The Kansas City Chiefs have waived defensive end Anthony Dunn Jr., terminating the contract of the undrafted rookie as they signed veteran linebacker Cam Jones.
Dunn, a 6-foot-4, 262-pound edge rusher out of Toledo, had signed with Kansas City shortly after the 2026 NFL Draft.
The move came as a corresponding roster transaction. Jones, a special-teams contributor who previously spent time with the Chiefs, returns after stints with the Jets and Giants. Dunn, listed as a rookie, did not appear to have secured a roster spot during training camp and the preseason. He later cleared waivers.
Dunn arrived in Kansas City with a reputation as a productive pass rusher who showed flashes of potential during his two seasons with the Toledo Rockets.
After transferring from Florida A&M, where he earned First-Team All-SWAC honors in 2023 with eight sacks, he recorded 57 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and six sacks across 25 games at Toledo.
His 2024 campaign stood out. Despite ranking low in defensive snaps, Dunn led the Rockets in sacks with four and ranked among the team’s top players in tackles for loss.
A highlight came against Central Michigan, when he posted 3.5 tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in limited action. Pro Football Focus graded him highly as a pass rusher and run defender that year. In 2025, he added 32 tackles and two more sacks while playing in all 13 games.
The Sanford, Florida, native took an unconventional path. A three-star recruit who began at Marshall before transferring to FAMU and then Toledo, Dunn demonstrated athleticism and burst that scouts noticed even if his overall snap count remained modest at times. Those traits made him an intriguing undrafted addition for a Chiefs defense looking for depth on the edge.
Kansas City’s decision reflects typical late-August roster math. The team has been active in adding veterans and managing numbers as it prepares for the regular season.
Dunn’s college production suggested he could develop into a rotational contributor or practice-squad candidate, but the Chiefs opted to move in a different direction at the position.
At 22, Dunn remains young and possesses the size and prior production that could interest other clubs. His Toledo tape showed a player capable of disrupting the backfield when given opportunities.
Whether he lands elsewhere or continues developing after this release will depend on how quickly another team sees the same potential the Rockets did.
The waiver underscores the long odds undrafted rookies face even after a productive college career. Dunn’s story at Toledo illustrated growth and impact in a mid-major program, but the NFL roster crunch proved unforgiving this week.
