Tag: cuts

Chiefs release QB Shane Buechele after standout preseason

The #Chiefs released quarterback Shane Buechele on Tuesday as they trimmed their roster to 53 players.

Shane Buechele’s time with the Kansas City Chiefs came to an end on Tuesday when the team parted ways with the third-year quarterback.

The move came after Buechele put together an impressive preseason as Kansas City’s third-string signal caller, which may have earned him an opportunity to compete elsewhere in 2023.

While Buechele’s performances in the Chiefs’ exhibition games in August were commendable, it seems that Kansas City’s front office valued veteran Blaine Gabbert’s experience more than the former SMU Mustang’s potential.

The Chiefs’ decision to move on from Buechele is somewhat surprising given his production in the preseason but is a clear indication that the team is comfortable with Gabbert as Patrick Mahomes’ backup.

Expect Buechele to catch on with a team that has a pressing need for a promising backup quarterback in the coming days, or for him to land on Kansas City’s practice squad if no new deal materializes by the end of the week.

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Chiefs released DB Reese Taylor on Tuesday

The Kansas City #Chiefs parted ways with first-year defensive back Reese Taylor on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Kansas City Chiefs parted ways with promising rookie defensive back Reese Taylor as they cut their roster down to 53 players.

The move came after the team traded for former Las Vegas Raiders tackle Neil Farrell earlier in the day to reinforce their defensive line.

Taylor, who signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2023, saw the field for Kansas City in the preseason and made a modest impact in limited action. He played collegiately at Purdue, where he was a key fixture of the Boilermakers’ secondary.

The Chiefs still have a plethora of cuts to make before the NFL’s deadline to get their roster to the 53-player threshold. Their decision to cut Taylor isn’t too surprising given his undrafted status, and it is unclear whether he will return to Kansas City as a member of the Chiefs’ practice squad ahead of the 2023 season, which is set to kick off next week.

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Report: Saints exploring trade interest for punter Blake Gillikin

Report: Saints exploring trade interest for punter Blake Gillikin, may turn to rookie Lou Hedley

Could Wil Lutz and Blake Gillikin be a package deal? NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that the Saints are shopping their veteran punter around the league to see if he has any trade value — meaning rookie punter Lou Hedley (Miami) would be getting the nod to replace him.

Neither Gillikin nor Hedley played at a very high level this offseason. Gillikin’s hang time and accuracy has regressed a bit from the high standards he set for himself in his first year replacing Thomas Morstead, while Hedley has taken some rookie lumps. But if the Saints believe all else is equal, it could make sense to get what they can for Gillikin and make a change.

Getting draft picks back for both specialists would be a win, even if they’re only late-round selections. Stay tuned for updates.

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Saints waive preseason standout DE Niko Lalos, a top practice squad candidate

Saints waive preseason standout DE Niko Lalos, a top practice squad candidate

A season in the XFL was good for Niko Lalos. He used the opportunity to develop his craft and pick up some new tricks, which he used to bag a couple of sacks in the New Orleans Saints’ preseason. But it wasn’t enough for him to make it through roster cuts. NewOrleans.Football’s Brooke Kirchhofer reports that the Saints have waived Lalos, making him a top candidate to return on their practice squad. That’s where he was for much of last season.

Assuming he clears waivers, anyway. It’s possible another team may pick him up. The Saints had too many established players and young draft picks on their depth chart at defensive end to make room for Lalos; with Cameron Jordan starting on one side while Carl Granderson and Payton Turner split reps on the other, there aren’t many snaps to go around for Tanoh Kpassagnon and Isaiah Foskey.

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Mark Schlereth helps explain why the Broncos parted with TE Albert Okwuegbunam

“That is just absolutely garbage,” Mark Schlereth said of Albert Okwuegbunam’s blocking against the Rams.

Story update: Just before the roster cut deadline, the Broncos traded tight end Albert Okwuegbunam to the Eagles instead of cutting him. See our original post below. 

The Denver Broncos waived tight end Albert Okwuegbunam on Tuesday, a move that was not particularly well-received by fans.

“Albert O” has shown flashes of great potential as a receiving tight end, including a big performance in the team’s preseason finale last week. Against the Los Angeles Rams, Okwuegbunam had a huge game with seven receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown.

That monster game wasn’t enough to make the 53-man roster, though. Why not?

Mark Schlereth, who played for the Broncos from 1995-2000, helped explain the Okwuegbunam cut on Tuesday with a video breakdown of one of Denver’s running plays against the Rams.

Schlereth pointed out a play where he says “Albert O” had “the easiest block on the field.” Despite having inside positioning, Okwuegbunam is driven off the line of scrimmage and is pushed all the way past the hole that the running back ends up running into.

“That is just absolutely garbage,” Schlereth says in the video. “And that’s why ‘Albert O’ is looking for work.”

Schlereth knows a thing or two about blocking — he won three Super Bowls (two with Denver and one with Washington) during his 12-year career as a guard in the NFL.

Okwuegbunam will now be subject to the NFL’s waiver wire.

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Chiefs acquire DT Neil Farrell Jr. in trade with rival Raiders

Kansas City #Chiefs acquired defensive tackle Neil Farrell from the Las Vegas #Raiders for a sixth-round draft pick. | from @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs reinforced their defensive line on Tuesday as their negotiations with All-Pro tackle Chris Jones are set to continue past the preseason.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr. is being traded to the Chiefs for a sixth-round pick. The exact terms of the trade have not yet been disclosed, and it remains unclear whether the pick that Kansas City traded will be for the 2024 draft.

Farrell is a former 2022 fourth-round selection who appeared in nine regular-season games as a rookie. The former LSU star won a national championship with college teammate Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The 24-year-old is 6-4, 319 pounds with plenty of potential as the Chiefs adjust their defensive line.

The move indicates that a deal to bring Jones back to the team isn’t happening as soon as many had imagined. Farrell has plenty of potential, and following the release of veteran Danny Shelton, the plan seems to be focused on getting younger.

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Bradley Roby shares choice words after being released by New Orleans Saints

Bradley Roby shared choice words after being released by New Orleans Saints: ‘Cutting costs at all cost might just cost you in the end’

The New Orleans Saints’ decision to release veteran cornerback Bradley Roby surprised everyone — including Bradley Roby. He had been penciled in as the starting slot corner in their defense all summer, resting with other starters in preseason games and preparing for a big role in New Orleans’ nickel defense.

But then he was released ahead of the NFL roster cuts deadline on Tuesday, clearing about $3.3 million in salary cap space (with the Saints already under the cap by more than $11.4 million). Roby acknowledged the move on social media, warning that “Cutting costs at all cost might just cost you in the end.”

While Roby was at least implicitly critical of the front office’s decision, he expressed nothing but gratitude to his teammates in the locker room and the Saints fans who have cheered their team on every year he’s been in town:

Where will Roby land? He can still run with most receivers around the league so his services shouldn’t be in low demand once the dust settles on this year’s roster cuts. It’s possible he returns to play for Sean Payton on the Denver Broncos (ironically, where he started his NFL career), who have experienced some instability in the secondary this summer. He could also land with a playoff team elsewhere around the league. But he isn’t finished just yet.

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Chiefs release veterans Danny Shelton, Deon Bush

The Kansas City #Chiefs released veterans Danny Shelton and Deon Bush on Tuesday. | from @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs released a pair of veteran defenders on Tuesday as they cut their roster to 53 players.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chiefs parted ways with defensive tackle Danny Shelton and safety Deon Bush. 

Shelton was a member of the Chiefs practice squad last season with years of experience, including a Super Bowl run with the New England Patriots in 2019. He has worked hard throughout training camp and the preseason to get in great shape and served as a mentor to the younger defensive linemen. He recorded a sack in the Chiefs’ first preseason game against the New Orleans Saints a few weeks ago.

Bush was also a member of the Chief’s Super Bowl-winning roster last season as he joined the team in 2022 after starting his career with the Chicago Bears. Bush had 11 tackles in 16 games as a reserve for the Chiefs last year. The 30-year-old former Miami Hurricane brought an extra veteran presence to the secondary unit. 

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Chiefs release 2021 fourth-round pick Joshua Kaindoh

The Kansas City #Chiefs released 2021 fourth-round pick Joshua Kaindoh on Tuesday as they cut their roster down to 53 players. | from @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs made a significant move in their cuts to get to 53 players on Tuesday.

According to A to Z Sports’ Charles Goldman, the Chiefs have released defensive end Joshua Kaindoh as part of the team’s roster trimming before the start of the regular season. Kaindoh was a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Chiefs out of Florida State and played only three games for the franchise.

He showed explosion and plenty of promise with his size and speed but couldn’t get on the field enough for the Chiefs. The continued growth, injuries, and additions on the defensive line pushed the former IMG Academy standout further down the depth chart.

If Kaindoh clears waivers, he could be a strong candidate to return as a member of the practice squad. He played well in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns, recording a sack in the victory.

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Wil Lutz’s agent rips Saints after trade to Broncos: ‘He didn’t lose his job’

Wil Lutz’s agent rips New Orleans Saints after trade to Denver Broncos: ‘The better player is not the one who is left on the Saints’ roster’

The New Orleans Saints made a surprise trade ahead of Tuesday’s NFL roster cuts by trading former Pro Bowl kicker Wil Lutz to Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos. It’s a move that Lutz’s agent John Perla isn’t quick to embrace, telling the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson “He didn’t lose his job. The Saints just made a poor decision.”

Lutz and Grupe were neck-and-neck throughout the summer, with things coming to a peak in their final Saints preseason game. Grupe nailed a 50-yard field goal early on and had enough distance on a 60-yard try later, but the ball drifted too far to the right and swung wide of the uprights.

That didn’t dissuade the Saints from giving Grupe the starting nod and shipping Lutz off to Denver. But Perla still isn’t happy to see his client cast aside.

“The better player is not the one who is left on the Saints’ roster, I’ll tell you that,” Perla added to Tomasson.

We’ll see how things play out for both kickers when the regular season kicks off in a few weeks. Lutz will be playing for a coach he knows well at high elevation, where kickers have performed well before. Grupe will be working indoors for much of the season under a coach who has expressed a ton of confidence in him. Both guys are in good situations, but it’s pretty clear that Lutz didn’t leave New Orleans because he wanted to.

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