Cooper McDonald earned a spot on the Kansas City Chiefs’ 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent, flashing enough in three preseason games to convince personnel that he can contribute depth in a crowded linebacker room led by Bolton, Chenal and Tranquill. The emergence adds a further layer of competition and special-teams upside as KC opens Week 1 with a veteran-backed, versatile front seven.

KC’s depth at linebacker is a quiet strength entering the season: Bolton anchors the group while Tranquill’s seasoned coverage and Chenal’s speed give Spagnuolo multiple rotation options. McDonald’s rise from rookie minicamp to active roster demonstrates the Chiefs’ talent development pipeline and a potential sleeper path for fantasy players who chase late-round value.

Kansas City faces linebacker depth questions as notable vets hit free agency, with Cam Jones, Cole Christiansen, Leo Chenal, and Jack Cochrane in play. Nick Bolton was extended and Jeffrey Bassa was added, but KC still needs more talent by 2026. Wisconsin’s Christian Alliegro rose from backup to starter, showing ideal length and downhill speed that could land him in late top-100 consideration, though coverage instincts are still developing.

Kansas City enters 2025 with a defense-first identity, hoping to carry the load as the offense seeks more explosive plays. The unit ranked second in defensive grade last season behind the Eagles, led by Chris Jones, Nick Bolton, and Trent McDuffie, with Steve Spagnuolo again orchestrating pressure schemes. Mahomes still wins in close games, but his target depth dipped to 7.0 yards on average, hinting at a more conservative approach and a prime chance for Rashee Rice to break out if KC can improve its tackle play and left guard. Creed Humphrey anchors a strong interior, and Josh Simmons—healthy or not—will be pivotal at left tackle as first-round buzz centers on his NFL adjustment. Expect Rice to be a steady fantasy contributor with upside if explosiveness returns to the passing game, while the defense remains a fantasy backbone.

Key fantasy angles: Rice’s trajectory hinges on the O-line’s upgrade and the efficiency of Mahomes’ delivering weapons. If the line stabilizes and Simmons acclimates, Rice could approach top-tier WR volatility, especially with Mahomes’ penchant for clutch production. Chris Jones remains a high-end DL option whose pressure count should keep KC’s defense elite. Humphrey’s durability and Bolton’s linebacker play add insurance for fantasy defenses and the Chiefs’ overall floor. In short, KC remains a top fantasy asset mix: Rice as a breakout candidate, Mahomes as a steady QB1, and Jones/ Bolton/McDuffie anchoring a stifling group that should maintain elite week-to-week upside.

Missouri extended a scholarship to Ryan Peterson, a Class of 2028 linebacker from William Amos Hough High in Cornelius, NC, a recruit drawing the attention of NC high school legends and Tigers coaches alike. The offer came through Derek Nicholson, Missouri’s longtime linebackers coach, highlighting Missouri’s ongoing pursuit of versatile middle‑class linebackers with NFL potential. Peterson already visited Missouri’s campus vibe during a South Carolina game in 2024 and is slated to visit for the Alabama showdown on Oct. 11, aiming to gauge facilities and coaching staff up close.

Peterson admires Missouri’s track record of NFL‑level linebackers and has formed a Cantonment of admiration around Luther Burden III’s play and Nick Bolton’s blueprint, modeling his own game after Bolton in several ways. The storyline underscores Missouri’s reputation for producing pro talent and hints at a fall schedule that could solidify an early relationship with the program. The NC‑to‑Missouri connection, plus the network of high school teammates and coaches around Nicholson, paints a clear picture: Peterson is a rising name to watch as fall practice unfolds and recruitment tightens toward a busy Alabama weekend.

Jeffrey Bassa, a fifth‑round pick for Kansas City, starred in Week 1 of the 2025 preseason, leading the Chiefs with six tackles (three solo) and adding a QB hit. The performance spotlighted a deep KC linebacker corps and raised questions about how many of the veterans—Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, and Leo Chenal—will be kept on the roster. Bassa’s fluid closing speed and instinct suggest he could carve out a rotational role in Steve Spagnuolo’s front seven, especially if he continues to show up on early downs and in run fits.