Draft snub fuels former Mizzou safety Martez Manuel during KC Chiefs’ rookie minicamp
There’s a story for every one of the 259 players selected in the NFL Draft last month, and a very different kind of tale for the hundreds who expected to get drafted but were not.
When the draft’s final name is called and it’s not yours, the sense of disappointment can be profound. That was certainly true for former Missouri Tigers safety Martez Manuel, who wrapped up rookie minicamp with the Chiefs on Monday.
“Draft day, it was an emotional day,” Manuel said. “I had a lot of teams call me. I had high hopes. And it never happened.”
When the draft ended. Manual immediately sought solitude and allowed himself a moment of sorrow. But this was soon interrupted by his father, Marcus, who provided a voice of inspiration.
“He told me to use all this pain I’m feeling as motivation,” Martez Manuel said. “Keep that chip on my shoulder. And every day that I’m at practice, or in the film room, show these coaches that I was a name that should have been called.”
That’s been Manuel’s mission this past weekend with the Chiefs, who selected a player projected as a safety — Virginia Tech’s Chamarri Conner — in the fourth round of the April 27-29 draft. Veterans Justin Reid, Deon Bush and Bryan Cook, in his second season, are expected back. The Chiefs also signed veteran Mike Edwards, who started 12 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.
Manuel seeks a spot on a roster he’s quickly coming to admire.
“I see why this organization has a championship team,” Manuel said. “The coaches are so detailed oriented. I’ve never played on a team where the details are so important. You do one small thing wrong you’re going to get corrected as if it was a huge mistake.”
Because of the COVID-abbreviated season, Manuel had a year of eligibility remaining at Missouri. But he had already logged four seasons, three as a starter and two as a team captain, and played for three different defensive coordinators during his time in Columbia.
From 2020-22, Manuel never ranked lower than fourth on the team in tackles. In those seasons, he racked up 11 sacks among his 25 tackles for loss, an eye-opening total for his position.
In one of his better games last season , the 6-foot, 217-pound Manual recorded a tackle for loss and two passes defended in Missouri’s near-upset of Georgia, which went on to capture its second straight national title.
Manuel’s final three Mizzou teams were bowl-eligible, but Manuel joined defensive linemen Isaiah McGuire and D.J. Coleman in opting out of last season’s Gasparilla Bowl.
McGuire, picked in the fourth round by the Cleveland Browns, was the only Mizzou player selected in this year’s draft. Coleman signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Manuel was a state-champion track athlete and football standout at Columbia’s Rock Bridge High. Now, he’s looking to join his home-state team and live the NFL life.
“I don’t have school anymore, so this is my job,” said Manuel, who added that in college he always acted like a pro. He remained in shape, constantly watched tape and studied the playbook.
“Now I’m being paid for it,” Manuel said.