Kansas City Chiefs sign 3 tryout players, including Fernando Mendoza’s right tackle, and a local receiver with only 3 catches in the FBS
The Kansas City Chiefs have signed a trio of tryout players following rookie minicamp. Here’s everything you need to know about Missouri WR Xavier Lloyd, Vanderbilt S Marlen Sewell, and Indiana OT Kahlil Benson.
The Kansas City Chiefs have officially signed three tryout players after rookie minicamp this past weekend.
The team announced on Monday, May 4, that they had signed Missouri WR Xavier Lloyd, Vanderbilt S Marlen Sewell, and Indiana OT Kahlil Benson to undrafted free agent contracts. All three were among the 76 tryout players at Chiefs rookie minicamp over the weekend.
In corresponding roster moves, the Chiefs waived QB Jake Haener, DT Zacch Pickens, and DE Ethan Hurkett. A former third-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2023, Pickens appeared in 3 games for Kansas City after joining the practice squad last season. The former New Orleans Saints quarterback, Haener, signed a reserve/future contract with the team after the 2025 NFL season. Hurkett had just signed an undrafted free agent deal with Kansas City ahead of rookie minicamp.
Kansas City Chiefs’ Recent Tryout Player History
The Chiefs added three tryout players following their 2025 rookie minicamp as well. One of them made the 53-man roster, while another made the practice squad last season. Those two players remain on the 90-man roster this year.
- TCU LB Cooper McDonald (Made 53 in 2025)
- Louisiana Tech WR Jimmy Holiday (Made practice squad in 2025)
- Carson Newman S Major Williams
Chiefs sign national champion OT Kahlil Benson, who protected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza in 2025
Listed at 6-foot-6 and 319 pounds, the 23-year-old Benson began his college football career at Indiana. He transferred to Colorado in 2024 before transferring back to Indiana for his redshirt senior season. Blocking for Shedeur Sanders in 2024, Benson allowed 12 total pressures and two sacks in 286 pass-blocking snaps. He’d go on to become a national champion with the Hoosiers in 2025, playing the right tackle position. He allowed 4 sacks and 24 total pressures on No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. In total, Benson appeared in 49 college games with 33 starts across five seasons.
With the Chiefs having a bit of an open competition at right tackle, this signing certainly stands out as one that might have the legs to stick. At the very least, Benson is a developmental right tackle with upside for Kansas City.
Local receiver Xavier Loyd earns his shot at Chiefs rookie minicamp
It cannot be understated just how impressive it is that Loyd made the Chiefs’ 90-man offseason roster. A Blue Springs High School grad, Loyd attended the Chiefs’ local pro day ahead of the draft. I’m told he trained with several former NFL receivers this offseason to give himself the best shot at making a team.
Through the twists and turns of his college career, Loyd made stops at Kansas State and Illinois State before landing at Mizzou in 2025. The remarkable thing here? Loyd played in all 13 games for Mizzou last season but logged only two catches for 21 yards. At Kansas State, he caught one pass for 18 yards. The majority of his college production came in 2024 at FCS Illinois State, when he was All-MFVC Honorable Mention after recording 66 receptions for 912 yards and six touchdowns.
The 6-foot-2 and 195-pound wideout impressed at rookie minicamp this past weekend, making multiple tough catches. He even saw success in a few reps against draft picks.
Vanderbilt safety with 100 total tackles gets another look in Kansas City
Listed at 6-foot-1 and 199 pounds, Marlen Sewell spent his entire five-year college football career at Vanderbilt. He appeared in 45 career games for the Commodores, recording 101 total tackles, three passes defended, a half sack, and one forced fumble.
Sewell made his first career start as a junior in 2024, after primarily playing special teams and as a rotational player. In 2025, Sewell was named team captain as a senior for his final collegiate season. This signing screams of Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub.