The Kansas City Chiefs have already addressed several needs throughout their roster, but some still remain.

Although they have signed multiple free agents, the Chiefs also lost many key starters. Kansas City is retooling its roster after a disappointing 6-11 2025 season, and will have more new faces on the field in 2026 than its had in a long time.

NFL Analyst Bill Barnwell Identifies Cornerback as Kansas City Chiefs’ Biggest Weakness
With the dust settling on free agency, Barnwell examined the biggest weaknesses for each NFL team that he considers to be a contender in 2026. Here’s why he chose the cornerback position for the Chiefs:

“We could make a case for edge rusher or offensive line depth here, but defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is all but starting over at cornerback in 2026 after the Chiefs traded Trent McDuffie and lost Jaylen Watson in free agency to the Rams. Sometimes-slot corner Chamarri Conner might move back to safety on a full-time basis after an uneven 2025 and the departure of Bryan Cook, leaving the Chiefs in need of multiple contributors in their backfield.”

For this writer’s money, pass rusher is currently the Chiefs’ biggest need. Star defensive tackle Chris Jones will be 32 years old at the beginning of the 2026 regular season, and defensive end George Karlaftis’ sack total has declined in each of his last two seasons. New DT Khyiris Tonga should provide a pass rush boost, but the remaining DEs for Kansas City are very inexperienced and unproven.

Chiefs Have Simple Solutions for Cornerback Woes

Chiefs CB Nohl Williams
GettyChiefs CB Nohl Williams

Regardless of what you believe the Chiefs’ weakest position group is, there’s no denying that the cornerback corps needs some upgrades. Barnwell went on to say that Brett Veach should stick with the tried-and-true approach that he’s had with at cornerback throughout his tenure as Kansas City’s general manager.

“Veach’s track record is to generally lean on veterans with smaller contracts or unheralded prospects at cornerback, trusting that Spagnuolo can get more out of those defensive backs than others. McDuffie and Fulton are the exceptions to that rule, but the Chiefs have gotten useful-to-great work out of players such as Watson, L’Jarius Sneed and Bashaud Breeland, even if the latter was only for a short stretch.”

Veach addressed the Chiefs’ need for a nickel cornerback by signing Kader Kohou to a one-year contract. Kohou missed the entire 2025 season due to an ACL tear his sustained during training camp.

During the first three years of his career, Kohou was considered one of the better slot defenders in the NFL. In 47 career games he has recorded 180 total tackles, three interceptions, 28 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and one sack.

Kansas City owns nine picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and will almost certainly use at least one of them on a cornerback. It is also very likely that it uses one of its four selections in the top 100 on one.

If things don’t fall the way the Chiefs like regarding the cornerback position during the draft, they could pursue another free agent. Others that they currently have on their roster include Nohl Williams, Kristian Fulton, Melvin Smith Jr. and Kevin Knowles. Chamarri Conner and Chris Roland-Wallace are also in the mix as cornerback/safety hybrids.