Chiefs News 2/5: Chiefs sign defensive back to Reserve/Future deal

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Chiefs sign defensive back Tanner McCalister to Reserve/Future deal | NFL Transactions report

On Wednesday afternoon, the daily NFL Transactions report revealed the Kansas City Chiefs signed defensive back Tanner McCalister to a Reserve/Future contract to make him part of the 90-man offseason roster ahead of the 2026 season.

He spent the final three weeks of the regular season on the Chiefs’ practice squad before he was released and signed to the Denver Broncos’ practice squad for the postseason.

McCalister entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 draft. He spent his first four collegiate seasons at Oklahoma State, becoming an impact player as a slot cornerback, then finished as a starter on the 2022 Ohio State football team that lost 42-41 to the eventual National Champions, the Georgia Bulldogs, in the College Football Playoff semi-finals.

As a rookie, he appeared in three games with the Cleveland Browns; 17 of his 19 defensive snaps showcased him as a slot cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus. He also played three games for Denver in 2024, although his playing time was exclusive to special teams.

With the New York Jets in the 2025 preseason, McCalister played a more traditional safety role over 74 defensive snaps. He did not appear in the regular season last year.

2026 NFL Free Agency: Predicting where the best free agents will sign | FanSided

Alec Pierce – Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs just have not been able to throw the ball down the field well in recent years, and much of that is due to the absence of a consistent deep-ball threat. Enter, Alec Pierce. Pierce had just over 1,000 yards for the Colts in 2025 on fewer than 50 receptions. He again led the league in yards per reception and is truly a big play waiting to happen.

The Chiefs make a ton of sense for Pierce, as not only do they need a deep-ball threat, but they simply need more talented players on offense.

Travis Kelce’s pro-am prowess prompts false alarm from Mahomes for Chiefs fans | KCTV5

The Chiefs’ star tight end teed it up in Wednesday’s pro-am festivities at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. At the iconic par-3 16th hole, Kelce’s shot was struck to mere inches from the hole.

Video of the shot, broadcast live on Golf Channel, prompted a reaction from his injured quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.

“Let’s go!!!!! @tkelce” Mahomes tweeted with an accompanying trio of dart emojis.

A minute later, realizing that an ambiguous post about Kelce could be interpreted by some Chiefs fans as a reveal of the tight end’s future football plans, Mahomes quoted the post.

“Talking about (golf emoji),” Mahomes said with several laughing emojis.

Travis Kelce thinks one iconic Chiefs play would make a good ‘30 for 30’ | The Kansas City Star

Travis Kelce suggested the famous pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes to receiver Tyreek Hill in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV victory over the 49ers.

“I think you would probably be the ‘3 Jet Wasp,’ the play in the Super Bowl to Tyreek where we’re down two scores, and we need a huge play,” Kelce said. “Down to what felt like our last dollar. And Tyreek came up big with coach (Eric) Bieniemy calling the right play and Pat kind of throwing it out there, his famous words, ‘Do we got Wasp? What about Wasp?’

“It was absolutely electric. So I’d say that’s probably our ‘Philly Special’ in that regard, and that’s the only one that really comes to mind.”

Around the NFL

Pats’ Drake Maye (shoulder) full participant in practice, feels ‘great’ | ESPN

Maye had predicted full participation earlier in the day when answering questions about his right throwing shoulder, which had limited his participation in practice last week.

“I’m feeling great. I’m so fortunate to be out here with these guys,” Maye said, adding that he was looking forward to a full and “normal” week of practice.

Maye previously said he felt his shoulder turned a corner on the Patriots’ flight to the Bay Area on Sunday, and that it responded favorably to a normal workload in practice Monday. Teams weren’t required to submit an official injury report until Wednesday, and Maye was listed as a full participant.

Eagles OL coach Jeff Stoutland, a Philly mainstay, is leaving the organization | The Athletic

The Eagles wanted Stoutland back, according to a league source. He made the decision to step away, although he will be welcome around the team in an unofficial capacity. With a new offensive coordinator in Sean Mannion and adjustments to the offense, it’s unknown how his role would have changed in 2025. Stoutland had also been the Eagles’ run game coordinator.

“His passion for the development of young players set the bar not only for our organization but for the entire National Football League,” the Eagles said in a statement. “It is hard to fathom another coach investing more personally and professionally in their players than Jeff Stoutland.”

Stoutland, 63, joined the Eagles in 2013. He’s since worked under three different head coaches, a testament to his reputation as perhaps the NFL’s best offensive line coach. He has been a coach for 43 years in the NFL and college.

New England Patriots’ quick rebuild, rise to Super Bowl underscores shifting AFC landscape | NFL.com

Even before the Chiefs failed in their attempt to win three consecutive Super Bowls last season, it felt like teams no longer feared them in the AFC. Broncos head coach Sean Payton indicated as much at the end of that 2024 season, when he told reporters he “felt real good” about a possible matchup with Kansas City in the playoffs despite Denver having just lost to Buffalo in the Wild Card Round. Like Vrabel, Payton also didn’t have much interest in an extensive celebration of the Broncos’ AFC West title this year, which ended Kansas City’s nine-year streak atop that division. When team equipment manager Chris Valenti asked Payton what to do with the championship hats and T-shirts after a Texans victory over the Chargers clinched the title, the coach said to just leave them in the players’ lockers.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Exploring the Chiefs’ options for the defensive line this offseason

The free agency class of defensive line is not one to splurge on, with a lot of players past their prime. Veach prefers signing free agents ranging from ages 25-27; those options are limited.

If the Chiefs do decide to make a splash, one personal preference would be Denver Broncos’ defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers. He has been a glue player across multiple elite units and defensive fronts with the New York Jets and Broncos. Franklin-Myers isn’t flashy, but he can truly play both on the edge and as a defensive tackle. He can play stout against the run and crush the pocket as a rusher from the end. He’s better inside, where he has the strength and size to deal with double teams and is great at crushing a pocket. He’s essentially a supercharged version of Omenihu, and he should age well due to his versatility.

The other free agent on the personal wish list is Seattle Seahawks defensive end Boye Mafe. Reportedly, the Chiefs had interest in trading for Mafe at the deadline, so that interest could remain. Mafe is more of a rotational pass rusher, but his speed and juice are desperately needed in Kansas City.