Additionally, of the 60 tryout players in attendance, three rookies – safety Major Williams, wide receiver Jimmy Holiday, and linebacker Cooper McDonald – stood out among the rest and earned themselves a contract.

Williams, who played collegiately at Carson-Newman, stands at 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds. He recorded 7.5 tackles-for-loss, six pass-breakups, a forced fumble and an interception in 12 games last season.

Holliday, a 5-foot-11, 199-pound wide receiver from Louisiana Tech, recorded 658 all-purpose yards and six total touchdowns in 2024. He ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at his pro day.

Lastly, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound McDonald tallied 25 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defensed in nine games for TCU last season.

Those successful tryouts are nothing short of a great story, but the Chiefs’ front office was also tasked with some tough decisions over the weekend in regard to the roster. Here’s a quick rundown of who the Chiefs either released or waived in recent days:

LB Shaun Bradley (4/30)
TE Anthony Firkser (4/30)
TE Baylor Cupp (4/30) – Waived
OG McKade Mettauer (4/30) – Waived
S Jason Taylor (4/30) – Waived
LB Blake Lynch (5/3)
DE BJ Thompson (5/3) – Waived
CB Robert Rochell (5/5)
DB Will Brooks (5/6) – Waived
WR Justin Lockhart (5/6) – Waived (Injured)

In regard to Thompson, who missed all of last season after suffering a medical emergency last June, Coach Reid provided a more detailed update:

“He is making progress, he’s just not quite there yet, but he’s made great strides,” Reid said. “In this day and age, the way football is, we had to do something there, and this is the route that we went. It doesn’t mean his career is over by any means, it’s just where we’re at today.”

Thompson cleared waivers on Tuesday and reverted to the Chiefs’ Non-Football Illness list, meaning he’ll be able to continue his rehab with the team and not count against the 90-man roster.

As for what took place on the field during rookie minicamp, here are some quick notes from Sunday’s practice, which was open to members of the media:

Wide receiver Jalen Royals had a busy day with 10 catches between 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. Specifically, Royals made an impressive catch downfield despite tight coverage during an 11-on-11 segment.

Tight end Jake Briningstool was responsible for two of the top plays of the afternoon with a pair of leaping catches that he managed to haul in despite good coverage. He looked the part throughout the practice.

Running back Brashard Smith recorded four catches between 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills.

Defensive end Ashton Gillotte tallied a pair of impressive rushes that clearly affected the quarterback’s timing and throwing motion. Players like Gillotte can only do so much under “Phase 3” rules, which prohibit “live contact,” but his performance still stood out.

Cornerback Jacobe Covington recorded a pass-breakup on a deep throw downfield during 7-on-7 drills.

Safety Major Williams, then competing as a tryout player, hauled in a leaping interception on a deep throw during 11-on-11 drills. Williams’ efforts earned him a contract a few days later.

Wide receiver Damien Alford, another tryout player, tallied an impressive catch amidst traffic down the sideline during an 11-on-11 segment. In a fun twist, Alford was the No. 1 overall pick in the Canadian Football League Draft in the days prior to rookie minicamp.

The Chiefs will now turn the page to “Phase 2” of the offseason training program, which permits limited on-field activities, before kicking off Organized Team Activities (OTAs) later this month.