In the aftermath of this year's roster cuts, one primary name has surfaced more than others as the "one who got away" for the Kansas City Chiefs: Emari Demercado.
The Chiefs inked Demercado at the start of a new league year, a second consecutive signing after signing Seattle Seahawks superstar Kenneth Walker the day before. It was a one-two free agent punch from general manager Brett Veach to shore up the backfield and signal an offensive shift. Less than six months later, however, Demercado now sits on the Dallas Cowboys roster heading into Week 1.
That the Chiefs left Demercado available on waivers is a divisive subject for Chiefs fans, and both sides make sense.
On the one hand, the Chiefs reloaded in the backfield to such a point that Demercado was expendable. Emmett Johnson was drafted in the fifth round of the draft one month after Demercado signed. Brashard Smith, the lone holdover, looked like he'd taken a considerable forward as a runner in the preseason. The downside of an abundance of riches means that there's not enough room for everyone to blossom.
The release of Demercado was a clear statement of confidence in the remade backfield and especially Kenneth Walker.
On the other hand, Demercado was more than just a redundant skill set in a crowded room. He was another explosive back who could threaten defenses as a fresh rotational option to ease the burden on a lead back who'd never been tasked with lead reps before. Johnson still has yet to take his first official snaps, so leaning on him so heavily is a risk itself. And Demercado was the best pass protector of any of them.
Those frustrated by the loss of Demercado saw him as a complement to an already talented room. Walker plus Johnson was a satisfying duo atop the depth chart, but Demercado made for a robust backfield while providing insurance in the wake of Walker's usage history and fairly consistent record of playing through minor injuries.
The Cowboys, on their part, are happy to have Demercado. His career 6.5 rushing yards/attempt from 2023-2025 is heartening. Even the smaller sample sizes reveal an effective back who could provide an offensive boost off the bench while also serving as a pass-catching weapon. After letting Jaydon Blue walk, the Cowboys did well to grab Demercado as a late-preseason addition to the mix.
In the end, the Chiefs revealed what they thought of Walker, Johnson, and Smith. They trust Walker to be a true three-down weapon. They trust Johnson's history of production in college to translate to the pros. They trust Smith to emerge as a running back alongside his other areas of impact. And if the team trusts all of that to happen, then they also decided that Demercado's roster spot was needed elsewhere.
Add us as a preferred source on Google