NFL rosters have gone down to 53 players. After initial cuts, teams will still have the chance to add new pieces. Some of those will come via the waiver wire. For the Kansas City Chiefs, they are much earlier in the waiver wire than usual.
As a result, it would not be surprising to see Kansas City make some additions off waivers. The Chiefs could easily look to add depth at a couple of spots. Even if an addition is not a new starter, a waiver claim can still benefit the roster.
It is important to note that a player can only go through waivers if they have played three or fewer seasons. Other options that were released and have been in the league for at least four seasons can directly go to other teams without waiting through the waiver claims.
Now that the initial 53-man rosters are set, let's look at a few players who may interest Kansas City on waivers. Here are three waiver claims the Chiefs should immediately make.
Tim Keenan III, defensive tackle
Tim Keenan III was a seventh-round pick this year by the Los Angeles Rams. Seemingly, the return of Aaron Donald was a major reason why this particular player did not make the team. Keenan III brings a unique blend of measurables and testing results for his size, as highlighted by the NFL Stock Exchange podcast.
There is no denying the beef that Keenan III would add to a defensive line. He will not be flashy. However, his ability to plug holes, deconstruct blocks, and do the dirty work up front would be worth tapping into. Kansas City has a lot more juice on its defensive line this year with rookies like R Mason Thomas and Peter Woods. But adding someone like Keenan III via waivers would provide a thicker option to pair with the quickness the Chiefs already added.
Bradyn Swinson, defensive end
Bradyn Swinson was waived by the New England Patriots. He was also cut on roster cutdown day last year as a rookie fifth-round selection. Swinson returned to New England's practice squad and stayed there for most of last year. When he did reach the active roster, the Patriots largely used him on special teams. He is back in the waiver process after another training camp with New England.
Swinson definitely had plenty of fans coming out of the 2025 draft. Lance Zierlein ranked him in the third/fourth round range. Dane Brugler of The Athletic rated him as the 100th-best prospect in his draft guide, The Beast. Brugler highlighted his length and explosion as assets.
It seems inevitable that the Chiefs will add another defensive end after only keeping four on the initial 53. Why not go for another option that could make their depth quicker and more bendy at the snap?
Louis Moore, safety
Louis Moore went undrafted this past April and signed with the Miami Dolphins. He was a bit of an older safety in this year's draft. In total, Moore was a part of seven CFB seasons, having some of his playing time wiped out due to the pandemic.
Being a player who saw a lot of time in college football, Moore learned how to improve on the margins. He is not the most dynamic player. But Brugler lists his instincts as a difference-maker via The Beast.
The Chiefs are not the most experienced at safety depth as currently constructed. Moore comes out of a well-coached unit at the University of Indiana. He also handled multiple roles in the Hoosiers' defense, as pointed out by Brugler. Perhaps that aspect would benefit Kansas City when adding to a thinner safety group.
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