The Kansas City Chiefs could turn to former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe to strengthen their depth chart and potentially groom a future starter, after Gardner Minshew departed for Arizona, leaving a gap behind Patrick Mahomes.
Minshew, 29, reached an agreement on a one-year, $8.25 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals, ESPN reported, and will back up Jacoby Brissett while providing veteran experience and stability for Arizona’s offense in 2026.
The former Chiefs backup played in four games during the 2025 season, including a December start against the Tennessee Titans when Mahomes was sidelined with a torn ACL and LCL. His outing ended after the third play due to a noncontact left knee bone bruise, which did not require surgery.
Drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 178th pick in 2019, Minshew has since played for five teams, throwing for 11,987 yards, 68 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions over seven seasons, and earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2023 with the Indianapolis Colts.
Arizona also added depth across its offense, agreeing to a two-year, $11.47 million deal with wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, a three-year, $31.5 million contract with guard Isaac Seumalo, and a new contract with running back Tyler Allgeier, enhancing its roster considerably.
The Chiefs now face the task of filling the vacancy behind Mahomes, and 23-year-old Milroe could provide a low-risk option with upside, offering experience behind a superstar while giving Kansas City a potential long-term solution at quarterback.
Could Kansas City sign another Seattle Seahawks player?
The 23-year-old Milroe enters his second NFL season with Seattle as the third quarterback after a redshirt rookie year behind Sam Darnold and Drew Lock at the Super Bowl-winning Seahawks organization.
He was drafted in the third round in 2025, after he started above Ty Simpson at Alabama with the Crimson Tide in 2024, showing promise if given the chance to play – particularly as Simpson is projected as the second quarterback picked in 2026.
So trade for Milroe would allow the Chiefs to acquire a young QB on a manageable rookie deal, providing development under Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid without sacrificing draft capital or taking a high-cost free agent gamble.
Teams evaluating Milroe compare his pre-draft grades to the 2026 class, and a Day 3 pick could be enough for Kansas City to secure him, giving them depth and mentorship opportunities, and a potential starter if Mahomes takes longer than expected to recover from his ACL and LCL tear.
Learning under Mahomes in a high-powered offense provides Milroe with an ideal environment to grow, while the Chiefs maintain championship-level continuity. The move would balance immediate needs and long-term strategy for the franchise.
The chance to develop behind Mahomes could make Milroe’s temporary bench role more valuable than chasing starting jobs elsewhere – similar to how Malik Willis worked behind Jordan Love, before building his credibility and landing a move to the Miami Dolphins.
Additionally, the Chiefs could be ripe for the taking for the youngster as veterans like Kirk Cousins or Geno Smith might pass on Kansas City because starting chances are limited as soon as Mahomes returns.
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