​There has been a vacancy in the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive rotation for a few months. In May, we highlighted four free agents the Chiefs could sign to play defensive end on the site.New Orleans Saints edge rusher Cameron Jordan has returned to his long-time team since that writing, but the three players remaining are still on the market with training camp nearing.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJadeveon Clowney is always a name to consider, but there’s another candidate from the list who was also highlighted by friend of the site Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports this week.4 veteran free agent defensive ends the Kansas City Chiefs could sign for competitive depth during training camp and the preseason | A to Z SportsDerek BarnettA first-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2017 NFL Draft, Barnett spent the last three years of his career in the AFC South. He appeared in all 17 games for the Houston Texans in 2025, but didn’t start a single one. He hasn’t started a game since the 2024 season. The 30-year-old still managed five sacks, 10 quarterback hits, and eight tackles for loss in 2025.Kansas City Chiefs Crowned the Decade’s Most Successful Sporting Underdogs | Sports IllustratedKansas City Chiefs – NFLTopping the charts as the most successful underdog is the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL. The Chiefs achieved an impressive win percentage of 66.67% after winning 20 of their 30 games as an underdog. As they’ve drawn once and only lost nine times, they’ve overperformed on numerous occasions, making them the most successful underdog in our rankings!A Seven-Game Gauntlet Could Determine Whether the Chiefs Make the Playoffs | Yahoo! SportsIt would appear on paper Weeks 12-18 are going to be the hardest stretch of games the Chiefs will have, facing six possible playoff teams with only three home games. Weeks 12-14, a trio of away games, will most likely define the team’s season. Having their bye week early in the season in Week 5 also sets the Chiefs at a rest disadvantage.With four games on the road, five against teams that made the playoffs last season and three prime-time games, Kansas City is looking at its hardest games in Weeks 12-18.Ranking all eight NFL divisions entering 2026 season | NFL.comIf the Chiefs were the team we knew them to be from 2018 to 2024, this division would tie or rank ahead of the NFC West. But Kansas City proved last season that no team or sporting entity is immortal, failing to overcome its deficiencies before losing Patrick Mahomes to a season-ending knee injury in December. Entering 2026, the league no longer fears the Chiefs, a once-inevitable squad that appears human and arrives with plenty of questions that begin with (but are not limited to) Mahomes.Chiefs TE Tre Watson praises the talent already in the tight end room | Chiefs WireDuring a recent appearance on the ‘Chief Concerns’ podcast, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tre Watson discussed the quality of the current team