5 Chiefs players who could get cut after the NFL Draft
By Matt Conner
Depending on how the draft falls for the Kansas City Chiefs, some players might find themselves on the outside looking in.
For every NFL transaction, there must be an equal and opposite… transaction. Every year, the National Football League welcomes in a few hundred new faces to the league via the annual first-year player draft and rookie free agent signings. It’s an exciting time to see so many prospects making their lifelong dreams come true. However, the shadow side also means that an equal number of players are facing the possibility of their careers ending as they are pushed out of roster spots.
Think of some free agents right now who are not yet signed by the Kansas City Chiefs or other teams and that’s likely because some franchises have already planned to replace them with someone younger. When one comes in, another has to leave. It’s just the nature of things.
For that reason, we thought we’d look at the list of players who could be on the outs in Kansas City, depending on how the NFL Draft falls in 2023.
Deon Bush, safety
This one would be a bit of a surprise, but it also means the pick itself would be a bit of a shock. For Deon Bush to be released, it would mean the Chiefs invested yet another early pick at safety even after taking Bryan Cook in the draft just a year ago.
The Chiefs look set on paper at the safety position with a rock-solid quartet of Cook, Justin Reid, Mike Edwards, and Deon Bush. That’s a unit with versatility, talent, production, and experience and the Chiefs won with a similar unit last year. The signing of Edwards away from the Buccaneers especially looks like a savvy move that brings great instincts for making plays on the ball to a young bunch.
But what if a top safety falls to the Chiefs? What if Brian Branch is sitting there in the first round or Antonio Johnson is available later on Day 2 than expected? That might be too tempting for the Chiefs to pass up, and if so, then Bush could be a man on the outside looking in. As much as the Chiefs value his experience and special teams motor, the truth is that his ceiling is the lowest of anyone who seems roster-secure right now.