A month ago, the Kansas City Chiefs’ second era with quarterback Patrick Mahomes ended.

When the Chiefs finished their 2024 season with an embarrassing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, their pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive championship was denied and a sizable number of players performed their final snap in a Chiefs uniform. The first era with Mahomes ended in March 2022 when general manager Brett Veach and coach Andy Reid traded receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins for five draft picks. This offseason has the potential to be seismic, with March bringing the first moves of the Chiefs’ next era.

Is the Kansas City Chiefs’ Christian Fulton signing a game-changer?

The leaders of the franchise — club owner Clark Hunt, Reid and Veach — will once again have to make difficult decisions to sustain the team’s success. Observing and analyzing the newcomers the Chiefs target and acquire in free agency should be rather intriguing, both regarding the upcoming season and how those veterans can better shape the team’s plan for the upcoming draft.

This tracker will be updated as roster moves are made, so check back often.

WR DeAndre Hopkins agrees to join Ravens

March 11: Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins agreed to join the Baltimore Ravens, one of the Chiefs’ top AFC rivals, on a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, according to a league source. Hopkins joined the Chiefs midway through last season via trade from the Tennessee Titans and made an immediate impact that helped the team secure the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, which included home-field advantage. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, Hopkins didn’t contribute much in the postseason, as he recorded just three receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown.

S Justin Reid on his way to New Orleans

March 11: Safety Justin Reid agreed to terms on a three-year, $31.5 million deal, including $22.25 million guaranteed, to join the New Orleans Saints. Unfortunately for Reid, he wasn’t part of the Chiefs’ plans for the 2025 season. The good news for Reid is that he’s returning to his home state, where he’ll play alongside safety Tyrann Mathieu, the player he replaced on the Chiefs’ roster in 2022. Reid is one of the best free-agent signings that Veach has made since becoming the Chiefs’ general manager in 2017. In three years with the Chiefs, Reid started 59 of 61 possible games, including the postseason, and he recorded a combined 23 pass breakups, four sacks and three interceptions. Without Reid, the Chiefs will move forward with three young safeties in Byran Cook, Jaden Hicks and Chamarri Conner.

Chiefs add CB Kristian Fulton

March 11: The Chiefs added a veteran cornerback, agreeing to sign Kristian Fulton to a two-year contract, according to a league source. Fulton, 27, was the No. 8 cornerback in The Athletic’s NFL free-agency rankings and No. 69 overall. The Chiefs and Fulton agreed to a two-year contract worth $20 million, including $15 million guaranteed, according to a league source.

Entering the offseason, general manager Brett Veach and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo felt the team needed to acquire another quality cornerback to play alongside second-team All-Pro Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Fulton gives Spagnuolo another cornerback who offers versatility and had the best season of his five-year career last year.

With Fulton and Watson projected to be on the perimeter, McDuffie can return to his natural position as the nickel defender, a role he excelled in during the 2023 season.

Long snapper James Winchester returning for Year 11

March 10: Winchester, the Chiefs’ oldest player at 35 years old, reportedly will return to the roster on a one-year, $1.65 million fully guaranteed contract. Similar to tight end Travis Kelce, the 2025 season could be the last of Winchester’s 10-year career. The Chiefs have never had issues with Winchester’s production, so re-signing him keeps the special teams’ trio, including kicker Harrison Butker and punter Matt Araiza, intact. Including postseason games, Winchester has played in all 189 games since he joined the Chiefs in 2015.

DT Tershawn Wharton to join Panthers

March 10: Wharton is heading to Carolina on a three-year, $45 million deal. Incentives could push the deal past $54 million. Last year, Wharton returned to the Chiefs on a one-year deal to be a part of the team’s pursuit for a three-peat and to improve his reputation in the league. Although the Chiefs fell short of their goal, Wharton had the best season of his five-year career. He generated 8 1/2 sacks, including the postseason. Wharton is projected to be a starter in Carolina, which he wasn’t in Kansas City. His new contract with the Panthers is another example of how he has overachieved since he entered the league in 2020 as an undrafted free agent.

WR Justin Watson heads to Houston

March 10: Watson was about as reliable a No. 4 receiver as you could have in the league. Watson joined the Chiefs in 2022, and his speed helped the team field one of the most potent offenses in the league. But since then, Watson’s contributions began to diminish as the Chiefs acquired younger players at the position with Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. The Chiefs could select another receiver in this year’s draft, so re-signing Watson wasn’t one of Veach’s priorities. Similar to other veterans, Watson’s contributions helped the Chiefs reach three consecutive Super Bowls.

Chiefs add depth to RB corps with Mitchell

March 10: The Chiefs agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $3.5 million with former 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell. Mitchell missed all of last season with a hamstring injury, so the Chiefs must feel confident that he is fully healthy and can be a nice role player in 2025. Mitchell could be a quality change-of-pace back for the Chiefs to complement starter Isiah Pacheco, who will also look to return to form after further recovering from the broken fibula in his right leg that he suffered early last season. Mitchell has nice speed and good hands, so his natural fit might be as a third-down back. It’s also possible that Veach creates competition at the position by re-signing Kareem Hunt and selecting a prospect early in the upcoming draft.

Patrick Mahomes gets a new left tackle

March 10: The Chiefs acquired their new left tackle, agreeing to a two-year contract worth more than $30 million with $21.2 million guaranteed with former 49ers offensive lineman Jaylon Moore, according to a league source. Moore, 27, was the No. 8 offensive tackle in The Athletic’s NFL free-agency rankings and No. 105 overall.

The Chiefs need to find a long-term solution at left tackle. This deal gives Moore, who played the past four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, the opportunity to prove he can be a reliable pass protector for Mahomes, who will be 30 years old in September.

The last step for the Chiefs on the offensive line is to sign right guard Trey Smith to a long-term deal.

Chiefs keep LB Nick Bolton

March 9: The Chiefs agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal with linebacker Nick Bolton that includes $30 million guaranteed, per a league source. Bolton, 24, was the No. 29 overall free agent and the No. 3 linebacker in The Athletic’s free-agency rankings. Bolton, a key player in the middle of the Kansas City defense, has recorded more than 100 tackles in all but one of his four NFL seasons. He is the second major free agent the Chiefs kept off the market this month, along with guard Trey Smith, whom they placed the franchise tag on.

WR Marquise Brown re-signs with Chiefs

March 8: This was always the plan for both parties. Before his shoulder injury, Brown had an excellent training camp, as he was quickly able to build a strong connection with Mahomes. The Chiefs and Brown agreed to another one-year deal similar to the one they signed last spring. With Brown back on the roster, Mahomes will have the same top four passing options he had a year ago: Brown, tight end Travis Kelce and younger receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. The Chiefs hope Brown can be a reliable, productive player who can generate 800 yards or more.

Chiefs retain G Mike Caliendo

March 7: Even before free agency began, the Chiefs made an easy decision to place the exclusive-rights tender on Caliendo, who will enter his third season. Caliendo made major improvements last season and demonstrated he can be a reliable backup player, as he started three games in late December and was part of the Chiefs’ final offensive line group in the postseason once Joe Thuney, the All-Pro left guard, moved to left tackle. With Thuney traded to Chicago, Kingsley Suamataia, the 2024 second-round pick, is the projected starting left guard. Caliendo is expected to be the primary backup to Suamataia and Smith at right guard.

P Matt Araiza will return

March 7: Another no-brainer decision for the Chiefs was to place the exclusive-rights tender on Araiza. A rookie last year, Araiza showed off his powerful leg, averaging 48.8 yards per punt. He was also pretty good as the holder for kicker Harrison Butker, a role he didn’t play often in college. The objective for Araiza as a sophomore is pretty simple: He must develop the necessary touch to become a Pro Bowl-caliber player. The Chiefs will be pleased in 2025 if Araiza exceeds the 25 punts that were downed inside the 20-yard line in 2024.

Chiefs trade All-Pro G Joe Thuney to Bears

March 5: The Chiefs knew they had to get younger — and more affordable — at one of their interior positions on the offensive line. Thuney was the oldest member of the Chiefs’ line, which for the past three years was known to have the best interior trio in the league alongside center Creed Humphrey and Smith. By trading Thuney to the Bears, the Chiefs cleared $16 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap. That should help them re-sign Smith to a multiyear extension, likely a four- or five-year deal. The Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Smith, a Pro Bowler who is 25 years old, to prevent him from reaching free agency.