The Kansas City Chiefs enter the 2026 offseason trying to balance urgency with their usual Super Bowl aspirations. Patrick Mahomes is working back from a torn ACL suffered late in the regular season, and though he is attacking rehab with the goal of returning early next year, there is no firm guarantee he will be ready for Week 1.
Situations like these are why the backup quarterback position is one of the most valuable and under-discussed roster spots in pro football. One NFL analyst recently floated an intriguing name while examining what Kansas City could do at quarterback this offseason.
Maybe This is the Insurance the Chiefs Need Behind Patrick Mahomes
John Breech of CBS Sports identified former Saints quarterback Derek Carr as a potential fit for Kansas City if the veteran decides to return from retirement. The idea centers less on replacing Mahomes and more on protecting him.
“As for the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes is also coming back from a major injury,” Breech wrote. “The two-time MVP tore his ACL in mid-December, and right now, it’s not clear if he’ll be able to play in Week 1. If the Chiefs added Carr, then Mahomes could take his time in rehab.”
Kansas City has cycled through short-term backup options since Chad Henne retired following the 2022 season. Blaine Gabbert, Carson Wentz, and Gardner Minshew have each filled that role on one-year arrangements. Chris Oladokun and Jake Haener remain under contract, though neither has extensive starting experience.
If Mahomes were to miss time, the Chiefs would need someone capable of keeping the offense functional rather than simply managing games.
Before his injury, Mahomes completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Kansas City struggled to find consistency even before he was sidelined, and the season unraveled once he went down. The Chiefs finished 17th in PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric.
Derek Carr’s Conditions and Kansas City’s Cap Flexibility
Carr stepped away from football nine months ago due to a shoulder injury, though he recently clarified that retirement may not be permanent. On the “Home Grown” podcast with David and Derek Carr, he explained what it would take to return.
“So would I come back? The answer, obviously, is yes. Would I do it? Yes. Would I do it for anybody? Absolutely not,” Carr said. “I’d have to be healthy and I am, and I would want a chance to win a Super Bowl.”
Kansas City fits that description. Carr, 34, has thrown for more than 41,000 yards and 217 touchdowns across 10 seasons and has earned four Pro Bowl selections.
Any move would require the Saints to authorize discussions, since Carr retired while still under contract. Recent quarterback trades suggest mid-round compensation is the baseline for experienced starters.
The Chiefs also created financial flexibility this offseason. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Mahomes restructured his deal, reducing his 2026 base salary from $78.2 million to $34.65 million and generating $43.56 million in cap space.
Adding Carr would not alter Kansas City’s long-term plans. It would simply give the Chiefs a credible bridge if Mahomes needs more time before resuming his pursuit of another Lombardi Trophy.
