![Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Khalen Saunders (68) warms up during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 18th and final training camp practice at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday August 20, 2025. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_591,y_108,w_1300,h_731/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ReutersImages/mmsport/130/01m1a5w9vawfj24xj3qx.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Khalen Saunders (68) warms up during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 18th and final training camp practice at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday August 20, 2025. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]")
That sound you hear is the constant refreshing on social media for news of the latest NFL roster cuts. Fans across the league are checking again and again for any news related to the waiver wire decisions as NFL rosters are pared down from 90 to 53. That's certainly true for Kansas City Chiefs fans wondering how Brett Veach will shape the active roster.
But the Chiefs are only one of 32 teams making such moves this weekend, which means several friendly faces are going through the ringer. Sometimes the news of former Chiefs can get lost in the shuffle. We've kept an eye out for some notable names for Chiefs Kingdom to follow now that another frantic deadline is here.
Khalen Saunders, DL, Tennessee Titans
Unlike other veterans cast aside, even some on this list, Khalen Saunders isn't quite at the end of the line. Saunders had a decent preseason with the Titans, but was squeezed out by the team's deepest positional group (led by Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers). Saunders entered the NFL as an uber-athletic prospect out of Western Illinois taken in the third round by K.C. Free agency led him to the Saints and he's bounced from the Jags to the Jets to the Titans since 2025. With Omarr Norman-Lott likely headed to IR, a return to Kansas City isn't a crazy idea.
Carson Steele, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
If you paid attention to the Eagles preseason, you heard the same sort of buzz about Carson Steele that once resounded in Kansas City only two years ago. Steele has a penchant for coming up big before the regular season, and he led Philly in receiving this preseason with 14 receptions, 133 yards, and 2 touchdowns. He's going to make some team's practice squad, maybe even the Eagles', but his impressive performance wasn't enough to make the active roster.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys fans were wondering how Marquez Valdes-Scantling lasted as long as he did. The former downfield threat helped K.C. win two titles during his short stint with the team, but he's had a hard time finding meaningful work over the last two seasons. He's pinged from New Orleans to Seattle to San Francisco to Pittsburgh to Dallas since leaving Kansas City. But a forgettable preseason with notable drops in exhibitions made him an easy cut for the Cowboys.
Shane Buechele, QB, Buffalo Bills
It wasn't that long ago that the Chiefs had to hide Shane Buechele on the active roster because the Arizona Cardinals were sniffing around the practice squad in the hopes of poaching him. But those days of seeing him as a solid backup to Patrick Mahomes never quite materialized, and the former SMU star became a long-term sub in the Buffalo Bills QB room. The good news for Buechele is that this was expected, and he should be right back on the practice squad to sit behind Josh Allen and Kyle Allen for the '26 season.
Wanya Morris, OT, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons traded for Wanya Morris in June to shore up concerns at offensive tackle. In late August, they decided to move on from him outright. Given that Morris is still only 25 and that an NFL team was just willing to give up something for him, he'll definitely catch on with some team, even on the practice squad. But the fall from grace here is a bit stunning.
Baylor Cupp, TE, Arizona Cardinals
That the Cardinals released Baylor Cupp before active rosters were due isn't all that surprising, since the tight end was trying out for multiple teams weeks into the preseason schedule. Cupp first entered the NFL as a priority free agent signing with the Chiefs back in '24. Perhaps he did enough in a short audition with the Cards to land a practice squad role, but he might be forced to wait until a team is dealing with injuries.
Mecole Hardman, WR, Buffalo Bills
Mecole Hardman spent most of the last year with the Bills after landing with the team last November. The receiver and returner was hoping to extend his stay at the start of a new year, but the Bills decided to part ways instead. Hardman spent his first six NFL seasons in K.C. but it seems unlikely that the Chiefs would bring him back at this stage—despite the lack of any dynamism in the return game last year.
Bailey Zappe, QB, New York Jets
Zappe's brief dalliance a year ago with the Chiefs started with greater promise than what actually materialized. Instead of placing pressure on Gardner Minshew for the Chiefs QB2 role behind Patrick Mahomes, he turned in one miserable preseason performance after another and was easily jettisoned at the deadline. The Jets gave him a chance this summer but he suffered the same fate.
Malik Herring, DE, Tennessee Titans
Malik Herring is used to the feeling of the roster bubble at this time of year after several seasons as the final name on the Chiefs' defensive end depth chart. He followed general manager Mike Borgonzi to Tennessee and it's possible he hears his name called after the regular season begins, given his veteran status. For now, however, the Titans have cut him loose at the deadline.
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