KC Chiefs practice squad tracker: Cornell Powell among key players

We’re not sure how tense K.C. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has been while watching the NFL’s transaction wire over the last day or so, but

Now that the dust has settled after active roster cuts were made league-wide and waiver claims were submitted, the Chiefs now have the first iteration of their practice squad for the 2021 season.

Since the beginning of August, well over 1,000 players went from gainfully employed to the outside looking in, the sad reality of every NFL preseason as the league mandates that every franchise moves from 90 players on the offseason roster to only 53 heading into the regular season.

The good news for many of those players is that 16 of them are able to come back and sign with either their old team or another one on the practice squad, extending the pro hopes of several players each year. These are often younger, developmental players who the team hopes will turn into productive contributors in time and provide some security at various positions.

Looking at the initial members of the K.C. Chiefs practice squad for 2021.

While the Chiefs watched other teams claim the likes of Tim Ward and BoPete Keyes, they were able to also put together a solid practice squad from familiar faces who were with them in training camp and the preseason. Here’s a look at the members of the Chiefs initial practice squad for the 2021 season.

Zayne Anderson, DB

Anderson is an older prospect with the strong BYU connection that the Chiefs seem to love. He’s versatile, intelligent, and tough, and the fact the Chiefs wanted him back could help him earn some special teams role either this season or next, depending on how the roster shakes out or injury needs arise.

Dicaprio Bootle, CB

A promising defensive back out of Nebraska, Bootle not only has the most fun name to say out loud but he also looked like a legitimate sleeper to make the active roster even as an undrafted free agent. The Chiefs have to be glad to see him slip through waivers.

Cortez Broughton, DL

The L.A. Chargers first brought Broughton (say that three times fast) into the league with their seventh round pick back in the 2019 NFL Draft after a monster final season at Cincinnati. He appeared in two games during his rookie year and 9 games last year, but now he’s hoping a new environment will open doors.

Shakur Brown, CB

The Pittsburgh Steelers cut Brown, a promising tough cornerback out of Michigan State who had 5 interceptions in just 7 games, showing good ball skills. Will be fun to see him up close.

Shane Buechele, QB

The Chiefs were able to retain their QB3 from an impressive preseason. The Southern Methodist product will get a full season to grow while watching Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid do their thing. Given that Chad Henne is in his final season and he’s also 36 years old, it could be a real opportunity for Buechele to grow into a more meaningful role next year at this time.

Omari Cobb, LB

No big surprise here to see Cobb back on the team’s practice squad. He spent last season in the same position and eventually earned some time in Week 16 on the active roster. He looked solid again this preseason, so Veach did well to bring him back for some long-term security.

Gehrig Dieter, WR

Rinse, repeat.

Austin Edwards DL

Austin Edwards is a former small-school prospect from Ferris State who first signed with the Chiefs back in the winter on a reserve/futures deal. The team liked him enough throughout the spring to keep him beyond the draft and now after the preseason, so there’s real potential here to watch. He spent all last year with the Falcons organization.

Maurice Ffrench, WR

The former Pitt receiver is back for another year on the practice squad (at least for now). If he’s able to retain his spot, he could have a nice edge going into 2022 when several players are scheduled to hit free agency.

Derrick Gore, RB

The Chiefs watched Darwin Thompson leave for the Buccaneers practice squad instead of returning, which made it even more important to bring back Gore, a player who dazzled in the preseason finale. Darrel Williams is in a contract year and Jerick McKinnon is on a one-year deal, so Gore might have a clear path forward in 2022 to the active roster if he plays well.

Demone Harris, DL

Harris is likely to be the first name called up for any needs along the defensive line, especially with Tim Ward being claimed by the Jets. Harris has earned reps at the highest level before and his presence here given the Chiefs a bit of security heading into the season.

Benito Jones, DL

The Chiefs are investing heavily in young defensive lineman along the practice squad so far, and Jones is the latest as a big body who spent last season with the Miami Dolphins. The Ole Miss product was surprised he wasn’t drafted and now brings that motivation to the Chiefs to turn heads on a contender.

Devon Key, DB

It wasn’t so long ago that Chiefs Kingdom was on fire about Key as an undrafted find for the Chiefs in the vein of previous unearthed gems like Darrel Williams or Turk Wharton or Ben Niemann. Key isn’t quite there yet, but with a chance to continue his work with Chiefs coaches, the former Western Kentucky star could show he’s pro-ready in good time.

Christian Rozeboom, LB

The Chiefs lure a linebacker away from the L.A. Rams to introduce a new face to the mix at a position where a lot of young players are getting playing time this year. As a former South Dakota defensive star, Rozeboom was always going to require some time to adjust and the Chiefs are hoping their coaching can bring out his potential.

Cornell Powell, WR

If the Chiefs were worried about their fifth round pick being claimed, they were likely breathing a sigh of relief given the chance to re-sign him. Powell was a late-bloomer in college, but the Chiefs loved his potential enough to grab him in the draft and it’s nice to see him get the chance to develop as the season goes on to generate some dividends down the road. Next year, the wideout position should be wide open and ready for new contributors.

Darryl Williams, OL

The Chiefs know Williams well after having him around for the last year-plus as a versatile interior lineman. Giving him another calendar year to grow and develop his technique is going to be vital for a Chiefs team with several backup linemen on one-year deals or in the final seasons contractually.