The odd career path of KeiVarae Russell

KeiVarae Russell’s odd career path continued this week with a Giants tryout.

On Wednesday, KeiVarae Russell made the NFL’s transaction report once more. This time, it was a tryout with the New York Giants, a visit he hopes will turn into a contract offer for the 2020 season.

Russell has enjoyed an odd career path to date, one which began with a dream fulfilled of being drafted to play professional football, and soon took a wicked turn with his unexpected release. That, in turn, has led to a series of disappointing stops (or even attempts) that have firmly placed the former third round pick into “draft bust” territory.

Back in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs, whose front office was then led by general manager John Dorsey, decided to take Russell in the third round. The Notre Dame cornerback joined the Chiefs as a versatile defensive back with the ability to also play safety. He was a physical corner who should have stepped in early outside in Bob Sutton’s scheme. Alas, he never really had a chance.

Just months after the team had made him a Day 2 selection in the draft, the Chiefs cut ties with Russell in mid-September of the player’s rookie season. The release caught everyone off guard considering the investment and the need at the position, but the Chiefs called it a “football decision” and moved on quickly.

The Cincinnati Bengals put in the winning claim on Russell, and on his very first defensive snap, he intercepted Ryan Mallett. Unfortunately, everything went downhill from there. Instead of developing as expected, Russell was cut and then signed and then cut again over the next two seasons as he spent time on the practice squad and active roster (or neither).

Russell was unemployed for much of last season after being cut before active rosters were due by Cincy. The Los Angeles Chargers then signed him to their practice squad in late November only to release him a couple weeks later.

To date, Russell has played sparingly in 20 NFL games—all for the Bengals—since he entered the league four years ago. He has 2 passes deflected and that lone interception in that entire span, but he’s also still only 26-years-old with a draft pedigree that made Dorsey love him enough to take him among the top 75 college prospects.

These days, Russell is hoping that the Giants or someone will take that chance that could allow him to write a more promising chapter of the story. Until then, it’s been a disappointing turn, one after the other.