The latest
At the time, the Chiefs said Mahomes would “begin his rehab process immediately,” though his availability for the start of the 2026 season remained uncertain. On Thursday, FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer provided an encouraging update about the three-time Super Bowl MVP’s recovery schedule.
“His pain threshold is different, his work ethic is different,” Glazer said during an appearance on the “Dan Patrick Show.”
“So at first they were like, ‘Oh, you know, start of the season.’ I would probably hedge on him being [back] sooner than that. By far. Because he just attacks things.”
Glazer also noted that doctors were able to perform the procedure before significant swelling set in, which may have accelerated Mahomes’ recovery timeline.
“The initial reports were kind of on the fringe there, but I want to tell you, Patrick’s different,” Glazer added.
“He got (the surgery) before it swelled up. So, that was on a Tuesday. I believe it was either Thursday or Friday that week, he was already in the Chiefs’ training room doing rehab. And he had already got his knee bending at 90 degrees at that point. He’s just different, he heals differently.”
Donovan said there’s a chance the high schools in the Olathe School District could train at the new complex once it’s built.
He also talked about the Kansas High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) vote coming up April 23rd that would sanction girls high school flag football. The sport will be in the Summer Olympics in 2028. Donovan gave a hypothetical that the business owners in the city cheered for.
“That young girl from Olathe comes back with a medal around her neck, she’ll have the opportunity potentially to play professional flag football in a league that’s going to be started and owned by the National Football League, and one that I would tell you without making any promises, the Kansas City Chiefs will be heavily involved in and potentially play for a Chiefs’ version of professional flag football,” he said.
Retirement rumors have swirled around Kelce after the Chiefs season ended, marking his 13th NFL campaign. Fellow podcaster and former NFL linebacker Will Compton weighed in on what he believes the Chiefs star will opt to do in 2026 for one simple reason.
“I bet Travis Kelce runs it back with the Chiefs for one more year,” Compton wrote on X on Friday. “Everything waiting for him will still be there. He isn’t ending his career 6-11, 3rd in the division, the laughing stock of the NFL, & seeing the dynasty he helped build continue to burn. He can’t go out like that.”
$20 Million: Kwity Paye (The Power Play)
Coming out of Michigan in 2021, Paye was my highest-graded defensive end, and so far in his career, he has shown exactly why. At 6-3, 265 lbs., Paye is a powerful threat off the edge who brings size, strength, and discipline to the game in a way the Chiefs desperately need. He has had multiple eight-sack seasons in his NFL career and is an exceptional run defender with the versatility to shift inside as well. He has the potential to have a breakout year in Kansas City and would be worth every dollar of a major contract this offseason. (Kwity Paye is my player comparison for Rueben Bain Jr.)
Around the NFL
In the biggest trade in franchise history, the Baltimore Ravens are acquiring five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders for first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday night.
The deal is contingent on Crosby passing a physical, which can’t occur until the start of the new league year Wednesday.
This marks the first time in the Ravens’ 31-year existence that they have used a first-round pick to trade for a veteran player. Baltimore had the No. 14 pick in this year’s draft.
Among the teams the Ravens beat out for Crosby were the Dallas Cowboys, who were willing to offer a first- and a second-round pick for the star pass rusher, sources told Schefter.
The Houston Texans released two-time Pro Bowler on Friday, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported. The news comes after Mixon asked to to be released, Pelissero added.
The team released Mixon with a non-football injury designation, per the league transaction wire.
Mixon, 29, spent two seasons in Houston that could not have gone more differently.
The Texans thought highly enough of Mixon in 2024 that when news spread of his impending release by the Cincinnati Bengals, they circumvented a free-agent bidding war by stepping in to trade for the running back.
Veteran offensive tackle Taylor Decker announced last month that he plans to play in 2026, but he won’t be back with the Lions.
Decker announced on Instagram that he asked for his release from the Lions and that he will be leaving the team. Decker wrote that the request came after the two sides could not “find common ground” in discussions about his contract that he deemed a “surprise.”
That suggests the Lions wanted Decker to take a pay cut. Decker had two years left on his contract and was set to make $14.9 million this season. His release will create more than $11 million in cap space and leave over $9 million in dead money on Detroit’s cap.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Running Backs
Tier 1: Kenneth Walker III
Tier 2: Travis Etienne
Tier 3: Rico Dowdle, Tyler Allgeier
Tier 4: Rachaad White, J.K. Dobbins, Kenneth GainwellI would be shocked if the Chiefs come out of free agency without signing one of the seven players listed above, and I may even say that when narrowing the list to the foursome of Walker, Etienne, Dowdle or Allgeier. They’re the only backs able to provide the necessary upside at the position to be a difference maker by Week 1.
Walker is clearly the top option available, and he is expected to be paid accordingly. Etienne should be slightly discounted from Walker, with Dowdle and Allgeier serving as more of the budget-friendly options. The Athletic is projecting a 4-year, $52 million deal for Walker, 3 years and $37 million for Etienne, 2 years and $14 million for Dowdle and one year for $5 million for Allgeier.
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