Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DE Kehinde Oginni
Cleveland Browns
- Waived/failed physical: C Dawson Deaton
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed (from 49ers): DL Spencer Waege
- Waived: DL Rodney Mathews
In addition to their cuts of Josh Gordon and Danny Shelton, the Chiefs jettisoned a few vested veterans and a host of rookie-contract players. Here is how the defending AFC West champs moved their roster to 53:
Released:
- LB Jermaine Carter
- WR Corey Coleman
- WR Daurice Fountain
- LB Elijah Lee
- C Austin Reiter
- DT Taylor Stallworth
Waived:
- S Zayne Anderson
- CB Dicaprio Bootle
- G Mike Caliendo
- LB Jack Cochrane
- DT Matt Dickerson
- RB Jerrion Ealy
- TE Jordan Franks
- T Vitaliy Gurman
- S Nazeeh Johnson
- DE Azur Kamara
- S Devon Key
- DE Kehinde Oginni
- WR Cornell Powell
Waived/injured:
- TE Matt Bushman
Carter came to Kansas City after starting all 17 Carolina games last season. The four-year Panther contributor signed a fully guaranteed one-year, $1.77MM deal, but was unlikely to have the same role he enjoyed in Charlotte. The Chiefs roster second-round linebackers Nick Bolton and Willie Gay, and they used a third-round pick on Leo Chenal at the position this year.
The starter for the Super Bowl-winning 2019 Chiefs team, Reiter returned after spending 2021 with the Saints and Dolphins. Things have changed at the center spot since Reiter was last in Missouri; the Chiefs have Creed Humphrey in place for what could be a long run as their starter. Reiter was with the Chiefs from 2018-20.
A former first-round pick, Coleman appears to be running out of time. The ex-Baylor standout has not played in a regular-season game since the 2018 season. Prior to signing with the Chiefs, Coleman was out of football for nearly 18 months.
After an impressive Draft performance, the Chiefs announced the signing of 10 undrafted free agents that will be joining their rookie class:
- Mike Caliendo, G (Western Michigan)
- Jack Cochrane, LB (South Dakota) ($150,000 guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero)
- Dustin Crum, QB (Kent State)
- Jerrion Ealy, RB (Ole Miss)
- Tayon Fleet-Davis, RB (Maryland)
- Nasir Greer, DB (Wake Forest)
- Kehinde Oginni, TE (International, Nigeria)
- Gene Pryor, T (Hawai’i)
- Mike Rose, LB (Iowa State)
- Justyn Ross, WR (Clemson)(story)
Beyond Ross, who we’ve posted on already, headliners of the group include Fleet-Davis, Ealy, Crum, and Oginni.
Fleet-Davis had his best year for the Terrapins last year totaling 1,026 yards from scrimmage and 9 total touchdowns. Ealy was a consensus five-star recruit for the Rebels. The smaller back averaged 745.0 rushing yards per season and 181.67 receiving yards per season while racking up 20 rushing touchdowns and adding 4 receiving touchdowns over his three years in Oxford.
Crum was a three-year starter for the Golden Flashes, leading them to two bowl games, not qualifying after playing only four games during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. In 31 games as a starter, Crum completed 67.41% of his passes, throwing for 7,012 yards and tossing 52 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. He’ll compete for the backup quarterback position behind Patrick Mahomes with veteran-Chad Henne, Anthony Gordon, and Shane Buechele.
Oginni will make the move to America after coming up in the NFL’s International Player Pathway program in Nigeria. Despite being involved in a bus crash that killed three of his teammates, Oginni continued to train in Nigeria after his visa application was continuously denied. Oginni will get his opportunity in the big leagues and will have a chance to learn from one of the best in Travis Kelce.