Chiefs post-draft free agency tracker: Former Jayhawks player gets camp invite
Another NFL Draft is in the books and you might think NFL team executives could rest after the final pick was made.
Instead, teams are actively seeking to sign undrafted free agents and players they can invite to their rookie camps.
The Chiefs got to work immediately. Here is a tracker that will follow the moves the Chiefs have made since the NFL Draft ended on Saturday.
Hollywood to KC
Florida State cornerback Kevin Knowles II signed as priority free agent with the Chiefs, NFL reporter Aaron Wilson said. His contract includes $220,000 total guaranteed and a $20,000 signing bonus.
Knowles is from Hollywood, Florida, the same hometown as Chiefs receiver Marquise Brown. Knowles is 5-11 and 190 pounds, and he won the Monk Bonasorte Award, which goes to the defensive player with the most heart, per Florida State’s website.
Izzard signs deal
Penn State football defensive tackle Coziah Izzard signed a three-year deal with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent, his agent told Onward State. Izzard’s deal is worth $2,655,000 with $225,000 guaranteed.
Izzard, who is 6-3 and 305 pounds, had 78 tackles (40 solo), 17 1/2 tackles for loss, nine sacks and two forced fumbles in his career.
Cowboys lineman to KC
Wilson reported the Chiefs are signing 6-foot-7 Oklahoma State offensive lineman Dalton Cooper.
Cooper will get a $25,000 signing bonus and his deal includes $259,000 total guaranteed.
Volunteers defensive back
Tennessee safety Will Brooks is signing a free-agent deal with the Chiefs, per Vol Report. Brooks is 6-1 and 203 pounds.
Brooks intercepted four passes and posted four tackles for loss and a half-sack.
Temple receiver
Temple receiver Dante Wright, who is 5-9 and 180 pounds, is signing a deal with the Chiefs, reports the The Temple News. He caught 61 passes for 792 yards and six touchdowns for the Owls.
Muleriders star
Southern Arkansas defensive back and kick returner Melvin Smith Jr. signed with the Chiefs. He is 6-1 and 185 pounds.
Gators receiver
Florida wide receiver Elijhah Badger is signing with the Chiefs, reports Gator Illustrated. Badger is 6-1 and 192 pounds, and he led the Gators with 806 receiving yards. He started his career at Arizona State.
Running backs joining KC
Former Mizzou running back Elijah Young, who played last season at Western Kentucky is joining the Chiefs. He rushed for 883 yards and three touchdowns and added 384 receiving yards.
Stephen F. Austin running back Qualan Jones got a deal with the Chiefs. He rushed for 779 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago.
Pole position
Washington State offensive lineman Esa Pole is joining the Chiefs, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrow. Pole is 6-7 and 319 pounds.
USC corner coming to KC
Southern Cal cornerback Jacobe Covington will be signing with the Chiefs, reports Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Covington is 6-2 and 200 pounds, and he had 30 tackles, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. He played his first two seasons with the Washington Huskies.
Pitt linebacker joins KC
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the Chiefs are signing Fresno State wide receiver and punt returner Mac Dalena along with Pittsburgh linebacker Brandon George.
George, who is 6-3 and 240 pounds, had 80 tackles, 5 1/2 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery last year for the Panthers.
Fowler noted George’s pro day results: a 42 1/2-inch vertical and a 4.66-second 40-yard time.
Fresno State announced the signing of Dalena, who is 5 foot 11 and 180 pounds. He had team highs in receptions (64), receiving yards (1,065) and touchdowns (eight). Fresno State said he was ranked No. 17 in the FBS in receiving yards.
Clemson star Briningstool
The Chiefs are signing Clemson tight end Jake Briningstool, per CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. He is Clemson’s all-time career receptions leader for a tight end (127).
Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest said Briningstool is receiving a $30,000 signing bonus and $234,000 in guaranteed money.
Punter gets paid
Wilson reported the Chiefs are giving Southern Cal punter Eddie Czaplicki a contract with guaranteed money. His career best is a 75-yard boot, and he had 57 punts travel at least 50 yards.
Chiefs add defensive back
Maryland defensive back Glendon Miller will be signing with the Chiefs, according to NFL writer Jason B. Hirschhorn.
Miller tied for the Terps team lead with three interceptions in 2024 and had 39 tackles (26 solo), three tackles for a loss, five passes defended and a fumble recovery.
Coming to KC
Texas A&M tight end Tre Watson seemed to indicate he had signed with the Chiefs.
Watson, who is 6-5 and 250, caught 21 passes for 280 yards last year, and shared this on X.
Rookie camp invites
Kansas tight end Jared Casey will be attending the Chiefs rookie camp, a source told The Star.
Casey, who is from Plainville, Kansas, is 6 feet tall and 245 pounds. He caught 18 passes for 203 yards last season for the Jayhawks and had a rushing touchdown.
Carson-Newman safety Major Williams received an invite from the Chiefs. He is 6-1 and 190 pounds.
Central Missouri said quarterback Zach Zebrowski got a rookie camp invitation from the Chiefs. He threw for 4,724 yards and 40 touchdowns for the Mules.
Delaware tackle Blaise Sparks received an invite from the Chiefs, Wilson said. He is 6-7 and 320 pounds.
North Carolina defensive lineman Kevin Hester Jr., who is 6-4 and 310 pounds, got an invite to rookie camp, per Wilson. Hester had 3 1/2 sacks and 3 1/2 tackles for loss.
Villanova announced defensive lineman Chuck Smith IV was invited to rookie minicamp. Smith is the son of former Falcons defensive end Chuck Smith III. At Villanova, Smith had 105 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 8.5 quarterback sacks. He is 6-3 and 280 pounds.
Wilson said Purdue defensive end Jireh Ojata was invited to rookie minicamp. Ojata, 6-4 and 267 pounds, had a sack and 12 tackles for the Boilermakers.
Wilson reported the Chiefs (and Vikings) invited Howard cornerback Robert Jones III to their rookie minicamp. Jones is 6-1 and 188 pounds. He had three interceptions this past season.
Saints reporter John Hendrix said Louisiana Tech wide receiver Jimmy Holiday received a rookie minicamp invitation from the Chiefs and Giants. Holiday, who is 6-1 and 211 pounds, had 658 all-purpose yards and six total touchdowns last fall.
This story was originally published April 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM.
