Kansas City Chiefs Waive Offensive Line Depth After One Season of Little Impact
The Kansas City Chiefs will indeed cut 2024 seventh-rounder C.J. Hanson at this year’s 53-man roster cutdown, sending the recent draft pick onto waivers.
Among those reporting the news were Herbie Teope and Chiefs Digest beat reporter Matt Derrick.
“Chiefs are waiving G/C C.J. Hanson, source confirms,” Derrick relayed on X. “Herbie Teope had it first. Most likely lands on [the] practice squad if he clears waivers.”
Hanson has been a total zero in Kansas City over his year and change with the organization. As a rookie, the former Holy Cross offensive lineman practically redshirted the entire season, appearing in just one regular season game.
In that outing, he logged 31 offensive snaps and 1 special teams snap, as the Chiefs’ backups got blown out by the Denver Broncos, 38-0, in Week 18.
Hanson was on the field for all six preseason opportunities in 2024 and 2025, but he never really did much to stand out as a blocker. Unless a team was really high on Hanson throughout the pre-draft process last year, it’s hard to see anyone claiming him off waivers, given his lack of on-field experience.
In other words, in all likelihood, Hanson will be re-signed to the KC practice squad, assuming the Chiefs want him back and he agrees to return.
Chiefs Cut 2 Promising UDFA Offensive Linemen, 1 Already Garnering Attention as Waiver Claim Candidate
Along with Hanson, the Chiefs waived undrafted offensive linemen Dalton Cooper (per Derrick) and Esa Pole (per the KC Star’s Sam McDowell). Both showed promise at training camp, and either one could be a candidate for the practice squad, similar to Hanson.
Despite not being drafted, Pole could be the most at risk on waivers of the three. Hanson and Cooper both play interior offensive line, and while IOL is very important, too, it does not carry the same value as offensive tackle.
One reporter already suggested the 6-foot-7 potential swing tackle for his team on X.
“Esa Pole has been waived by the Chiefs. I’m not sure he will be available based on the [Green Bay] Packers’ waiver priority, but I’d consider claiming him,” A-to-Z Sports Packers writer Wendell Ferreira commented on August 26.
And he’s probably not the only one who sees Pole as an asset worth taking a flier on.
Chiefs Make Several Roster Cutdown Decisions on the Defensive Line
Flipping over to the other side of the KC trenches, the Chiefs have already begun making cuts.
“The Chiefs are releasing veteran DT Marlon Tuipulotu, source said,” NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday. Adding: “[Tuipulotu] was made expendable after KC added a DT in a trade. No waivers, as he can be signed at any time.”
Tuipulotu was loosely in the conversation for the fourth or fifth defensive tackle role, but as Rapoport noted, Derrick Nnadi’s return pretty much sealed his fate. Next up was undrafted defensive end Nate Matlack.
“The Chiefs have cut edge Nate Matlack, K-State product and Olathe East grad, source tells The Star,” McDowell reported not long after Tuipulotu.
Matlack joined Kansas City late in the training camp and preseason process, so he was never a real threat to make the 53-man roster. If the Chiefs liked what they saw, perhaps they’ll offer him a role on the practice squad.
Finally, concluding the early round of DL cuts was undrafted defensive tackle Coziah Izzard.
“The Chiefs are waiving DT Coziah Izzard, an undrafted free agent from Penn State,” Derrick reported minutes after McDowell, calling him a “definite practice squad candidate if he clears waivers.”
