Chiefs news: Anthony Miller among multiple players released following draft

The Kansas City Chiefs did a bit of housecleaning at the end of the week with the announcement of four roster moves intended to clear space for new signings following the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Coming out of the draft, the Chiefs made seven official selections, all of whom will be signed in the coming weeks. Beyond that, each team, including the Chiefs, will want enough open roster spots to also secure the services of rookie free agents who've drawn their eye.

The Chiefs made several roster moves on Friday to clear space for the abundance of rookies to come following the draft.

With rookie minicamp getting underway for the Chiefs on Friday, it's no surprise that general manager Brett Veach went to work to create a few more openings on the team's 90-man roster with the release of a few players on Friday. Here are the three players released in addition to Cole Christiansen's rescinded tender.

Anthony Miller, WR

Of the three players here, Anthony Miller will be the most familiar to NFL fans as a former second-round pick by the Chicago Bears.

In three seasons with the Bears, Miller grabbed 140 passes for 1,589 yards and 12 touchdowns. Despite poor quarterback play, Miller also failed to stand out and was eventually traded before his final season under contract to the Houston Texans for a low level draft swap. From there injuries haven't helped his cause and he's taken short stints with the Texans, Steelers, 49ers, and Colts.

The Chiefs signed Miller in January as veteran competition for the offseason.

Shi Smith, WR

Shi Smith is a former sixth-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 2021 NFL Draft who caught onto the active roster for his first two seasons in the NFL. However, he was released shortly before his third season began and was picked up by the Tennessee Titans for the year and spent it on the team's practice squad.

When his deal with the Titans expired, he signed a futures deal with the Chiefs back in January. So far in his NFL career, Smith has 28 catches for 400 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Jordan Smith, DE

Smith's story is an unfortunate one held back by injuries that kept him from every showcasing what he could do at the professional level after dominating the competition at UAB—Alabama-Birmingham—for his final two college seasons.

Smith is a linebacker/defensive end who got his professional start with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who traded up in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft to get him. Unfortunately injuries took their toll immediately and he was never able to get on the field for more than a total of 21 defensive snaps through his first three seasons in the league.

The Chiefs signed Smith to a futures deal in January and likely wanted to see his medicals and progress up close but that ride is now over with the arrival of younger (and more available) players.