At safety, questions linger about Bryan Cook, Mike Edwards, and Deon Bush. Cook remains the starter and a former second-round pick, while Edwards and Bush are not under contract for 2026 and beyond. Bush missed the entire year with a torn Achilles suffered in mid-August.
Cap space is a notable constraint as the Chiefs navigate the offseason. The team reportedly faces limited flexibility, and even with a potential $20 million relief from Jawaan Taylor’s likely release, it seems unlikely they will re-sign all seven defensively oriented veterans slated to depart.
To reinforce depth, Kansas City recently signed Tanner McCalister to a reserve/futures contract on Feb. 4, 2026. The Ohio State product had spent time on the Chiefs’ practice squad toward the end of the previous season and has also been with the Browns and Broncos.
McCalister entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and has limited experience as a pure defensive back, with most of his NFL playing time coming on special teams. He appeared in a handful of games for Cleveland as a rookie and contributed on special teams for Denver in 2024 before being cut in January.
Even if McCalister isn’t an immediate starter, he fits Kansas City’s pattern of developing depth pieces in the secondary under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The Chiefs have historically leaned on versatile, lesser-known players to fill key roles, including recent nickel-back options.
Overall, Kansas City will likely rely on internal development and added depth options to rebuild its back end this offseason, with McCalister serving as one potential path to bolster a thinning secondary.
