KANSAS CITY, Mo. – NFL teams normally trim their rosters from 90 players to 75 after the third week of the preseason but a new rule means all 90 players stay until the last cut down on Sept. 2, creating a last-minute roster frenzy never seen.
Nearly 1,200 players will hit the waiver wire just one week before the new season starts but Chiefs general manager Brett Veach doesn’t expect his team to actively scan for potential roster upgrades.
“The one advantage that we have is that we have a very talented team,” Veach said. “So unlike many other teams, I don’t think we’ll be dipping too much into that waiver wire period because of the talent we have.”
Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach takes in training camp practice in St. Joseph, Mo., July 31, 2017. (Photo by Justin Olson, ChiefsDigest.com)
Veach made his remark’s during the club’s annual kickoff lunch held in partnership with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. More than 700 people attended his year’s event at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center.
The Chiefs have fewer than 48 hours following their final preseason game Aug. 31 against the Tennessee Titans to trim their roster by 37 players.
“It’s certainly going to be a challenge and actually we’ve had two meetings already in regards to how we’re going to handle this,” Veach said.
One players hit waivers, any team in the league can place a claim.
The waiver wire order is determined by the 2017 NFL draft order through the third week of the regular season. That means the Chiefs hold the 27th position in the waiver wire. A total of 26 other teams must pass before the Chiefs can claim a player on waivers.
“But it’ll be a challenging process but one we’re prepared for,” Veach said.
Veach said he’s pleased with the progress the team made from offseason training activities through training camp and the first two preseason games.
“I think this team is continuing to get better and I think the only way you get better is through competition,” Veach said. “I think we’ve been obviously very pleased with the way this team’s competed and that mental toughness they’ve developed over the last few weeks.”
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Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
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