The Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback room is hardly the subject of much debate. We know that Patrick Mahomes is the best in the NFL, and the organization knows that if Mahomes doesn’t play, the team is in trouble.
That still, Mahomes has missed games in recent years and even playoff time, letting Matt Moore and Chad Henne have big moments that’ll live on in Chiefs lore. Carson Wentz wasn’t used much in 2024, though general manager Brett Veach made the position a priority in the offseason.
Gardner Minshew and Bailey Zappe now join Chris Oladokun, which could spell the end of Oladokun’s time in Kansas City. However, he’s just received a new opportunity to play the position now that his roster spot is in jeopardy.
— CFL (@CFL) July 2, 2025
Chiefs QB Chris Oladokun Named to CFL Team’s Negotiation List Before Training Camp
As revealed by the Canadian Football League (CFL), Oladokun is on the Negotiation List for the BC Lions. What that means is, among teams specifically in the CFL, the Lions have the exclusive rights to discuss contract details with Oladokun.
He’s still under a deal with Kansas City, but should the Chiefs elect to move on from the 27-year-old veteran, his only CFL option is in BC, barring a trade of said rights. Oladokun has been with the franchise since 2022 after originally being a seventh-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’s been a surprise practice hero and fared well in the preseason, yet it’s unlikely he has any true path to becoming Mahomes’ backup.
At this stage in his career, Oladokun may be best served to start for a CFL team and try to put good tape on film. There’s no chance he supplants Mahomes, and a small one he becomes a secondary option despite his exciting skill set, indicating that he needs to leverage this championship experience into an opportunity with a different team.
It’d hurt to see Oladokun go, but it may be best for him at this point. There are plenty of bad quarterback situations around the league, and Oladokun can’t show teams what he can do unless he actually shows teams what he can do. Fans shouldn’t be surprised if he winds up playing across the border in 2025, as he’d be a great fit in a lesser league.
That’s no disrespect to Oladokun, whose dual-threat ability should excite teams. He can leverage what he learned from Andy Reid, Mahomes, and the rest of the organization to become a dependable backup with starting potential at some point.
Here’s hoping Oladokun does what’s best for his future, assuming that the Chiefs ultimately intend to cut him to side with Minshew and Zappe.
