May has been a busy month around the NFL, as all 32 teams have already held or will be starting their annual rookie minicamps. The action won't be slowing down any time soon, too, as each franchise will start their organized team activities (OTAs) before the month is over, which includes the Kansas City Chiefs kicking things off on Tuesday, May 26.
Even though NFL free agency opened two months ago and OTAs are right around the corner, several notable veterans are still unemployed heading into May's second half. That includes a former Chiefs playmaker, who desperately wants to prove that he still has the potential to be a productive contributor.
Former Chiefs TE Peyton Hendershot Still Can't Find a Job in May
Several players from last year's Chiefs roster became free agents this offseason, and most of them have already been signed. Names like Charles Omenihu and Kareem Hunt are back with the Chiefs, whereas the likes of Tershawn Wharton, Justin Reid, and Joshua Uche have left for opportunities elsewhere.
With that in mind, one Chiefs free agent who's still looking for work is none other than tight end Peyton Hendershot.
Hendershot is a former Indiana TE who joined the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL draft. The 6-foot-4, 254-pound pass-catcher's time in Dallas was far from impressive, though, as he only yielded 15 catches for 192 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns across 25 games (3 starts) in a Cowboys uniform.
Despite the lackluster start to his career, Hendershot was given a new lease on life when the Chiefs acquired him right before the 2024 season began, sending a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick back to the Cowboys. The hope was that playing with an elite quarterback like Patrick Mahomes would help unlock the former Hoosier's full potential, especially with fellow TE Travis Kelce providing some influence.
Instead, Hendershot looked largely invisible as he was outplayed by Noah Gray in the TE2 role. The Lizton, IN native only mustered five catches for 51 yards in seven regular-season appearances before not even being targeted once in three playoff outings, highlighting his lowly status in the offense.
With Kelce, Gray, Robert Tonyan, and Jared Wiley returning, there just wasn't any reason for the Chiefs to re-sign Hendershot. Kansas City has since put a nail in the fourth-year TE's coffin with the offseason additions Jake Briningstool and Tre Watson, closing the door on a potential return.
Time will tell how long Hendershot has to wait for his next opportunity. He's only 26 years old and a solid blocker, meaning a team could take a flyer on him once some TE-related injuries pop up.
In the meantime, expect the ex-Chiefs tight end to wait a bit longer before his outlook becomes clearer.