The Kansas City Chiefs have one more day before deciding on the final 53-man roster, with cutdown day coming up on Tuesday, Aug. 26. It's one of the most nerve-wracking times of the year, and the decisions made now could wind up proving to be all the difference once the Super Bowl rolls around.
Especially for a team like the Chiefs that has dealt with numerous injuries during this dynastic run, it's critical to ensure that the depth pieces on the roster can produce when called upon.
There will undoubtedly be surprising cuts over the next 24 hours, and one recent Kansas City draft pick could be among them.
Jared Wiley with the second-team offense. Looks healthy. pic.twitter.com/1K4apFqeHj
— Nick Roesch (@Nicolas_Roesch) July 27, 2025
Chiefs TE Jared Wiley Is an Unexpected Cut Candidate
Tight end Jared Wiley, who was taken in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft out of TCU, could be someone who is on the chopping block without warning. He missed all of last year with a torn ACL, but appeared to be healthy at training camp and was expected to be a contributor.
Unfortunately, the emergence of veteran Robert Tonyan complicates matters. Even though he's 31 years old, Tonyan is a reliable red-zone target and someone who has enough experience to be a reliable player on the back end of the depth chart. The question is whether or not the Chiefs will keep four tight ends or not, because Wiley is the fourth behind Tonyan, Travis Kelce, and Noah Gray.
If the Chiefs keep four, Wiley is safe. If they don't and instead favor an additional running back or even a listed fullback like Carson Steele, Wiley is certain to be cut. That's the issue with this time of year: you have to pick and choose which position you think you'll need depth at.
Considering the issues that Kansas City has had at running back in recent years, it'd make sense to have more bodies at that position. However, cutting Wiley loose would represent another draft bust by general manager Brett Veach, and he doesn't make those mistakes often.
At TCU, Wiley showcased a similar skillset to Kelce, which made him an intriguing pick. He has rare speed for the position, and at 6-foot-7, that's hard to come by. Hopefully, his injury history won't derail things, but if push comes to shove, Veach could let him go.
We'll know within the next day, but it looks like it's coming down to Wiley or Steele. Considering how well Tonyan has performed, Wiley could be the odd man out.