The Kansas City Chiefs made sure Patrick Mahomes had a good day on Monday.
The three-time Super Bowl MVP and two-time NFL MVP quarterback is rehabilitating a torn ACL and LCL suffered on Dec. 14, and the Chiefs are fast at work rebuilding the offense around him. The blockbuster move came in the form of former Seattle Seahawks running back and reigning Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III. Part of it also involved agreeing to re-sign two familiar faces to welcome Mahomes back in 2026.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Monday afternoon that the Chiefs plan to re-sign future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce, 36, for his 14th season. Per Rapoport, the deal is for $12 million “with a chance to make $15 million.” Mahomes celebrated the news with an Instagram post. Kelce dominated headlines because he is the franchise’s all-time leader in career receptions (1,080), yards (13,002), and touchdowns (82).
But the Chiefs made a sneaky good move late on Monday night. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Kansas City agreed to terms with wide receiver Tyquan Thornton on a two-year, $11 million deal worth up to $14 million. All unrestricted free agent deals agreed upon on Monday can’t be finalized until the new league year and free agency officially begin on Wednesday at 4 p.m. EST.
Thornton signed with the Chiefs’ practice squad in November 2024, and the New England Patriots’ 2022 second-round pick was a pleasant surprise for the Chiefs last season.
The speedy 25-year-old emerged as Mahomes’ most sure-fire deep threat in September, while Xavier Worthy dealt with a dislocated shoulder and Rashee Rice served a six-game suspension. While Thornton’s role receded as the season wore on, he still posted a career-high 438 yards and three touchdowns on 23.1 yards per catch across 14 games (four starts).
“Despite only 126 snaps after Week 7, Tyquan Thornton still tied for 21st in the NFL with 8 downfield receptions, per PFF data. (Every player ahead of him on the list had more targets.) The Kansas City Star‘s Sam McDowell noted.
Kansas City retaining Thornton signals an intention to feature him more in the offense moving forward. His big-play ability could pop even more if the Chiefs’ offense rediscovers its past explosivity under offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who held the role from 2018 to 2022. Bieniemy was the Chicago Bears’ running backs coach last season, so the Chiefs’ move for Walker III also points toward a shift in scheme.
Overall, the Chiefs will look to bounce back from an ugly 6-11 campaign in 2025, as they attempt to continue a dynasty that featured in five of the past seven Super Bowls — winning three, including back-to-back in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, Kansas City became the first team in NFL history to make a third consecutive Super Bowl in hopes of a three-peat, but they lost Super Bowl LIX to Philadelphia in February 2025.
