The Kansas City Chiefs will enter the 2026 season with a huge sense of urgency. QB Patrick Mahomes could be ready by Week 1, which would be a big boost as the Chiefs attempt to rebound after last season's 6-11 debacle. Hopefully a healthy Mahomes, paired with this offseason's additions, can move the needle this fall.
The Chiefs just wrapped up mandatory minicamp on June 11th. Now there is not much time before Kansas City kicks off training camp in late July.
It is still early in the offseason, but could some Chiefs players still be in danger?
Three Chiefs players stand out as being in the most danger of being cut after the conclusion of mandatory minicamp.
Could Kristian Fulton get lost in the shuffle before training camp?
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Kristian Fulton (8) leaves the field after the game against the Chicago Bears at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Arguably no other Chiefs player has taken a greater fall over the past year than Fulton.
The Chiefs signed Fulton to a two-year contract worth $20 million during the 2025 NFL free agency cycle. While Fulton did not land a big-money contract, Kansas City's front office did show confidence in his abilities.
But the 2025 season turned out to be a series of unfortunate events for both Fulton and the Chiefs at large.
Fulton spent most of training camp on the PUP list while recovering from an offseason procedure on his knee. Then he suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 that sidelined him for multiple weeks. During that time, rookie Nohl Williams emerged and essentially stole Fulton's spot in the starting lineup.
Unfortunately, nothing got better during the 2026 offseason.
Fulton looked primed to take on a bigger role in 2026 after the departure of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. But Kansas City's offseason moves suggest they were not content with the idea of Fulton becoming a full-time starter.
The biggest move was Kansas City trading up in the draft for Mansoor Delane. That move gave the Chiefs an elite starting cornerback to pair with Williams moving forward.
To make matters worse, the Chiefs just reunited with cornerback L'Jarius Sneed to give themselves even more depth.
Add in Kader Kohou in the slot and there may not be a spot in the starting lineup for Fulton at the start of the regular season.
But could he really be cut?
Fulton is in the final year of his current contract with a $13 million cap hit. If the Chiefs did decide to cut him, they would save $5 million in cap space while taking on $8 million in dead money.
He may need to perform extremely well during training camp to save his spot on the roster.
Jaylon Moore's contract, plus competition from young players, could make him a cap casualty
There are a few reasons why Moore's time in Kansas City could be coming to an end.
First, Moore now has to deal with some intense competition from younger players. The Athletic's Jesse Newell named undrafted free agent Kahlil Benson as a player to watch in Kansas City's training camp battle at right tackle.
Moore will also need to fend off Esa Pole and a host of other reserve players during training camp.
Article Continues Below
The Chiefs have already shown a willingness to shed veteran players on the offensive line this offseason. Kansas City dealt tackle Wanya Morris to Atlanta on June 11th, only getting some minor value in a pick swap in return. This deal not only shows that Kansas City is willing to trust their youth, but also that they'll give up on overpriced veteran talent.
As such, Moore should be worried that his awful contract could make him a cut candidate in the near future.
Moore is on the final year of his current deal and has a whopping $18.69 million cap hit in 2026. That cap hit is reasonable enough to stomach for a startin tackle. But if Moore does not play up to that number, he could be very easy to cut.
Ultimately, Moore will be given his chance to prove himself during training camp. The most likely scenario is that he earns a starting spot at right tackle.
But given recent developments, he is in more danger than ever before following mandatory minicamp.
The Chiefs wouldn't cut Rashee Rice… right?
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) celebrates after a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Kansas City is in an awkward place with their star receiver.
Rice missed all of the team's OTAs, as well as mandatory minicamp, after violating his probation earlier this year. He has been reportedly staying in shape while serving that sentence, but it is still a concerning development.
Rice will be released from Dallas County Jail on June 16th and will need to rush to prepare for training camp.
Ultimately, the question becomes whether or not Rice can still play well enough to make up for his off-the-field issues and legal problems. That is no guarantee, especially with Rice away from offseason activities.
But would they really have the guts to cut a player like Rice?
On paper, cutting Rice would be a terrible move for Kansas City. Especially considering how important the 2026 campaign will be for the Chiefs.
From a financial perspective, Kansas City could easily cut Rice and experience almost no pain on the salary cap. But it would come at the cost of losing their best wide receiver.
Just like Fulton, Rice needs to absolutely ball out during training camp later this summer.
The Kansas City Chiefs will enter the 2026 season with a huge sense of urgency. QB Patrick Mahomes could be ready by Week 1, which would be a big boost as the Chiefs attempt to rebound after last season's 6-11 debacle. Hopefully a healthy Mahomes, paired with this offseason's additions, can move the needle this fall.