KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Chiefs wrap up their preseason schedule on Thursday night at home against the Packers. A bigger date could potentially be weighing on the minds of many players on the roster. By 3 p.m. Saturday, General Manager Brett Veach and his scouting department will have to notify the league of the 37 players who will be looking for new opportunities in the NFL.
The 32 teams around the league will potentially waive (3 year’s experience or less) or release (4 year’s of experience or more) the contracts of 1,184 professional athletes. The teams that could potentially have their eye on Chiefs roster cuts: Browns, Colts, Bears, Eagles, Raiders, Packers, Saints, Redskins and Giants.
Here is a potential outlook at the final 53 players along with their snap counts for the preseason:
READ: Nick’s breakdown of offensive players making the roster
READ: Nick’s breakdown of defensive players making the roster
Final Breakdown
Offense: 25
Defense: 25
Special Teams: 3
Practice Squad Rules
The minimum a player can make on the practice squad is $7,600 per week. That equals out to $129,200 for the entire regular season. Eligibility for the practice squad allows four players to have two accrued seasons. All other players must have been on the active 53 roster for less than six games or were only on the 46 player game day roster for less than nine games. A player can only be on the practice squad for two seasons. Six weeks on the practice squad counts as one season.
Key Dates
Saturday, Sept.1:
Teams must reduce their rosters to 53 or less players before 3 p.m. Players with three years or less of experience must go through waivers. Those players can be claimed by any of the other 31 teams in the league. The waiver order is based on the draft order.
If a team or multiple teams place a claim on a player, the highest team on the waiver order is awarded the player. That team must also then make a reduction to their active 53 depending on how many players were awarded. The Cleveland Browns are the highest team on the waiver order, which employs former Kansas City Chiefs General Manager John Dorsey.
Players with four years or more of experience are considered vested veterans. They are not subject to waivers and become free agents immediately and can sign with any team they desire.
Sunday, Sept. 2
The opportunity to claim a player on waivers for the active 53 ends at noon. At around 1 p.m., after all 32 teams have been notified of players awarded to other rosters, teams may begin to sign 10 players to their developmental practice squad.
The Chiefs have some tough decisions ahead on their roster and some holes that could be filled by players being let go of around the league. For some of the players on the bubble, their snap counts on special teams could be the deciding factor.
Offensive Skill Positions Snap Counts
Offensive Lineman Snap Counts
Defensive Linebacker and Lineman Snap Counts
Defensive Backfield Snap Counts
Nick Jacobs can be found on Twitter: @Jacobs71 and can also be heard on the 4th and 1 podcast brought to you exclusively by 41 Action News. 4th and 1 is available on iTunes, Google Play and TuneIn.
