No More Safety Nets — The Chiefs’ Interior Defense Is Running on Empty, and Everyone in the League Knows It.QQ
The Kansas City Chiefs are getting mighty thin on the interior defensive line.
The 2025 NFL trade deadline has come and gone, but roster moves are still transpiring around the league as teams gear up for the second half of the season. The Kansas City Chiefs made their own practice squad moves on Tuesday, but they’ll have another free space to fill thanks to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As first reported by KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, the Steelers have poached DT Brodric Martin from the Chiefs’ practice squad. A former third-round pick out of Western Kentucky in 2023, Martin signed with the practice squad in Kansas City after the Detroit Lions let him go during 53-man roster cuts.
He was elevated from the practice squad for Week 4 vs. the Baltimore Ravens in case Chris Jones couldn’t make it back from Mississippi after attending a family funeral. Martin ultimately was made inactive for the game and never played a down for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs are running out of interior defensive line depth
The Chiefs’ interior defensive line depth is starting to look a little bit scary right now. Omarr Norman-Lott is on injured reserve, and the team has just two interior defensive linemen on the practice squad after Martin heads to Pittsburgh.
The unfortunate part of that is that Marlon Tuipulotu has already exhausted his three allotted practice squad elevations, so really the only player they can rely on in a pinch is former Chicago Bears third-round pick Zacch Pickens.
Chiefs’ interior defensive line depth
- 53-Man Roster: Chris Jones
- 53-Man Roster: Mike Pennel
- 53-Man Roster: Jerry Tillery
- 53-Man Roster: Derrick Nnadi
- Practice Squad: Zacch Pickens
- Practice Squad: Marlon Tuipulotu (reached three elevation limit)
The team could sign Tuipulotu to the 53-man roster if it’s really in a bind, but I’d expect the Chiefs to fill this vacant practice squad spot with another interior defensive lineman.
Keep an eye on Coziah Izzard, who was just released from the New Orleans Saints practice squad. Other interior defensive linemen with Kansas City ties who are available include Keondre Coburn and Fabien Lovett.
