Arrowheadlines: AFC West rivals encouraged to spend big in free agency

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Chiefs Unlikely to Play in Germany in 2025 or 2026 | Forbes

After hosting two NFL games in 2023, Germany only has one for the 2025 NFL season.

So when it was announced that the Indianapolis Colts would be the team to play in Berlin, the Kansas City Chiefs were very disappointed.

“Yeah, it would’ve been great to play,” Chiefs president Mark Donovan said. “We’ve been one of the most aggressive international teams in the league, and we’d love to play again.”

Like the Colts, the Chiefs are one of 10 teams with global marketing rights in Germany.

It’s unlikely the Chiefs will return to their global home in the near future. The 2025 season would’ve been the one do so.

Because of the unbalanced, 17-game schedule, the Chiefs have an extra home game (or nine rather than eight) every other year, including in 2025.

As the home market, the Chiefs would be reduced to seven regular-season games at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in 2026 if they played in Germany, and that would sacrifice the revenue from the more than 75,000 fans who fill Arrowhead.

Lance Zierlein 2025 NFL mock draft 2.0: Tetairoa McMillan at 5; Shedeur Sanders, Will Johnson slide | NFL.com

31 – Kansas City Chiefs

Nic Scourton

Texas A&M · Edge · Junior

Scourton has good size and toughness, plus the ability to make plays on all three downs as a dual-phase edge.

2025 NFL mock draft: Reid’s pick predictions for Rounds 1-2 | ESPN

31. Kansas City Chiefs

Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

This past season showed how bad the Chiefs need a long-term answer at left tackle, and they would be jumping up and down if Simmons lasts this long. One of the few true left tackles in this class, he confirmed at the combine that he suffered a torn patellar tendon against Oregon on Oct. 12. If not for the injury, Simmons would have potentially been a top-10 pick — he didn’t allow a sack or pressure prior to going down. Instead, he would be a late-Day 1 steal here for a team that has to improve its pass protection.

Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs in a fierce contest for the $72 million star D.K. Metcalf: A potential game-changing trade | Motociclismo

Reports suggest that the Chiefs have expressed interest in acquiring Metcalf, but they are not alone in their pursuit. Surprisingly, another team vying for the star receiver’s services is the Buffalo Bills. Corbin K. Smith of Emerald City Spectrum recently hinted at both Buffalo and Kansas City being contenders for Metcalf in a trade scenario, although Seattle has yet to commit to making him available.

According to Smith, “Two other teams that I’ve been told are monitoring DK Metcalf situation are Bills and Chiefs. Right now, consensus is (that the Seahawks) aren’t looking to make a deal and still would like to extend star receiver. But several teams are keeping tabs in case door opens to acquire him.”

At 27 years old, Metcalf is heading into the final season of a lucrative $72 million extension, with a significant $31 million cap hit. His potential availability has sparked interest from multiple teams, setting the stage for a potential game-changing trade that could reshape the landscape of the NFL.

Around the NFL

Myles Garrett to the Lions? Ideal landings spots for 8 NFL stars on the trading block | FOX Sports

Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett —> Detroit Lions

Garrett already said his goodbyes to Cleveland, though the Browns haven’t seemed to have gotten the memo. General manager Andrew Berry said in Indy that he has no intention of letting the All-Pro pass-rusher leave. Who wins out? Considering Garrett knows there will be no shortage of interest in his services, my money’s on Garrett.

As far as where? Detroit opposite Aidan Hutchinson would be fun. Hutch is working his way back from last season’s injury and a defensive line with those two on either side is an embarrassment of riches for the Lions. They seem to have that offensively; now it’s the defense’s turn. It would soften losing Aaron Glenn as defensive coordinator, as well as guard against injury in the secondary. The best way to help out the defensive backfield is to prevent the ball from getting there in the first place. A line with Hutch and Garrett on either side of it would ensure that.

Bears, Chargers and Broncos among five NFL teams that need to make a splash in free agency | NFL.com

Los Angeles Chargers

2024 record: 11-6

The Chargers were facing some tough financial decisions at this time last year, when they were sitting roughly $50 million over the cap. They did what they had to do — jettisoning big names like running back Austin Ekeler and wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, while restructuring the contracts of veteran edge rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack — and then went on to win 11 games and earn a wild-card playoff slot in the first year under head coach Jim Harbaugh. Los Angeles now has over $66 million in cap space and plenty of reasons to think a strong offseason could turn this franchise into a legitimate championship contender capable of challenging Kansas City for AFC West supremacy.

The most glaring need for this team is on offense, where the departures of Allen and Williams left sizable holes in the receiving corps. Rookie wideout Ladd McConkey immediately established himself as a stud in the slot, but Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz have to find more targets for quarterback Justin Herbert. Chris Godwin could be an intriguing option in free agency, but this isn’t a great market for receivers. Some of the biggest names are aging players like Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins and Stefon Diggs. And let’s not forget the Rams are looking to trade 31-year-old Cooper Kupp. If the Chargers don’t like those choices, they likely can find a receiver in the draft — they hold the 22nd overall pick — and they’ll be just as eager to find help at tight end. A player like Michigan TE Colston Loveland, who emerged as a star in Ann Arbor under Harbaugh, would make perfect sense there.

Jets release Davante Adams: Potential landing spots for six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver | CBS Sports

Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix and Daniels are the only rookies in NFL history with at least 10 wins (10), 30 total touchdowns (34) and 4,000 total yards (4,207). Nix’s 29 passing touchdowns are the second-most in league history by a rookie, trailing only Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert’s 31 from the 2020 season. Head coach Sean Payton has his guy at the quarterback position, so maybe he looks to supply Nix with more firepower

Sources – Eagles reward Saquon Barkley with $41.2M extension | ESPN

The Philadelphia Eagles are rewarding Saquon Barkley with a two-year, $41.2 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday.

The deal makes Barkley the NFL’s first $20 million-plus per-year running back.

Barkley also has the ability to earn an additional $15 million in incentives and escalators. The deal includes $36 million fully guaranteed at signing.

The extension comes after Barkley completed the first year of a three-year contract he signed with the Eagles in free agency last offseason.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs Free Agency: Team probably won’t tender restricted free agents

Since these players have three accrued seasons (versus the four seasons needed for players to become unrestricted free agents), the Chiefs can offer them a contract tender. Once they have done so, they can match any offers made by another team. RFA tenders are not guaranteed and can be rescinded at any time.

The costs of restricted free agency have grown exponentially in recent years. The NFL released contract tender amounts last week.

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