Chiefs waive ShunDerrick Powell

Kansas City made a small roster move, but it tells you something real about where the backfield is headed. The Chiefs waived running back ShunDerrick Powell on Wednesday, April 29, opening a spot on the 90-man roster just a few days after they drafted Nebraska runner Emmett Johnson in the fifth round. Powell was never a lock to make the team, but this is still a clean signal — Kansas City is sorting the bottom of the running back room early. (sports.yahoo.com) ### Who is ShunDerrick Powell? Powell is a 23-year-old back out of Central Arkansas who signed with the Eagles after going undrafted in 2025, then landed with the Chiefs on a reserve/future contract on January 6, 2026. That kind of deal is basically a flier — a team likes the traits, wants the player in the offseason program, and lets him fight for a lo(sports.yahoo.com)s City. (sports.yahoo.com) ### Why waive him now? The timing is the story. Kansas City used the No. 161 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Emmett Johnson, and once a team spends draft capital on a running back, somebody lower on the ladder usually gets squeezed. Powell was one of the easiest names to move because he had the least investment behind him and no in-game résumé with the club. (ketv.com) ### What does this say about the depth chart? It says the Chiefs are still building, not just topping off. The current running back mix named in the transaction coverage includes Kenneth Walker, Brashard Smith, Emari Demercado, and now Johnson. Powell was competing from the far edge of that group, and the waiver suggests Kansas City already sees clearer priorities for camp reps and preseason carries. (sports.yahoo.com) ### Is this only about Emmett Johnson? Mostly, but not entirely. One report tied the move directly to Johnson's arrival, and another noted the open roster spot could also be used on an undrafted rookie or another offseason addition. So the bigger point is flexibility — the Chiefs wanted one more opening while the post-draft market is still moving. (chi([sports.yahoo.com)fs-waive-shunderrick-powell-after-picking-emmett-johnson-2026-nfl-draft-offseason/89865886007/)) ### Why does one roster spot matter? Because this is the churn phase of the NFL calendar. Late April and early May are when teams cycle through futures players, rookie picks, tryout names, and priority undrafted free agents. A single spot at the bottom o(chiefswire.usatoday.com)ng differently. (sports.yahoo.com) ### Was Powell ever close to sticking? Maybe as a long shot, but not much more than that. Futures-contract players do sometimes surprise people, especially at running back, where injuries can reshuffle everything fast. But Powell entered an offseason where the Chiefs were already adding bodies and, now, a drafted rookie. Once that happened, his path got much narrower. (sports.yahoo.com) ### What should fans watch next? Watch how Kansas City divides reps behind the top backs once rookie minicamp and OTAs get going. Johnson is the obvious name because draft picks get every chance to justify the selection, but the real battle is for the last one or two usable spots in the room. Powell is out, and that means somebody else just got a clearer runway. (ketv.com) ### Bottom line? This was a fringe-roster cut, not a headline-grabber. But fringe-roster cuts are how teams show their priorities. The Chiefs drafted Emmett Johnson, kept the backfield churn going, and ShunDerrick Powell ended up on the wrong side of that math. (sports.yahoo.com)