Former Lions draft bust gets surprise second shot with Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs weren't able to successfully execute any waiver claims after NFL roster cuts were due. That wasn't any great surprise considering they sat No. 31 overall in the waiver wire order. However, some new faces are joining the team's practice squad.

One new arrival is former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Brodric Martin. The Chiefs signed Martin to their practice squad on Wednesday.

NFL rules allow for up to 16 players on a practice squad (and a 17th player is an option for teams who utilize the exemption via the International Players Pathway, which the Chiefs have in offensive tackle Chu Godrick).

The Chiefs are slowly putting together their practice squad after roster cuts were due on Tuesday.

Martin joins the Chiefs as a former third-round choice who flamed out in Detroit following a disappointing stint in the Motor City. The former No. 96 overall pick in the 2023 draft was intended to be a run-stuffer for Dan Campbell's defense, but it was a rough go for multiple reasons from the outset.

While Martin flashed the sort of potential he showed at Western Kentucky, he was called out for his lack of consistency. General manager Brad Holmes took him to task in public remarks earlier this year: "We’ve had transparent conversations, and so he knows that he needs to be a consistent player. He’s got all the ability, he’s got all the physical tools to be a consistent player.”

Unfortunately that inconsistency was also informed by injuries. Martin got scant playing time in only 3 games his rookie year, and then his sophomore campaign began on injured reserve after he suffered a knee injury. He wasn't activated until the final two games of the year.

Even this preseason, Martin dealt with further injuries and missed more practices in training camp, so by the time roster were due, the writing was on the wall. The Lions had already moved on after signing D.J. Reader and drafting Tyleik Williams in the first round of this year's draft. Roy Lopez's presence also made him expendable.

The Chiefs are hoping to strike gold with a clear need for long-term help with run defense. Brett Veach even traded for Derrick Nnadi in a preseason deal with the Jets to bolster the position. Younger prospects haven't panned out in recent years, although those were always long shots like sixth-round pick Keondre Coburn or undrafted free agent Fabien Lovett Jr.

Martin and the Chiefs can only hope a change of scenery and coaching staffs will bring out something new for him.