The Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly parted ways with a former first-round pick ahead of the upcoming season.
This weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs finished up their preseason slate with an ugly 9-9 tie against the Seattle Seahawks. Most of Kansas City’s starters sat out this game, as the team looks to stay healthy ahead of the upcoming 2026 NFL season, which will begin in just two weeks.
On Sunday, the Chiefs made a big roster decision regarding their defensive backfield.
“Sources: The #Chiefs are releasing CB Kaiir Elam. Former 1st-round pick was signed this offseason,” reported NFL insider Jordan Schultz on X, formerly Twitter.
Ellis was selected 23rd overall by the Bills back in the 2022 NFL Draft, having played his college football at Florida. Since then, he has spent time with the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans before being brought on by the Chiefs this offseason.
It remains to be seen whether he will be able to find a new NFL home before the new season gets underway, but at 25 years old, he still theoretically has a few years left in his athletic prime to be able to contribute elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs’ defensive backfield has been significantly altered this offseason after both Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie ended up on the Los Angeles Rams via different avenues. Kansas City attempted to help fill that void by trading up to draft cornerback Mansoor Delane in the recent NFL Draft, and the team will be banking heavily on the rookie to make an immediate impact this season.
Overall, Kansas City is looking to bounce back after missing the playoffs altogether last season for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era.
They will start their quest to do that on September 14 at home vs the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.
This weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs finished up their preseason slate with an ugly 9-9 tie against the Seattle Seahawks. Most of Kansas City’s starters sat out this game, as the team looks to stay healthy ahead of the upcoming 2026 NFL season, which will begin in just two weeks. On Sunday, the Chiefs made a big roster decision regarding their defensive backfield.