to end the year.
  • The Chiefs signed Bryan Cook to a three-year, $40.25 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengans in March 2026.
  • The Chiefs re-signed Travis Kelce to a one-year, $12 million contract with $3 million in incentives in March 2026.
  • Gardner Minshew signed a one-year, $8.25 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals in March 2026.

The players

Bryan Cook

A safety who played for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025 before signing a three-year, $40.25 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2026 offseason.

Alohi Gilman

A free agent safety who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2026 to replace Bryan Cook.

Travis Kelce

A veteran tight end who has played for the Kansas City Chiefs since 2013 and was re-signed to a one-year, $12 million contract with $3 million in incentives in the 2026 offseason.

Gardner Minshew

A quarterback who played for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025 and signed a one-year, $8.25 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals in the 2026 offseason.

Patrick Mahomes

The starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs who underwent season-ending knee surgery in December 2025 and is expected to miss at least the start of the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.