Two former Kansas City Chiefs found themselves on the tryout circuit Thursday, with wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and defensive tackle Cole Brevard both auditioning for teams looking to patch holes just one week before the regular season begins.
Brevard’s week has already turned into a whirlwind. He was waived from the Chiefs’ offseason 90-man roster, brought back to the practice squad, and then released again to clear space for defensive tackle Marcus Harris. The 350-pound run-stuffer had tried to raise his NFL profile with a year at Texas in ’25 after transferring from Purdue, but he still went undrafted before Kansas City signed him as an undrafted free agent in early May.
On Thursday, Brevard worked out for the Buffalo Bills, who are looking for help on the defensive interior. He was one of six defensive tackles in the building, a group that also included Jay Toia and Zion Wilson. Buffalo had not announced any decision by the time the league’s transaction report was finalized, so Brevard could be hearing back soon.
Valdes-Scantling was in a much larger pool. He was one of 17 players trying to impress the Las Vegas Raiders, though if the Raiders are targeting a receiver, his path is a little less crowded - Ronnie Bell was the only other wideout there, and Bell is also a Kansas City native.
Chiefs fans know Valdes-Scantling from his two seasons in Kansas City in 2022 and 2023, both of which ended with championships. He arrived on a three-year, $30 million deal meant to stretch the field for the passing game, and he delivered some production: 63 catches, 1,002 yards and three touchdowns. But he never became the reliable deep threat the Chiefs wanted, and the drops - along with the hefty cap hit - led to his release after two seasons.
Since leaving Kansas City, Valdes-Scantling has bounced from team to team and has now had a total of different employers since entering the NFL. Most recently, he spent training camp with the Dallas Cowboys before being cut at roster deadline time.
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