4 Former Chiefs Still Unemployed Entering Training Camp
Training camp season is nearly upon us as all 32 NFL teams are set to begin their respective sessions in the coming weeks. The Kansas City Chiefs will begin their camp on Friday, July 21 as they hope to walk away with the best 53-man roster possible before gunning for a third straight Super Bowl victory next season.
The Chiefs' roster will likely be similar to last year's unit, however, some pieces will be missing. After all, the NFL's salary cap limited just how many of Kansas City's free agents could be re-signed. While names like Michael Danna, Derrick Nnadi, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire will return for another season, others signed elsewhere or are still sitting on the open market today.
When it comes to the latter, here are five former Chiefs who are still unemployed before training camp.
1. Donovan Smith, OT
Donovan Smith was one of the Chiefs' biggest free agents this offseason and he's still looking for a home as of the middle of July.
The former Penn State block joined the Chiefs on a one-year deal ahead of the 2023 campaign. While he was instantly named the starting left tackle, he only wound up playing 12 regular-season contests as well as the entire Super Bowl run.
Unfortunately, Smith didn't exactly excel with his limited opportunities. The 31-year-old veteran surrendered 33 hurries on 506 passing downs, per Pro Football Focus, resulting in a career-worst 60.3 pass block grade. He wasn't any better at helping the ground game as his 45.1 run block grade was the second-worst mark of his nine-year career.
With his body breaking down and performance declining, Smith is unlikely to see another major contract. That isn't to say that a team won't offer him a cheap one-year deal due to his resume alone, however, it's hard to imagine many general managers believing that he can still be a week-to-week starter.
Considering how there hasn't even any buzz about potential suitors since May, Smith might have to wait a while before he finds his next destination.