By definition, Cornell Powell should be getting more consideration than he is.
If there's a single overlooked member of the assembled group of wide receivers competing for spots on the Kansas City Chiefs active roster, it's Powell. While he's a longshot, to be sure, that hasn't stopped other fringe roster players from generating far more buzz or greater projections. So why is Powell being overlooked?
Consider this: Cornell Powell was valued enough by the Chiefs' front office that he was drafted in the fifth round as Noah Gray, Darian Kinnard, and Michael Danna. Yet each of those players are often guaranteed roster spots in any 53-man roster projections. Powell, however, is often forgotten entirely.
Not only was Powell valued enough to be selected back in the 2021 NFL Draft but he's grown as a member of the team for each of the last two seasons. He's two years into learning Andy Reid's offense. He has two years of experience being around Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. He's two years into knowing Patrick Mahomes' timing and well-versed in what Dave Toub wants from his special teams units.
Powell has also beaten away enough competition in two years to still stand where he's at today.
One bonus item to add to all of this is the fact that he was a late bloomer at Clemson, a fifth-year senior who finally broke through with the Tigers and showed off the sort of potential that scouts believed was there all along. Some players arrive late, for reasons unknown to us, and yet teams can often give up too soon on such a prospect.
That's not to say that Powell is a guaranteed late bloomer for the Chiefs, but it needs to be noted that Powell looked much sharper last preseason for the Chiefs in limited play than he did the year before. He looked like he belonged—that he could rely on his instincts, that he knew where to be, that he was up for the task. He still didn't make the active roster, but it was easy to understand why the Chiefs stashed him once again on the practice squad.
If Powell has at least this much going for him, then why are we hearing so much more about the chances for either John Ross or Justyn Ross? What about Imhir Smith-Marsette? It even seems like Jerrion Ealy has more people on notice than Powell. The only players on the depth chart with fewer headlines are the likes of Ty Fryfogle or Nikko Remigio. (And maybe even then I'm wrong.)
Powell may or may not ever make it onto the Chiefs active roster, but at this point in his development, he certainly deserves as much faith in his ability to make the team as a newer player with a poor injury history or random flyer on a veteran or a brand new undrafted free agent. Fans are too enamored with the newest product while forgetting that familiarity is what could put a person like Powell over the top.