7 Chiefs players who’ve (likely) played their final game in Kansas City

Jordan Franks

If you’re among the more casual fans reading this list, then you’re likely asking, “Who?” at this point. For others, you realize that the tight end competition was too much for Franks to crash the party.

There was a point this preseason that the Chiefs not only had the big four, some of whom we’ve already discussed—Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jody Fortson, Blake Bell—but that there were others who looked solid as potential practice squad players for future roles. Matt Bushman came over from the Raiders and gave the Chiefs some solid reps in the preseason. Mark Vital was an experiment then, and Jordan Franks was also hanging around.

Franks landed in the pros as a former undrafted free agent out of Central Florida with the Cincinnati Bengals back in 2018. Since then, he’s defined the journeyman’s route as a fringe player circling overhead for an opportunity to land. He was waived and re-signed multiple times in Cincy before trying the same with the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles before landing in K.C.

The Chiefs signed him to a reserve/futures deal just over a year ago and he lasted through a full season on the practice squad. A former college receiver turned tight end, his smaller build doesn’t do him any favors, which creates blocking limitations as well, but solid hands and special teams capabilities have kept him around.

This year, however, the Chiefs just signed two tight ends to the offseason roster through futures deals: Kendall Blanton and Bushman. Given that Bushman is a holdover and the roster now looks full at the position, it seems Franks’ days are numbered with the team.