Chiefs release veteran safety Mike Edwards ahead of 53-man roster deadline
As teams tighten rosters to the 53-player limit, the Kansas City Chiefs pulled off a surprise move by releasing veteran safety Mike Edwards on Tuesday. Edwards, who re-signed with Kansas City in April, is a vested veteran with six accrued seasons, meaning he won’t go through waivers and will be free to sign with another club or return to the Chiefs’ practice squad.
Edwards’ NFL journey with Kansas City has been brief but notable. He joined the Chiefs for the 2023-24 season and appeared in all 17 regular-season games, recording 51 tackles, five passes broken up, two fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown) and an interception. Last season, he split time with the Bills and Buccaneers, playing eight games with 191 defensive snaps. After testing free agency in March, he chose to return to Kansas City, then contributed four tackles in 40 preseason snaps in August.
The move comes amid several changes in Kansas City’s safety room. Edwards’ release follows the departure of veteran Justin Reid, who left in free agency to join the Saints, and the season-ending Achilles injury to Deon Bush suffered in the preseason opener. That combination left the Chiefs with a starting duo of Jaden Hicks and Bryan Cook heading into the fall, while roles behind them remain fluid.
Depth chart implications and options:
– Start pair: Jaden Hicks and Bryan Cook headline the Chiefs’ safety group.
– Potential backups: Chamarri Conner could slide back toward a traditional safety role after a hybrid season in 2024.
– Other possibilities: Chris Roland-Wallace has experience at safety and could be utilized there to preserve a roster spot, with cornerback depth also playing a part in how the room is constructed.
Financial impact: The release trims the payroll modestly, with a cap saving of about $697,500 and a $500,000 dead-cap hit.
What Edwards’ departure means for him and for Kansas City:
– For Edwards: He’s now a free agent, able to sign with another team’s active roster or rejoin Kansas City on the practice squad if the opportunity arises.
– For Kansas City: The Chiefs maintain a core of young safeties with Hicks and Cook while evaluating depth behind them, especially after Bush’s injury and Reid’s departure altered the veteran mix.
Potential next steps for readers to watch:
– Waivers and practice squad signings around the league could reshape other teams’ safety rooms, potentially opening a path for Edwards elsewhere.
– Chiefs personnel staff may continue to evaluate safety depth, including internal options like Conner and Roland-Wallace, as they finalize the 53-man roster.
Summary: Kansas City’s decision to release Mike Edwards tightens the roster but keeps the door open for flexible depth behind a youthful starting duo. Edwards leaves with a track record of playoff success and versatility, free to pursue his next opportunity. The Chiefs’ focus remains on building a fast, smart secondary around Hicks and Cook while monitoring the health and availability of other safeties.