This Chiefs veteran might have new life thanks to lingering rookie problem

We're in an unprecedented time in the NFL. With some teams already in training camp and others getting ready to start, only two of the 32 second-round picks from April's draft have signed a contract.

If this issue doesn't get resolved soon, it could mean mass holdouts across the league. This unique scenario opens up a key opportunity for one Kansas City Chiefs veteran.

Chiefs veteran Marlon Tuipulotu gets unexpected opportunity thanks to potential holdout

Marlon Tuipulotu isn't exactly a household name in Kansas City. The 26-year-old defensive tackle has played one season with the Chiefs after spending the first three years of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles.

In 2024, he only appeared in two games, totaling four tackles. He was buried on the depth chart behind Chris Jones and Tershawn Wharton, having started the season on the practice squad before getting an early summons to the active roster.

The Chiefs re-signed Tuipulotu this offseason, but the deal includes minimal guarantees. They could cut him after training camp and not have to worry about the financial implications of the move.

But an opportunity to save his job might be opening up for Tuipulotu. Nearly every second-round draft pick across the NFL remains unsigned, including Chiefs' rookie Omar Norman-Lott. Norman-Lott is expected to be comfortably above Tuipulotu on the depth chart. If Norman-Lott doesn't sign before training camp, Tuipulotu will get his chance to shine.

Tuipulotu has shown that he's capable of playing a significant role in an NFL defense. In 2023, he played in 14 games for the Eagles, totaling 22 tackles and two sacks. He hasn't made the same kind of impact so far in Kansas City, but this potential holdout gives him the chance to move up the depth chart.

Even without Norman-Lott around, Tuipulotu will still have to outshine a few other Chiefs' defensive linemen. Chris Jones, Mike Pennel, and Jerry Tillery are all currently above him on the depth chart. Norman-Lott's absence doesn't give Tuipulotu the chance at a starting job, but it would mean some more time on the field in training camp. Any chance to shine is crucial for a player on the verge of being cut.

This is a development that nobody could have expected. In all likelihood, Norman-Lott and most of the other second-round draft picks in the league will be signed by the time the season kicks off. But in the meantime, backups like Tuipulotu can take advantage of a few extra practice reps. It might just be the difference between getting cut and making the roster.