The official free agency period doesn't begin until the onset of the new league year on March 11, but the Kansas City Chiefs have already been busy adding to their roster.
As of February 27, the Chiefs have signed 10 players to "Reserve/Future" contracts, which are specialized deals meant for players who were not on an active roster when the previous season came to an end. That pool of eligible players includes those who were on practice squads – including Kansas City's practice squad – at the conclusion on the 2025 campaign, which is why many of the Chiefs' "Reserve/Future" signees may look familiar.
These deals will officially begin when the new league year kicks off on March 11, but in the meantime, no other team may sign these particular players. For context, three of the Chiefs' "Reserve/Future" signees from last season ended up appearing in a game for Kansas City in 2025, including wide receiver Tyquan Thornton.
A more detailed breakdown of each player can be found below, but for quick reference, here's a look at the 10 players currently under contract with "Reserve/Future" deals as of February 27. Players are sorted alphabetically, and the day they were signed is noted in parentheses.
WR Andrew Armstrong (1/6)
LB Kam Arnold (1/5)
WR Jason Brownlee (1/26)
QB Jake Haener (2/2)
DT Marcus Harris (1/5)
WR Jimmy Holiday (1/5)
DB Tanner McCalister (2/4)
RB ShunDerrick Powell (1/6)
OT Matt Waletzko (1/5)
TE Tre Watson (1/12)
WR Andrew Armstrong
The 6-foot-4, 204-pound Armstrong went undrafted in 2025 after leading the SEC in receiving yards (1,140) at Arkansas in 2024, marking the second-best single season in terms of yards and catches (78) in school history. It was a strong follow-up to Armstrong's initial campaign with the Razorbacks a season prior, which included 56 grabs for 764 yards and five touchdowns.
That overall performance put a bow on an impressive career that began at Texas A&M-Commerce, a Division II school, where Armstrong tallied 77 catches for 1,317 yards and 16 touchdowns between the 2021 and 2022 campaigns.
LB Kam Arnold
Arnold, who signed with the Chiefs' practice squad in late December, originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent signee with the Washington Commanders last year. He was part of the Commanders' final roster cuts after tallying 58 defensive snaps (and 12 tackles) during the preseason.
A five-year contributor at Boston College from 2020 through 2024, Arnold was a team captain during his final year in school, finishing the campaign sixth on the squad in total tackles despite suffering a season-ending injury in October.
WR Jason Brownlee
A "Reserve/Future" signee last offseason, Brownlee was a standout throughout the training camp and preseason, ultimately earning a spot on the Chiefs' initial 53-man roster in August. He went on to appear in six games for Kansas City last season, logging 26 offensive snaps (without a catch) and 21 special teams' snaps.
Before joining the Chiefs, the 6-foot-3, 202-pound Brownlee appeared in seven games for the New York Jets in 2023 after making the team as an undrafted free agent that summer. He caught five passes for 56 yards and a touchdown in that time. Brownlee then spent the 2024 season on the Jets' practice squad and did not appear in a game.
QB Jake Haener
Haener joins the Chiefs after spending the entirety of the 2025 campaign on the New Orleans Saints' practice squad. A fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Haener appeared in eight games (including one start) for New Orleans during his rookie campaign, completing 18-of-39 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown.
A standout at Fresno State for three seasons from 2020 through 2022, Haener – who tossed 53 touchdowns over his final 23 games in school – was teammates with wide receiver Nikko Remigio and tight end Tre Watson with the Bulldogs.
DT Marcus Harris
A seventh-round pick of the Texans in the 2024 NFL Draft, Harris was part of Houston's final roster cuts prior to the 2024 campaign. He then went on to spend time on several practice squads (Houston, New England and Buffalo) before signing with the Chiefs' practice squad in late December.
The 6-foot-3, 295-pound Harris was the No. 15 overall defensive tackle available in his class according to Dane Brugler's draft guide following a senior season in which he led Auburn in sacks (7) and tackles-for-loss (11). Prior to transferring to Auburn ahead of the 2021 campaign, Harris spent the first two years of his career at the University of Kansas.
WR Jimmy Holiday
A great story from last summer, Holiday – who went undrafted – was one of three rookie tryout players who earned a contract with Kansas City at last year's Rookie Minicamp.
He went on to catch three passes for 60 yards during the preseason, and while Holiday was waived as part of final roster cuts, he returned to the practice squad in mid-December and recorded one snap in the Chiefs' season finale at Las Vegas.
Prior to joining the Chiefs, Holiday recorded 658 all-purpose yards and six total touchdowns while at Louisiana Tech in 2024.
DB Tanner McCalister
The 26-year-old McCalister returns to Kansas City after spending the last three weeks of the season on the Chiefs' practice squad. Originally an undrafted free agent signee of the Cleveland Browns in 2023, McCalister has appeared in six career regular-season games, doing so most recently with the Denver Broncos in 2024.
A former cornerback who made the transition to safety in 2020 while at Oklahoma State, McCalister transferred to Ohio State for his final collegiate season and excelled as a slot safety, leading the Buckeyes in interceptions with three. Here's more from The Athletic's Dane Brugler in his 2023 pre-draft guide:
"Hyper-alert in coverage, McCalister moves like a former corner with terrific footwork/fluidity to transition from his pedal and defend multiple routes. He strikes with timing and authority but must fine-tune his tackling angles and techniques."
RB ShunDerrick Powell
The 5-foot-7, 183-pound Powell signed with the Philadelphia Eagles last summer after he wasn't selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. He then went on to spend the remainder of the offseason training program with Philadelphia, rushing for 23 yards and a touchdown during the preseason.
Prior to joining the Eagles, Powell racked up more than 4,000 scrimmage yards and 40 total touchdowns between his time at North Alabama (2021-22) and Central Arkansas (2023-24). He was particularly prolific during his final year in college, earning FCS All-America honors after rushing for 1,343 yards and 14 touchdowns.
OT Matt Waletzko
A fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Waletzko appeared in 11 games for the Dallas Cowboys from 2022 through 2024. He then spent time on the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad in 2025 before signing with the Chiefs' practice squad in early December.
The 6-foot-8, 305-pound Waletzko, who played collegiately at North Dakota and earned All-America honors as a senior, was the No. 20 offensive tackle prospect in Dane Brugler's 2022 NFL Draft Guide. Here's a portion of what Brugler wrote about Waletzko:
"Overall, Waletzko has length that cannot be coached along with functional foot/body quickness, but he must continue developing his strength and stature before he is ready for live NFL reps. He has legitimate NFL upside but will require patience."
Waletzko will now have an opportunity to continue his development in Kansas City.
TE Tre Watson
One of the Chiefs' undrafted free agent signees last summer, Watson spent the 2025 season on Kansas City's practice squad.
He played collegiately at Texas A&M in 2024 (after three seasons at Fresno State), where we caught 21 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown, although the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Watson was utilized primarily as an in-line tight end during his one year with the Aggies.
