Another player in the Chiefs’ secondary is about to leave Kansas City.
The Bengals are expecting to sign former Chiefs safety Bryan Cook, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The team and Cook’s agents have agreed on a three-year, $40.25 million deal.
Cook has started all 17 games for the Chiefs each of the last two seasons. His departure comes after two Chiefs cornerbacks, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, both landed with the Rams. The Chiefs’ secondary will look a lot different in 2026.
The Bengals desperately needed to bolster their defense, and with Cook they think they’ve done it.
The Chiefs are adding a big man to their defense.
According to multiple reports, Kansas City has agreed to a three-year deal with nose tackle Khyiris Tonga.
The initial reporting indicates Tonga’s contract is worth $21 million with $14 million guaranteed.
Tonga, 29, was originally a Bears seventh-round pick in the 2021 draft. But he’s bounced around a bit, spending time with the Falcons, Vikings, and Cardinals before landing with the Patriots last March.
He appeared in 14 games with eight starts for New England in 2025, recording 24 total tackles with two tackles for loss, two QB hits, and a pair of passes defensed.
Tonga also showed some positional flexibility, playing 14 offensive snaps as a fullback for New England, particularly on plates near the goal line.
With the way Kansas City crafts unique plays near the end zone, Tonga could be a factor offensively for the Chiefs as well.
The Rams are doubling down on cornerbacks from the Chiefs as they reshape their defense for the 2026 season.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Jaylen Watson has agreed to terms with the Rams. It is a three-year deal in Los Angeles for Watson.
NFL Media reports that the deal is worth $51 million with $34 million in guaranteed money.
The Rams agreed to trade for Trent McDuffie last week, so the two corners will remain teammates in new uniforms.
Watson was the No. 8 player on PFT’s list of this year’s top free agents. The 2022 seventh-round pick played 53 regular season games and started 29 times over his four seasons in Kansas City. He had 178 tackles, four sacks, three interceptions, and 24 passes defensed while picking up a pair of Super Bowl rings with the Chiefs.
From Larry Brown to Desmond Howard to Dexter Jackson to Kenneth Walker III.
There are now four Super Bowl MVPs who left weeks later in free agency.
Walker, per multiple reports, has agreed to terms with the Chiefs.
The initial wave of reports did not include financial information. Which is unusual. And which will create the impression that the agents who leaked the information didn’t feel compelled to brag about the value of the deal.
The Seahawks opted not to apply the franchise or transition tag to Walker, at $14.293 million. The top of the market exceeds $20 million per year.
This feels like one of those deals that will require a full breakdown of all relevant terms.
Either way, Walker will be the next starting running back in Kansas City. And the next question will be whether they use him as an every-down workhorse, and whether they’ll be making a renewed commitment to the run — especially as quarterback Patrick Mahomes recovers from a torn ACL and may be restricting his lateral, hair-on-fire scrambling to look for open receivers.
Travis Kelce will not be wearing a different uniform in 2026.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Kelce is expected to return to the Chiefs for a 14th season.
Kelce, 36, was set to become a free agent. But his representation has conveyed to teams that could have pursued him that he’s going back to Kansas City.
The Chiefs’ all-time leader in receptions (1,080), receiving yards (13,002), and touchdowns (82), Kelce started all 17 games in 2025. He finished the year with 76 receptions for 851 yards with five touchdowns.
Kelce was also a Pro Bowler for the 11th consecutive season.
While terms of Kelce’s deal have not yet been disclosed, the tight end will be on the field for Kansas City in 2026 after his high-profile wedding to pop star Taylor Swift this summer.
