The Chiefs waived Rochell on Monday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
Rochell inked a one-year deal with Kansas City in late March, but the team's 2025 rookie class seems to have made his spot on the roster redundant. The cornerback played a notable role on special teams for Green Bay in 2023 and 2024, in which span he suited up for 20 regular-season games.
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BJ Thompson: Cut by KC, likely to return
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The Chiefs waived Thompson (chest) with a non-football illness designation Saturday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
Thompson was let go along with linebacker Blake Lynch in order to clear space for incoming undrafted free agents. However, Thompson is expected to clear waivers, in which case he'll return to the Chiefs on a reserve list, per Derrick. Thompson had a seizure and went into cardiac arrest during a team meeting last June and spent the campaign on the reserve/non-football illness list. He's continuing to rehab, and the Chiefs remain committed to helping him recover, according to a source familiar with the situation.
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Blake Lynch: Let go by KC
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The Chiefs waived Lynch on Saturday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
Lynch was let go along with defensive end BJ Thompson (chest) in order to clear space for incoming undrafted free agents. Lynch played in one game for Kansas City last season, tallying six tackles while playing 25 defensive snaps in the regular-season finale versus Denver. He hasn't had a significant role with an NFL club since playing in 16 regular-season contests and recording 2.0 sacks with Minnesota in 2021.
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Jason Taylor: Cut by Kansas City
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The Chiefs waived Taylor on Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Taylor appeared in eight games for the Rams in 2023 and spent a chunk of the 2024 season on the Cardinals' practice squad before inking a reserve/future deal with the Chiefs in January. He'll look for an opportunity elsewhere.
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Chiefs' George Karlaftis: Fifth-year option exercised
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Karlaftis had the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, worth $15.1 million, picked up by Kansas City on Tuesday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Karlaftis has emerged as a pillar of the defense and he'll now be under contract through the 2026 campaign. The defensive lineman produced 35 total tackles (21 solo), including 8.0 sacks, while also adding five passes defensed over 16 regular-season games with Kansas City last year. He will likely start opposite of Mike Danna on the team's defensive line in 2025 with Chris Jones and Jerry Tillery sandwiched between them.
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Chiefs' Trent McDuffie: Fifth-year option picked up
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Kansas City exercised the fifth-year option worth $13.6 million on McDuffie's rookie contract Tuesday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
McDuffie will stick around for an additional year in 2026, which comes as no surprise. In his third season with the AFC West powerhouse in 2024, the cornerback compiled 59 total tackles (45 solo), including 0.5 sacks, while also adding a career-high 13 passes defensed, two of which were interceptions, and a forced fumble over 16 regular-season contests.
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Chiefs' Jeffrey Bassa: Heads to KC in fifth
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The Chiefs selected Bassa in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 156th overall.
Bassa entered Oregon as a safety but has since transitioned to play in the box as an inside linebacker. It shouldn't come as a surprise that he's capable both against the run and pass as a result, giving him a solid skillset for the position. The Chiefs have a solid linebacker corps, but Bassa could be ready to step into a bigger role as a rookie if injuries occur.
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Chiefs' Jack Cochrane: Signs tender with Kansas City
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Cochrane signed his right-of-first-refusal tender with the Chiefs on Friday.
Cochrane will officially play out the 2025 season on a one-year, $3.263 million contract. He suited up for 15 regular-season games with the team in 2024, playing just nine snaps on defense compared to 296 snaps on special teams. Cochrane figures to reprise a similar role in the coming season, which means he'll remain off the IDP radar for fantasy purposes.
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Chiefs' Nazeeh Johnson: Back with Kansas City
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The Chiefs re-signed Johnson on Thursday.
Johnson, a 2022 seventh-round pick, appeared in 16 regular-season games with Kansas City in 2024, logging six starts and totaling 56 tackles (33 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and three pass breakups. His re-signing primes Johnson to reprise a familiar rotational role on defense, while also remaining a key contributor on special teams.
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Chiefs' Mike Pennel: Re-signs with Kansas City
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The Chiefs re-signed Pennel on Monday.
Pennel reunites with Kansas City following a solid 2024 campaign, in which he notched 25 tackles (10 solo), including a career-high 3.0 sacks, plus one forced fumble across 17 regular-season appearances. The veteran defensive tackle figures to reprise a consistent rotational role behind Chris Jones and new free-agency acquisition Jerry Tillery.
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Chiefs' Charles Omenihu: Returning to K.C.
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Omenihu has agreed to a one-year deal with the Chiefs, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.
Per the report, Omenihu's one-year pact is worth a maximum of $7 million. The 27-year-old is coming off a 2024 regular season in which he logged just six tackles and a sack in six games, but when healthy and available, Omenihu is capable of adding pass-rushing depth to the Chiefs' defense.
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Chiefs' Jerry Tillery: Joins KC
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Tillery signed with the Chiefs on Wednesday, Matt McMullen of the team's official site reports.
The defensive tackle appeared in all 17 regular-season games last year and in Minnesota's wild-card playoff loss to the Rams, making 11 starts in the regular season. Tillery finished the 2024 regular season with 28 tackles (15 solo), two pass breakups and a forced fumble. The 2019 first-round pick of the Chargers has started 50 of the 96 regular-season games he's played in during his career, with his career-best season coming in 2021 when he recorded 51 tackles (24 solo), including 4.5 sacks.
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Chiefs' Marlon Tuipulotu: Staying in Kansas City
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Tuipulotu agreed to a contract with the Chiefs on Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Tuipulotu signed to the Chiefs' 53-man roster in early September after being cut by the Eagles after training camp in late August. He made his lone appearances for Kansas City in Weeks 17 and 18, registering four tackles (two solo). By re-signing with Kansas City, Tuipulotu will have an opportunity to compete for a rotational role at defensive tackle in 2025.
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Jets' Derrick Nnadi: Heading to East Coast
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Nnadi is signing with the Jets, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Nnadi has been incredibly durable so far in his career, playing in all 17 regular-season games each of the past four seasons and missing just one contest overall during seven campaigns with the Chiefs. However, he saw a reduced role last year, logging career-low marks with 215 defensive snaps and 11 tackles. With his move to the Jets, Nnadi should have an opportunity to receive more work, though he could compete with fellow new signee Byron Cowart to start next to Quinnen Williams (hamstring) at defensive tackle.
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Eagles' Joshua Uche: Bolsters Philly's defense
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The Eagles signed Uche to a one-year contract Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Uche began the 2024 campaign with New England but was traded to Kansas City in late October, where he struggled to carve out more than a reserve role. He tallied just 2.0 sacks across his tenure with both the Patriots and Chiefs in 2024, Uche's lowest mark since his rookie campaign. He'll work to bounce back and help replace Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham for the Eagles.
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Chiefs' Jack Cochrane: Tendered at lowest level
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The Chiefs extended a right of first refusal tender to restricted free agent Cochrane on Wednesday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
If Cochrane signs the tender, he'll earn a $3.263 million salary in 2025. The former undrafted free agent out of South Dakota appeared in 15 regular-season games for Kansas City last season, logging five tackles (three solo) as a key cog on the Chiefs' special-teams units. He played just nine snaps on defense.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Restructures contract
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Kansas City restructured Jones' contract Wednesday, Adam Teicher of ESPN reports.
Along with the restructuring of teammate Patrick Mahomes' contract, the Chiefs have freed up nearly $50 million in cap space with the move. Now there will be more space on the books for recent free-agent acquisition Kristian Fulton, who will be joining Jones on Kansas City's starting defensive unit in 2025.
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Saints' Justin Reid: Heading to New Orleans
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Reid is slated to a sign a three-year, $31.5 million contract with the Saints, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Reid spent the last three seasons in Kansas City and played a pivotal role in the Chiefs' three straight Super Bowl appearances (including victories in 2022 and 2023). Across 16 regular-season games in 2024, he posted 87 tackles (61 solo) and nine pass defenses (including two interceptions), and the 2018 third-round pick has logged at least 80 combined tackles in five of seven NFL seasons. Reid and Tyrann Mathieu are expected to serve as the Saints' starting safeties for the 2025 campaign.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Inks big deal with Chiefs
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Bolton signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Chiefs on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Bolton's deal includes $30 million in fully guaranteed salary, indicating that he'll remain a stalwart over the middle of Kansas City's defense moving forward. The 5-foot-11 linebacker, who turns 25 years old Monday, was set to hit free agency after putting up over 100 tackles in all but one of the last four seasons. This includes the 2022 campaign, when he finished second in the NFL in tackles with 180. Bolton should have a great chance to record over 100 tackles once again in 2025.
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Chiefs' Joshua Uche: Mixed bag season in 2024
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Uche finished the 2024 season with 23 total tackles (17 solo), including 2.0 sacks, over 13 regular-season games with the Patriots and Chiefs.
Uche was dealt to Kansas City in late October after spending the first four-plus seasons of his career with the Patriots. The defensive end was limited to just 2.0 sacks this season, his lowest total since his rookie year in 2020. Uche will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, potentially looking to join a new team, though sticking around Kansas City isn't usually a bad idea.
