Chiefs waive backup RB after picking Emmett Johnson in 2026 NFL Draft

On Wednesday, April 29, news broke that the Kansas City Chiefs had decided to waive backup running back ShunDerrick Powell after the team selected former Nebraska Cornhuskers rusher Emmett Johnson during the 2026 NFL Draft. A native of Hoxie, Arkansas, Powell initially signed a reserve/future deal with the Chiefs in early January after spending part of the 2025 season with the Philadelphia Eagles , with whom he signed as an undrafted free agent last year. Veteran Sports Producer Nick Jacobs of KSHB 41 in Kansas City was the first member of the media to report that Powell had been waived on April 29: Per NFL Transactions the #Chiefs have waived RB ShunDerrick Powell.

The team also used the international roster exemption on OT Chukwuebuka Godrick. #ChiefsKingdom — Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) April 29, 2026 Powell never took the field for Kansas City and was likely waived as a result of the Chiefs' investment in Johnson, who will almost certainly make the team's 53-man roster after training camp. Stay tuned to see how Chiefs general manager Brett Veach will approach his reinvention of Kansas City's backfield as his team conducts its offseason training program in the coming months.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs roster: KC waives underrated depth RB after 2026 NFL Draft