The Kansas City Chiefs have made a signing to reinforce the depth at the defensive end position.
After bringing in several veteran free agents for workouts, the front office has opted to go a different route. As first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Chiefs are poaching defensive end Demone Harris from the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.
Harris entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Buffalo in 2018. He originally signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and shuttled between their active roster and practice squad. During the 2019 preseason with the Bucs, Harris accumulated 11 total tackles, one sack and multiple QB pressures while playing the outside linebacker position in a 3-4 defensive scheme. He was cut last month, and the Ravens signed him to their practice squad on Oct. 22.
Harris has the prototypical size for a Steve Spagnuolo defensive end at 6 feet 4 and 272 pounds. He’ll likely even be able to reduce down to the inside when Spagnuolo runs his signature “NASCAR” packages. At first glance, Harris seems to be more comfortable putting his hand in the dirt and getting after the quarterback from a three-point stance.
The #Chiefs are signing DE Demone Harris off the #Ravens practice squad, source said. To create room, they are releasing DT Joey Ivie. Harris spent time with the #Bucs before joining Baltimore.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 21, 2019
In order to make room for Harris, the Chiefs have waived defensive tackle Joey Ivie. Ivie was called up from the Kansas City practice squad just a few weeks ago. The Chiefs will likely try to bring him back there if he clears waivers.
It’s easy to see what the Chiefs like about Harris from a football standpoint, but he is regarded as a good character guy too. A story about him rewarding a housekeeper who found and returned his misplaced engagement ring has been making the rounds. He’s also been regarded as a hard worker. For instance, he was a walk-on at the University of Buffalo. He was released multiple times by the Bucs once he made it to the NFL, but he never wavered. Now he’ll get his chance to go out and prove that he belongs on a 53-man roster.
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