Kansas City Chiefs take an unnecessary risk during 53-man roster cuts with a preseason standout at a key position

Sources confirm to A to Z Sports that Pole has been waived, and while the team would like him back on the practice squad, the reality of the situation is that 10 or more teams are expected to be interested in Pole on the waiver wire. This decision came down to roster construction, and if the Chiefs had a 54th spot to give, he would likely've made it.

Why Esa Pole might not make it to the practice squad in Kansas City

It's easy to understand why the Chiefs would want Pole back on the practice squad, but it's also easy to see why this is a risky move. Pole was a standout in St. Joseph, Missouri, for training camp practices, and he carried all of that momentum into the 2025 NFL preseason. Over the course of three games, Pole appeared in 46 pass-blocking snaps for Kansas City. He didn't allow a single quarterback pressure during those 46 snaps , which ties Bills OT Jacob Bayer for the second-most pass-blocking snaps without a pressure this preseason. He wasn't half bad in the run game either, generating plenty of movement off the line of scrimmage.

Pole played just two years at Chabot College before transferring to Washington State in 2023, where he started 21 games at left tackle across two seasons. After a rocky season in 2023, Pole kicked things up a notch with his performance in 2024. On 498 consecutive pass-blocking snaps with the Cougars in 2024, Pole allowed no sacks and nine pressures and was called for just three penalties. 

Pole didn’t play football growing up, so he only has the four aforementioned years of college experience under his belt, which makes his preseason that much more impressive. He wasn't invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, but the team did bring him into Kansas City for a top-30 visit ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. The 23-year-old is listed at 6-foot-5 and 323 pounds, and he's only just scratching the surface in terms of his football prowess and ability.