KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs signed seven players to reserve/future contracts, according to Saturday’s official NFL Transactions report.
Headlining the list is running back Joe McKnight, who spent three seasons with the New York Jets before being released on Aug. 26, 2013.
Oct 28, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets running back Joe McKnight (25) runs with the ball against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
Listed at 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, McKnight entered the league in 2010 out of Southern California as a fourth-round pick (112th overall) of the New York Jets.
McKnight has 502 yards rushing on 112 carries, adding 177 yards receiving on 17 catches for his career.
McKnight offers depth at the running back position when considering Knile Davis will spend the offseason recovering from a fractured fibula and sprained knee suffered during the Chiefs’ playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Moreover, with wide receiver/punt returner Dexter McCluster scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent, the Chiefs added a versatile player who can potentially contribute in the return game in the event McCluster leaves.
While with the Jets, McKnight had two returns for touchdowns, including a team-record 107-yard effort in 2011.
As a returner, McKnight recorded 76 returns for 2,205 yards (29 yards per return) and two touchdowns. He also had seven punt returns for 69 yards.
In addition to McKnight, the Chiefs signed linebacker Jordan Campbell, cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke, defensive tackle Dominique Hamilton, tackle R.J. Dill, defensive back Jerron McMillian and defensive end Brandon Moore to reserve/future contracts.
The Campbell, Van Dyke and Hamilton signings were first reported Friday evening by Chiefs beat writer Terez Paylor of The Kansas City Star.
Campell is listed at 5-foot-11, 240 pounds and earlier Friday posted a photo on Instagram of himself and McKnight at the Chiefs training facility:
Campbell entered the league in 2013 as an undrafted free agent out of New Mexico Highlands with the Cincinnati Bengals. He originally played at USC before transferring.
Listed at 6-foot-1, 187 pounds, Van Dyke entered the league in 2011 as a third-round pick (81st overall) of the Oakland Raiders out of Miami. He spent the last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Hamilton entered the league in 2012 as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound defensive tackle originally signed with the Oakland Raiders before landing with the Washington Redskins.
Dill, listed at 6-foot-6, 313 pounds, entered the league in 2013 as an undrafted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars out of Rutgers. The New England Patriots signed him to the practice squad during the 2013 season.
McMillian entered the league out of Maine in 2012 as a fourth-round pick (133rd overall) of the Green Bay Packers. He appeared in 29 games, totaling 42 career tackles (30 solo) and an interception before the Packers released him in December 2013.
The 6-foot-5, 317-pound Moore entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Texas with the San Diego Chargers. He spent time on the Chargers and Denver Broncos practice squads last season.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs remain busy ahead of the league’s new calendar year, which starts March 11.
Kansas City has signed 19 players in the last week to reserve/future deals.
A reserve/future contract is signed with a free agent player who was not on a team’s active roster when the season ended. They are also signed with a view to the upcoming season once the league’s calendar year kicks off.
