Aug. 28, 2015; Kansas City, MO; Chiefs quarterback Aaron Murray looks to throw downfield durring the Chiefs 34-10 preseason win over the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium. (Emily DeShazer/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs finalized their initial 53-man roster for the 2016, announcing 20 waiver transactions and concluding two trades before the league’s final deadline Saturday afternoon.
The Chiefs began Friday with 76 players on the active roster, and had to make 23 moves to get down to 54 players by 3 p.m. Saturday. The team has a roster exemption for Eric Berry until next Saturday.
Among the the moves was trade sending wide receiver Rod Streater to the San Francisco 49ers along with an undisclosed draft in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick. The Chiefs signed Streater in the offseason as a free agent from Oakland.
The veteran never seemed to crack the first-team lineup, however, and as camp wore on Streater played more and more with the the second and third team lineups.
The Chiefs parting ways with backup quarterback Aaron Murray is the most notable of the team’s waiver transactions. Murray struggled in the team’s final preseason game against Green Bay. The team reportedly shopped the third-year quarterback for a trade, but apparently was unable to find an interested partner.
Among other notable cuts is running back Darrin Reaves. Reaves battled with Knile Davis for a fourth running back spot. Reaves impressed in camp and the preseason, but feel just short of breaking the roster. Reaves spent training camp with the Chiefs last seas as well before joining the practice squad in October.
The team also dealt cornerback Marcus Cooper to the Arizona Cardinals for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2018.
Other players waived by the Chiefs include:
- LB Tyrell Adams: A speedy outside linebacker, Adams spent time with the Seahawks in camp a year ago and later joined the Chiefs practice squad. Shows talent, but a lot of depth for Chiefs at linebacker.
- WR Da’Ron Brown: Brown, 2015 seventh-round draft pick by the Chiefs, spent the 2015 season on the team’s practice squad.
- CB Deveron Carr: Carr entered the league in 2013 and spent times with four different teams. Talented defensive back, but Chiefs have younger options.
- DB Jamell Fleming: The Chiefs test the veteran cornerback as a safety, but Fleming was unable to crack the first-team lineup and fell behind rookie Eric Murray
- OT Reid Fragel: Mostly a third-team tackle in camp, Fragel ended 2015 season on the team’s practice squad. Has practice squad eligibility remaining.
- WR Frankie Hammond: The veteran wide receiver made a statement Thursday versus the Packers, but Hammond found himself caught in a numbers game at receiver. The acquisition of free agent Rod Streater and rookies Tyreek Hill and Demarcus Robinson pushed Hammond off the roster.
- QB Kevin Hogan: The Chiefs likely hope the fifth-round draft pick from Stanford clears wavers and finds his way to the practice squad. The Chiefs don’t need Hogan this season, but he’s a worthwhile project for the future. He’s not ready to play yet, so it seems like he should clear waivers.
- S Jeron Johnson: The Chiefs picked up the veteran safety in August, and while Johnson played well he couldn’t beat out some of the younger safeties on the roster. A definite option for teams with injuries at safety early in the season.
- DL David King: Definitely talented defensive lineman who just lost out to Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Nick Williams. Should find a home somewhere, and definitely on a practice squad if he clears waivers.
- OLB Andy Mulumba: A third-year free agent from Green Bay, Mulumba shared the second-team left outside lineback role with Dadi Nicolas and filled as the backup behind Frank Zombo on the right side while Dezman Moses recovered from injury. The Chiefs kept five outside linebackers, choosing Moses ahead of Mulumba.
- OL Daniel Munyer: The center/guard had opportunities with the Chiefs, who have Mitch Morse along with Zach Fulton as a backup. Munyer could rejoin the practice squad again this season as insurance for interior line.
- TE Brian Parker: Parker appeared to improve throughout camp in terms of catching and blocking, and filled in at fullback following the season-ending injury to backup Trey Millard. But Parker’s flexibility was not enough to win the fourth tight-end role.
- OL Jarrod Pughsley: A second-year offensive lineman who played multiple positions on the second team line, Pughsley is a strong candidate for the practice squad. Pughsley was used in the preseason as a tackle-eligible with the first-team in short-yardage situations.
- S Shak Randolph: The rookie free agent from SMU impressed in limited opportunities. If they Chiefs stay with four safeties, Randolph is another key practice squad candidate. He was a college teammate of new Chiefs cornerback Kenneth Acker.
- LB Terrance Smith: The hard-hitting undrafted rookie from Florida State made nice plays through camp and preseason primarily on third team. Inside linebacker is another deep position for the Chiefs, but Smith could find his way to the practice squad.
- DL Jimmy Staten: The second-year undrafted free agent could have made the team in most years. Chiefs have great depth along defensive line, and decision to keep a fifth outside linebacker probably influenced decision to keep six defensive lineman.
- OT Zach Sterup: The 6-9, 318-pound undrafted tackled from Nebraska shined during offseason workouts and camp, then found himself with a four-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Still a great practice squad candidate, but now carries baggage.
- S Brock Vereen: Vereen retired from the New England Patriots last month before a change of heart and signed with the Chiefs two days later. he quickly made a home with the team and forced a fumble versus the Packers, but was likely on the bubble at safety.
Teams can begin signing players who clear waivers to the 10-player practice squad beginning at approximately noon Sunday.
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Matt Derrick is the publisher and lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
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