Kansas City Chiefs release 2 players, claim Saints tight end
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs have released a couple more players as they continue to sign priority free agents. This round includes Akeem Hunt and Stefan Charles.
As the Kansas City Chiefs continue to add new rookie free agents to the active roster, they must make room by releasing veteran players. Not only did they already cut defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches but now they’ve also released fellow defensive lineman Stefan Charles and running back/returner Akeem Hunt. The Chiefs did add a player in former New Orleans Saints tight end Alex Ellis.
The release of Charles is part of a complete overhaul of the defensive front this offseason, where only Allen Bailey, Jarvis Jenkins and Chris Jones remain in place. Nunez-Roches was released earlier on Tuesday, and the team also released Josh Augusta late last week. In place of the veterans, the team has added Breeland Speaks and Derrick Nnadi via the NFL Draft and Dee Liner as an undrafted free agent.
Akeem Hunt was the team’s fourth running back last year, serving as a primary option on kick returns and depth in case of injury on the depth chart. Hunt remained with the team through much of the offseason, but the roster was getting more and more crowded as time went by. The Chiefs added Damien Williams and Kerwynn Williams as free agents, formerly of the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals respectively. They also have Darrel Williams from LSU vying for a roster spot as an impressive rookie free agent. The release of Hunt likely means that De’Anthony Thomas and Kerwynn Williams will handle return responsibilities for the Chiefs moving forward.
In adding Alex Ellis from the Saints, the Chiefs bring in a former teammate of Kahlil McKenzie who both played at Tennessee. Ellis has bounced around the NFL after joining the league as a priority free agent for the Tennessee Titans in 2016. Later that year, he played in 6 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but has failed to surface ever since. He’s a definite longshot for an active roster spot in September