NFL cuts: Three receivers from the Chiefs’ last Super Bowl winning team were let go
It’s a reminder of how ruthless the league can be, even for good players
T he NFL loves to celebrate champions. Every February, confetti falls, players lift the Lombardi Trophy, and legacies are cemented. Fans remember the game-winning touchdowns, the clutch catches, and the players who helped deliver a title.
What often gets forgotten is how quickly the league moves on. This weekend provided a stark reminder of that reality when three of the top four wide receivers from the Kansas City Chiefs’ most recent Super Bowl-winning team all found themselves looking for work.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling was released by the Dallas Cowboys, Justin Watson was cut by the Houston Texans, and Mecole Hardman was let go by the Buffalo Bills as teams trimmed their rosters ahead of the regular season. Just a few years ago, all three were important contributors on a championship roster. Today, all three are free agents. That is the NFL.
From champions to roster casualties
The Chiefs' receiving corps was never viewed as the most talented group in football, but it was good enough to help Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid capture a Super Bowl. Valdes-Scantling delivered some of the biggest catches of Kansas City's postseason run. Watson carved out a role as a reliable depth receiver and special teams contributor. Hardman authored one of the most memorable moments in franchise history when he caught the game-winning touchdown in overtime of Super Bowl LVIII.
Those plays are forever, but roster spots are not. Valdes-Scantling entered training camp with Dallas hoping to carve out a role in a crowded receiver room, but ultimately did not survive final cuts. Watson found himself in a similar position in Houston , where a deep receiving group forced the Texans to make difficult decisions.
Reports from Houston's final roster moves confirmed that Watson was among the players released. Hardman's release may have been the most surprising simply because of his history. The former Chiefs speedster and three-time Super Bowl champion was cut by Buffalo despite his championship pedigree.
The average NFL career is short
The cuts highlight a reality that every NFL player understands but few fans truly appreciate. The average NFL career lasts only a few years. One season, a player may be catching passes on the sport's biggest stage. The next, he may be fighting for a roster spot during the final week of the preseason.
Unlike guaranteed contracts in other professional sports, NFL careers are often determined by age, injuries, salary-cap considerations, roster depth, and the emergence of younger players. Sometimes a player declines, and sometimes the team simply finds someone cheaper. Often, it has nothing to do with what the player accomplished in the past.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of these moves is how recent their championship contributions feel. Hardman will forever be remembered in Kansas City for catching one of the most important touchdowns in franchise history. Valdes-Scantling delivered key postseason plays when the Chiefs needed them most. Watson was a trusted role player on a team that reached the top of the sport. Yet none of that guaranteed future employment.
Their stories aren't over yet
The good news for all three veterans is that roster cuts are rarely the final chapter. Injuries will occur. Practice squads will change. Teams will search for experienced depth as the season unfolds.
Valdes-Scantling, Watson, and Hardman all possess something coaches value: experience in meaningful games. Between them, they have played in conference championship games, Super Bowls , and high-pressure playoff situations. That experience could make them attractive additions for teams seeking veteran help later in the year.
