Kansas City Chiefs' decision at punter clarifies some key things around Matt Araiza

The Chiefs' decision to go with Matt Araiza as their sole punter clarifies a few things about the new signing.

The Kansas City Chiefs made a significant roster decision on Friday with the release of Ryan Rehkow. Just like that, with mandatory minicamp in the books, general manager Brett Veach decided to go ahead and get rid of any special teams competition after all.

The Chiefs entered their minicamp with both Matt Araiza and Ryan Rehkow vying for the role of punter on the defending Super Bowl champions. The team watched longtime punter Tommy Townsend sign for good money with the Houston Texans in free agency, which opened the first specialist door for the Chiefs in a few years.

On Friday, however, the Chiefs made quick work of any competition with the release of Rehkow. The former BYU punter is certainly a name the team could call if issues arise via inconsistency or injury with Araiza, but for now, the role belongs for the former Buffalo Bills draft pick.

Here are a few key takeaways from the announcement.

Araiza hasn't lost a step

Remember that it will be nearly three years for Matt Araiza since he's punted the ball in an official football game that mattered. No matter how much a player practices, goes through drills, or works out, nothing can truly replace actual game reps.

Araiza was a star punter (yes, such a thing can exist) from San Diego State and was even a sixth-round pick of the Bills in 2022. But given the allegations, he was released by the Bills and sat out the last two NFL seasons before the Chiefs gave him his first chance in two years back in February.

When Araiza signed, it was a roll of the dice for the Chiefs which is why Rehkow has also occupied a roster spot for the punter competition. But given that the competition is now "over", fans can assume that Araiza is in fine form.

Ready for holding

The Chiefs are leaning on Araiza to not only handle the punting duties that everyone expects, but he's also going to serve as the holder for Harrison Butker's field goal attempts. Rehkow was familiar with that responsibility and was more recently tested, but Dave Toub's willingness to let Araiza be the lone punter at this point bodes well for his work as a holder, too.

Roster spot goes to needier position

With the release of Rehkow, the' roster spot being used to keep a second punter can now be used by the team to assess another candidate at a needier position. The first signing to take Rehkow's place is former Montana defensive tackle Alex Gubner.

There's no way to know at the present time if Gubner will be a prospect who sticks around but giving the team the ability to take another lottery ticket at a position of need is always a bonus. The Chiefs could use as much talent as they can get along the defensive interior, so adding a prospect like Gubner can only help.