A friendly face is back in the fold for the Kansas City Chiefs with the news that cornerback Melvin Smith Jr. has made his way onto the taxi squad following the team's win over the Denver Broncos in Week 1. NFL reporter Aaron Wilson of KPRC in Houston broke the news of Smith's reunion in K.C. after a short stint with the Tennessee Titans.
Smith originally made the Titans' 53-man roster out of training camp, a reward for a strong preseason showing for the second-year corner. However, when the Indianapolis Colts decided to waive defensive back Jaylon Jones, the Titans seized on the opportunity to grab a veteran from an AFC South rival, and Smith was let go.
After being placed on waivers on Thursday, Smith went unclaimed and waited over the weekend for a chance to join the Chiefs once again. It's possible that the Titans extended the same offer, but K.C. has won out, giving the practice squad another bright young talent to keep around in case of an emergency.
Smith arrived in K.C. as a former star from Southern Arkansas who faced very real questions about the leap in competition to the NFL. Despite his solid production in college, Smith went unselected in the 2025 and joined the Chiefs via tryout at rookie minicamp. Not only did he prove he belonged on the offseason roster, but he earned a practice squad spot and a subsequent futures deal as well. When Smith failed to make the roster last month, the Titans claimed him on waivers and added him to their 53-man roster before the season began.
The Chiefs haven't announced any corresponding roster moves to clear a spot on the practice squad, but Smith's arrival gives them some nice short-term security for the secondary as well as an intriguing developmental prospect for the long-term. Alongside Smith, the Chiefs also have veteran cornerback Kader Kohou, who signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs in March after his contract with the Miami Dolphins expired, and D'Arco Perkins-McCallister, who signed as a rookie free agent in May.
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