LB Nick Bolton to the Broncos

Bolton would be a big upgrade for coordinator Vance Joseph’s defense. Bolton fits with the Broncos as a downhill thumper against the run — he had 11 tackles for loss last season. He lacks elite second-level range in coverage, but he has four career interceptions. — Matt Bowen, NFL analyst

2025 NFL free agency mock draft: Sam Darnold to Giants, Aaron Jones to Cowboys, plus 30 other big-name moves | CBS Sports

30 Chiefs

WR Stefon Diggs: The Chiefs have taken plenty of recent swings at veteran wideout help, but Diggs can still be a Grade-A starter, once healthy. Patrick Mahomes deserves additional outlets.

Agent’s Take: Target prices for 10 intriguing offensive players with expiring contracts, including Sam Darnold | CBS Sports

Trey Smith

Franchise tag: $23.402 million
Contract package: $95 million/4 years ($23.75 million per year)
Overall guarantees: $60 million
Fully guaranteed at signing: $50 million

Interior offensive linemen are rarely given franchise tags because there isn’t a differentiation between the three main positions (center, guard and tackle). This didn’t deter the Kansas City Chiefs from making Smith a franchise player.

Smith easily would have been the best offensive lineman available in free agency. He earned his first Pro Bowl berth last year.

NFL free agency 2025 predictions: One top target for every team | The Athletic

Kansas City Chiefs: LT Ronnie Stanley

The Eagles made it abundantly clear in Super Bowl LIX the Chiefs need to upgrade Patrick Mahomes’ offensive line. After utilizing a patchwork line in 2024, look for Kansas City to devote resources in free agency and the draft to solidify the unit. Stanley, who has spent his entire career with the Ravens and just made his second Pro Bowl appearance, would give Mahomes a reliable blind-side protector.

DK Metcalf trade: Best team fits, offers for Seahawks | ESPN

Kansas City Chiefs

This would be juicy. The Chiefs also have offensive line issues after trading away guard Joe Thuney earlier this week, but general manager Brett Veach might be confident he can draft and develop linemen on the interior and add a veteran tackle in free agency. With Travis Kelce dropping to last in ESPN’s Receiver Scores and additions such as Marquise Brown and DeAndre Hopkins failing to sustain their impact, the Chiefs were essentially down to rookie first-rounder Xavier Worthy as their only reliable receiver in the Super Bowl. You saw how that went.

The forgotten man here is Rashee Rice, who injured his knee in October and missed the rest of the season. His presence would seem to render a Metcalf move unlikely. Rice and Worthy could be a dynamic one-two punch and would cost peanuts, given that they’re both on rookie deals for a couple more years. It seems clear the Chiefs have deliberately attempted to find low-cost options at receiver in the years after trading Hill, preferring to spend money on their offensive line and at tight end.

Five potential trade destinations for Seahawks WR DK Metcalf | Yardbarker

Kansas City Chiefs

Speaking of the Chiefs, they could give quarterback Patrick Mahomes his most talented wide receiver since Tyreek Hill by acquiring Metcalf.

Kansas City hasn’t had a 1,000-yard wide receiver since trading Hill to the Dolphins in 2022, but Metcalf would have a strong chance of ending the drought. With tight end Travis Kelce potentially playing his final season in 2025, adding Metcalf could also ensure Mahomes has a Pro Bowl-level talent for future seasons in 2026 and beyond.

Around the NFL

Bengals letting star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson seek trade | ESPN

This time his request was granted. Cincinnati’s front office is allowing Hendrickson to seek out a new team.

Hendrickson expressed gratitude for the ability to find a new club despite having one year left on his current contract, telling ESPN’s Adam Schefter: “It’s been an honor and a privilege to represent Cincinnati over the last four years. I love this city and organization. I appreciate the privilege of now being allowed to explore my options.”

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs News: The Patriots also wanted to trade for Joe Thuney

According to a report published by Nick Goss of NBC Sports Boston on Thursday, another team was interested in trading for the Kansas City Chiefs’ left guard Joe Thuney: the New England Patriots.

The MMQB’s Albert Breer said Wednesday on NBC Sports Boston’s Boston Sports Tonight that the Patriots called the Chiefs about a potential Thuney trade but weren’t willing to meet the asking price.

“They talked to the Chiefs about Joe Thuney, obviously they wouldn’t meet their price, which seems a little crazy given their offensive line issues, and the fact that this is a future fourth-round pick,” Breer said.

“I would have some questions if it was this year’s fourth-round pick because they’ve only got eight picks and a ton of roster needs to take care of and they need to draft well, and need that margin for error.

“But I am a little surprised they weren’t willing to go to that price.”

On Wednesday, Thuney was traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for their fourth-round pick in 2026. The All-Pro left guard spent the first five seasons of his career with the Patriots, who drafted him in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Mike Vrabel — who played for both New England and Kansas City during a 14-year NFL career — is preparing for his first season as the Patriots’ head coach.