It's much harder to find a silver lining during a losing season. No doubt, Kansas City Chiefs fans aren't too keen to repeat the results of a '25 season after the team's dynastic run from 2019 to 2024. But at least one positive development is the fact that the Chiefs sit higher in the waiver order than they have in years.
As the deadline nears for the NFL's preseason roster cuts, down from the 90-man offseason rosters to the 53-man versions that signal the start of the regular season, the Chiefs are currently No. 8 in the waiver order. That's a far cry from their annual spot around No. 32 or so.
Remember, NFL teams are forced to cut more than 30 players apiece by Sunday, August 30. That means that approximately 1,200 players will find themselves searching for employment, at least temporarily. Not every one of those will be subject to waivers, if they have veteran status, but any younger player will be available for other franchises to claim, depending on where they sit in the waiver order.
For the Chiefs, this means they have a better-than-normal chance to land some intriguing prospects cut loose by other teams around the NFL, especiallly teams with deeper rosters who simply cannot fit all of the younger talent they've acquired.
The preseason waiver wire is actually something the Chiefs can use this summer.
Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Bradway spoke to reporters on Wednesday from St. Joseph and opened up about the new perch from which the Chiefs can claim players. He said the team's evaluative process is already in place, but there are benefits to sitting at No. 9 for once.
"I don't think it's going to change the process itself, so to speak, I think we're still going to go about it the way we do in terms of watching as many bubble guys as we can, talking to teams, getting as much information as we can," said Bradway.
"Obviously, it increases the likelihood we can potentially get a guy, so we've got to be ready for if we put in claims for two or three guys. We've got to be prepared to obviously get those guys, but like I said, I think we're going to attack it and watch the whole league—basically have a ton of calls and trade surplus—so I think the process will stay the same"
While the Chiefs are holding on to the hope that they can bounce back after a 6-11 season, it's also true that the roster has thinned out after years of picking at the bottom of every draft. It shouldn't surprise anyone in Chiefs Kingdom if they end up churning over the bottom of the roster for the sake of adding players with greater upside in order in an effort to raise the floor.
Here's the official NFL waiver order for the top 10:
- Las Vegas Raiders (3-14)
- New York Jets (3-14)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-14)
- Tennessee Titans (3-14)
- New York Giants (4-13)
- Cleveland Browns (5-12)
- Washington Commanders (5-12)
- New Orleans Saints (6-11)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-11)
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-11)
The waiver order will remain in place until after Week 3 of the regular season. Then it defaults to the current season's standings.
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