The Kansas City Chiefs have had two of their 2025 free agent signings in their sights for a long time

Two of the more notable free agent signings the Kansas City Chiefs have made so far during the 2025 offseason are cornerback Kristian Fulton and quarterback Gardner Minshew. 

Fulton was a second-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2020, and spent the 2024 season with the Los Angeles Chargers. It was one of he best years of his career, recording 51 total tackles, seven passes defensed, and one interception.

Minshew will serve as Patrick Mahomes' backup after starting nine games for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024. Minshew has started 46 games throughout his six-year NFL career, throwing for 11,950 yards, 68 touchdowns, 34 interceptions, and a 63.3 percent completion percentage.

The Chiefs have had Fulton and Minshew in their sights for a while now, meeting with both players during the pre-draft process. Fulton told reporters on Thursday that although he doesn't remember specifics, he recalls having good discussions with the Chiefs leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft.

"There was a lot going on at the combine, so I can't really specifically say," Fulton said. "Obviously it was a great meeting because they liked me. They were winning at the time as well. I liked them as well as a staff, they always had a great staff. But, there was just a lot going on at that time. I went through a lot of meetings, so I can't really remember specifically."

Fulton also said that he has already met with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and defensive backs coach Dave Merritt, who studied Fulton's tape during his collegiate days at LSU.

"Yeah, I've talked to both of them," Fulton said. "Great coaches, great guys. They told me how much they love my game and they think I can be a key piece on the defense, and fit exactly right in the scheme. They watched me when I came out of college, and that stood out to them. So they feel that they can take my game to another level."

Minshew also spoke to the media on Thursday, stating that he also met with Kansas City during his pre-draft process in 2019. Six years later, the decision to sign with the Chiefs was an easy one after remembering the discussion he had with them before being drafted.

"That's obviously a huge draw," Minshew said about being recruited by coach Andy Reid. "From the end of our season, when I it seemed like I was going to get cut, I knew in my head that this is where I wanted to be. I took a pre-draft visit with the Chiefs back in the day coming into the league, and I feel like everything went really well. And just talking to coach Reid and understanding what they're all about. I always knew that that'd be a really good fit. And to get on the phone with coach Reid and get to hear what they're talking about, and also to hear how he sees me fitting and how he values my personality and what I bring to the table, that just fires me up so much. To be somewhere that you feel appreciated and valued and obviously by somebody you respect so much and has had so much success to do doing it."

The signings of Fulton and Minshew prove just how thorough the Chiefs are during the draft process. It would be easy to forget meetings they've had with players years ago, but they do a good job of keeping tabs on guys who they've had interest in. Details like that are what separate consistently winning teams from the rest of the pack.