Chiefs decline to exercise fifth-year option for Felix Anudike-Uzomah

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 07: Felix Anudike-Uzomah #97 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs at SoFi Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The deadline for NFL teams to make a decision on whether to offer the fifth-year option to their first-round pick from the 2023 NFL Draft was Friday, May 1.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah from Kansas State with pick 31 in that draft, and on Friday, it was revealed that the Chiefs will decline to exercise that option that would fully guarantee a $14.5 million salary in 2027 (per OverTheCap).

It sets up Anudike-Uzomah to be an unrestricted free agent following the 2026 season at 25 years old.

The Chiefs made the obvious and necessary decision with Felix Anudike-Uzomah at the fifth-year option deadline. What happens next is up to him.https://t.co/6BP68DerNXpic.twitter.com/umxhwg3qSX

- Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) May 1, 2026

The news comes after Anudike-Uzomah spent the 2025 season sidelined with a strained right hamstring" he suffered during the second preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. It also comes a week after the team drafted R Mason Thomas from Oklahoma with pick 40 in this year's draft, although Thomas is being listed as a rare outside linebacker" on Kansas City's roster, according to The Athletic's Jesse Newell.

In two seasons of NFL action, Anudike-Uzomah has started three games and has three sacks. He has 41 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles.

#Chiefs' Felix Anudike-Uzomah on his second full sack of the season in Pittsburgh: I tried to power him then snatch him down and turn the edge."

My favorite part is the acceleration to the QB once he clears the corner pic.twitter.com/rqpw6xO3VW

- Ron Kopp Jr (@RonOnChiefs) January 1, 2025

The highlight of his career came on a sack against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day, 2024.

Even with the unlikelihood of being cut, carrying a dead-cap number of $3.7 million, he will have a lot to prove this offseason to even get another shot at playing for the Chiefs' defense. With the anticipation of a veteran signing, there's a chance Anudike-Uzomah is squeezed out of the defensive line rotation if he has not developed further behind the scenes.