Ethan Downs fighting to survive as Chiefs draft threatens roster spot

At this stage of the offseason, every NFL roster features a handful of young players invited to join the offseason roster via a futures contract that gives a team a much longer look at an intriguing prospect. The problem for these players is that they have to make it past the gauntlet known as the NFL Draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs have a number of younger players hanging around the fringes of the roster for various reasons, yet most fans wouldn't recognize any of their names. They also might not be long for K.C., depending on how the rookie class actually comes together for general manager Brett Veach.

Ethan Downs is one such futures signing, a defensive end who caught on with the Chiefs last year before the regular season began and stayed interesting enough for Veach to invite him for a longer offseason audition.

What do the Chiefs see in Ethan Downs?

Downs was one of Oklahoma's best defenders up front over the last half-decade. A two-time second-team All-Big 12 performer, Downs had 29 tackles for loss in his last three seasons in 37 starts. He finished his Sooners career with 19 QB hurries, 12.5 sacks, 5 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles. Some projections had him pegged as a late-day-three pick, but Downs went unselected in the 2025 NFL Draft.

His first NFL stop came with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent, but he was waived shortly before active rosters were due. The Chiefs seized on the opportunity to add Downs to the practice squad, and he remained there for most of a frustrating six-win season. Then came Week 18, a meaningless game against the Las Vegas Raiders, in which Downs got the chance to make his professional debut.

Downs earned 11 defensive snaps and another 22 on special teams in that game, but came up with a big hit on Raiders' returner Dylan Laube, which forced a fumble and created an important turnover for K.C. The Chiefs would still lose a miserable 14-12 affair against their AFC West rivals, but the game was an important tryout for younger players looking toward 2026.

Chiefs' thin edge depth gives Downs a real opening

If anything is working in Downs' favor, it's the position that he plays. The Chiefs are staring at a scary scenario at defensive end at the present time, although there's plenty of runway left this offseason. But right now, the Chiefs are bereft of talent outside of George Karlaftis and Ashton Gillotte. The former is a plus starter, the latter a nice rotational piece. Outside of that, the cupboards are bare.

Felix Anudike-Uzomah is coming off a full missed season due to injury, and it's not as if he was remotely close to living up to his first-round investment before then. From there, it's Downs and Tyreke Smith. Seriously, that's it. In just four weeks, the Chiefs might be looking at, let's say, Rueben Bain Jr. and Cam Jordan, which would completely alter the landscape. But for now, the Chiefs have what they have.

There are speed concerns, but Downs' strength was always a plus, and the Chiefs have given him a year to refine his already intriguing pass-rush arsenal and fill out his frame. Even as the Chiefs add bodies, remember that Malik Herring always found a way to hang onto the depth chart despite the low ceiling. Someone like Downs could definitely break through in the right scenario. If he sticks through rookie minicamp, expect him to generate some preseason buzz as the season gets closer.