Kansas City Chiefs sign former Titans defensive tackle Braxton Hoyett

STARKVILLE, MS - NOVEMBER 5: Defensive lineman Braxton Hoyett #95 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs recovers a fumble after defensive lineman Johnathan Calvin #16 striped the ball from quarterback Jake Hubenak #10 of the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS - NOVEMBER 5: Defensive lineman Braxton Hoyett #95 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs recovers a fumble after defensive lineman Johnathan Calvin #16 striped the ball from quarterback Jake Hubenak #10 of the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /
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The Kansas City Chiefs have filled an empty spot on their practice squad with the signing of former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Braxton Hoyett.

The Kansas City Chiefs have filled the open spot on the team’s practice squad with their signing of defensive tackle Braxton Hoyett.

Hoyett joins the Chiefs as his second pro team after first signing as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans, who had also selected his defensive line teammate Jeffery Simmons in the first round.

As a 6’3, 310 lb. defensive line prospect, he certainly has the size to turn heads. Hoyett played his college ball at Mississippi State and over the course of four seasons with the Bulldogs, he put up 61 total tackles, including 8.5 of them for a loss. He added 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception.

For the Chiefs, Hoyett and Joey Ivie are the two primary competitors on the team’s practice squad trying to earn approval from the team’s coaching staff. The Chiefs have Xavier Williams coming off the books next spring as an unrestricted free agent. Chris Jones has a complicated future if the Chiefs somehow back away from wanting to sign him long-term. Derrick Nnadi is the only solid performer locked up long-term given that Khalen Saunders looked every bit the developmental prospect he was made out to be this preseason.

The bottom line is that even if Saunders makes a major leap between his first and second seasons in the NFL and Jones finds long-term security, there’s likely still room for a player to have shown internally to coaches that he’s ready for a real chance at competition. And of course if those things don’t happen, there’s a greater need here still.

Hoyett now occupies the spot that came open when the Cincinnati Bengals signed away cornerback Torry McTyer from the practice squad last week to their active roster.

Here’s a full look at the Chiefs practice squad as it stands today:

  1. Alex Brown, cornerback
  2. Jody Fortson, wide receiver
  3. Braxton Hoyett, defensive tackle
  4. Joey Ivie, defensive tackle
  5. Nick Keizer, tight end
  6. Cameron Malveaux, defensive end
  7. Marcus Marshall, running back
  8. Kyle Shurmur, quarterback
  9. Emmanuel Smith, linebacker
  10. Cody Thompson, wide receiver