KC Chiefs: Waiver wire targets who could interest Brett Veach

Now that NFL execs have whittled their roster to the league-maximum 53 players, they have one night to make claims on players who were waived. There are a handful of players out there who could be on the radar of K.C. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid before claims are posted on Wednesday.

Let’s take a look at the candidates who make the most sense when it comes to both Chiefs needs and/or most exciting talent.

Jahlani Tavai, LB

Tavai, a third-year linebacker out of Hawaii, became expendable under the new regime put in place by the Detroit Lions.

Drafted for Matt Patricia’s defense, which prioritized size over speed, the versatile Tavai entered the league at 250 pounds, but bulked up to as much as 270 in the 2020 season. Now down to 245 pounds, Tavai was in contention but ultimately was outplayed by fourth round rookie Derrick Barnes.

After the draft, the Chiefs attempted to add one more veteran linebacker in the offseason when they signed Kamalei Correa, but just a few weeks later Correa was released. The Chiefs surprised some by keeping six linebackers, but with the news that Willie Gay could be out for awhile with a toe injury, Kansas City might be looking to add one more linebacker who can provide quality reps on defense.