Chiefs linked with $82m Patrick Mahomes weapon amid Raiders talk
· Yahoo Sports
The Kansas City Chiefs have been linked with free-agent wide receiver Deebo Samuel as they continue to assess their options around Patrick Mahomes ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
Samuel, who spent the 2025 season with the Washington Commanders after six years with the San Francisco 49ers, remains one of the most notable offensive players still available.
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The 30-year-old has earned $82.4 million across his NFL career, according to Spotrac, and carries a projected market value of $15.8 million per year.
That makes him a significant name in the late-stage free-agent market, particularly for teams still looking for proven receiver help before training camp.
Kansas City have already made changes after a difficult 2025 campaign, but receiver remains a position to monitor. The Chiefs finished 6-11 last season, their worst record since Mahomes became the starter.
Chiefs linked with Deebo Samuel as Patrick Mahomes support question continues
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesSamuel has been linked with the Chiefs as a possible option for Kansas City, with the fit centred on his ability to work as both a receiver and a backfield threat.
The Chiefs have Mahomes back at the centre of the franchise, and the next step is making sure the offence gives him enough support to rebound from last season.
Samuel would not arrive as a long-term projection. He is a veteran with seven NFL seasons behind him, including a peak spell in San Francisco where his versatility made him one of the league’s most difficult players to defend.
His career also gives the story an added Super Bowl layer. Samuel was part of the 49ers team beaten by Kansas City in Super Bowl LIV, meaning he has already been on the other side of the Mahomes era on the biggest stage.
The numbers explain why he still carries market value. Spotrac lists Samuel with $82.4 million in career earnings and shows him with no 2026 cash salary attached to his Washington contract after his one-year Commanders deal.
Samuel also carried a $15.8 million market value into free agency, according to Spotrac-linked reporting.
Kansas City’s interest has not been reported as an active negotiation or an offer. The current framing is a link and a logical fit, rather than a confirmed pursuit.
Raiders speculation adds another layer to Samuel’s free-agent picture
The Las Vegas Raiders have also been connected with Samuel, which gives the situation another AFC West angle.
That link has a clear football reason. Samuel was in San Francisco when Klint Kubiak was part of the 49ers staff, and Kubiak is now central to the Raiders’ offensive rebuild after Las Vegas selected Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas have added to the receiver room, but the position remains important as they build around a rookie quarterback. That is why Samuel’s experience and familiarity with Kubiak’s system have made him a natural name to mention.
For Kansas City, the need is different. The Chiefs are not trying to build a new offence from the ground up. They are trying to restore one around Mahomes after a poor season by their standards.
Rashee Rice remains part of that conversation. The Chiefs wide receiver is serving a 30-day jail sentence linked to a probation violation and has also been receiving knee therapy while in jail.
Andy Reid has said Rice is expected to be ready for training camp, which is important context when assessing Kansas City’s receiver plans.
Xavier Worthy is another part of the picture. He has not been written off inside the building, and recent offseason coverage has pointed to encouragement around Kansas City’s young receivers.
That makes Samuel less of an emergency fix and more of a proven veteran option. He would add experience, physicality and versatility to a room that still has upside but also carries questions.
The Chiefs have been linked for understandable reasons. The Raiders connection is also credible because of Kubiak. At this stage, though, the verified position is simple: Samuel is available, Kansas City have been mentioned, and no deal has been confirmed.
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