The Kansas City Chiefs trimmed to the required 53-man roster before Sunday’s deadline … but that doesn’t mean there won’t be changes in the next 24 hours.Because of their recent run of success, the Chiefs are used to having one of the league’s last waiver priorities. It’s not the case this year.Because they are coming off a 6-11 season, K.C. ranks ninth in waiver priority if it wants to claim nonveterans who were cut by other teams. That means it’s more likely the Chiefs will make a claim or two this season — especially if they see an opportunity to bolster the depth on their roster.For now, let’s talk about the current 53, which the team released Sunday afternoon. Here are five things that stood out:Top Plays from Seahawks @ ChiefsThe biggest surpriseRunning back Emari Demercado’s not making the 53-man roster was the biggest news Sunday, and because he’s not a vested veteran, he has been waived and can be claimed by any other team.Demercado’s roster spot seemed secure before Sunday because of his potential role as a third-down back. He has been one of the team’s top pass protectors out of the backfield, and that would seemingly be an important skill as the team looks to protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes after offseason knee surgery.The Chiefs view Kenneth Walker III as a potential three-down back, though, and rookie Emmett Johnson made big strides in the final two weeks of camp.Perhaps both facts — along with a roster crunch at other offensive positions — led the Chiefs to believe others could replace Demercado’s potential contributions.An O-line shake-upSecond-year left tackle Esa Pole’s getting waived was not expected, but it became at least a possibility once the Chiefs traded for Baltimore Ravens left tackle Diego Pounds on Saturday.Pole’s stock fell quickly this summer. In June, he was rotating with the first-teamers while battling for the starting right tackle job. Once training camp started, however, Pole only received second-string reps at left tackle, then was passed over in practice by the combination of Jaylon Moore and Kahlil Benson when starting left tackle Josh Simmons was out with injury.It’s the second straight year the Chiefs surprisingly cut Pole. Last year, he impressed in training camp as an undrafted free agent before getting waived, only to be picked up by the New York Jets. Later in the season, the Jets cut Pole before the Chiefs signed him to their practice squad; he later started four games after the team went through multiple offensive line injuries.Pounds, an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss, posted the seventh-highest Pro Football Focus offensive grade among all tackles this preseason with at least 41 snaps. Meanwhile, his pass-blocking grade was second among those 120 qualified tackles.Tight end Jake Briningstool, a 2025 undrafted free agent, earned a spot on the Chiefs’ initial 53-man roster. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)Rising player makes itOne of the big questions looming Sunday was whether the Chiefs would keep three or four tight ends.They went with four. And that meant second-year player Jake Briningstool earned his way.The 6-foot-6 Briningstool — a 2025 undrafted free agent — had a de facto redshirt season last year while working through a hamstring injury. Once healthy this season, he was most impressive late in training camp, earning some first-string reps while proving to be a big target over the middle and a willing blocker in the run game.K.C. also had decisions to make regarding keeping extra bodies at quarterback, running back and receiver, so Briningstool’s making the team was no sure thing. His recent uptick was noticeable, though, as he gives the team another developmental player at a position that will likely lose Travis Kelce after 2026.Return specialist stays … potentially at a costSpecial teams coach Dave Toub usually gets a lot of the vote for the final roster spots, and it appears his sway helped return specialist Nikko Remigio earn a place on the initial 53.Remigio, a 2023 undrafted free agent, is best seen as a special teams security blanket. He’s reliable on catches and isn’t turnover-prone, and that steadiness has helped him secure a spot somewhere on the roster the last four seasons.His weaknesses are evident, too. Remigio is small at 5-9, 187 pounds, and he also lacks top-end speed, which means he’ll never be a preferred option at receiver. That lack of burst also limits his return upside, as the Chiefs haven’t had a special teams return touchdown since 2020.The return game needs improvement regardless. Per TruMedia, the Chiefs ranked 25th in expected points added per kickoff return and 21st in EPA on punt returns.Remigio’s spot meant the Chiefs had to cut someone else. More than likely, that was someone like receiver Andrew Armstrong, a big target at 6-4 who flashed during the final preseason game. He’d have to be considered a top practice-squad candidate should he clear waivers.Unexpected CB grabs a final spotThe Chiefs cut bigger-name free-agent signings such as Kader Kohou and Kaiir Elam on Sunday. They also cut Melvin Smith, who’d earned some first-string snaps when other players were injured.A guy who did make it, though? Second-year player Kevin Knowles, a 2025 undrafted free agent who had limited playing time in 13 games for Kansas City last season.Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has never been afraid to trust undrafted guys once they’ve been in his system a while, and Knowles should help on special teams as well. This was still a surprising addition, especially when it seemed likely Knowles had a good chance to make it back to the practice squad.Quarterbacks (3)Patrick Mahomes, Justin Fields, Garrett NussmeierRunning backs (3)Kenneth Walker III, Emmett Johnson, Brashard SmithReceivers (6)Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Royals, Cyrus Allen, Nikko Remigio(Injured reserve: Jimmy Holiday)Tight ends (4)Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, Jake BriningstoolOffensive line (10)Josh Simmons, Kingsley Suamataia, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jaylon Moore, Kahlil Benson, Joshua Ezeudu, Diego Pounds, Hunter Nourzad, Mike CaliendoDefensive line (8)George Karlaftis, Chris Jones, Khyiris Tonga, Ashton Gillotte, Peter Woods, R Mason Thomas, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Marcus Harris(PUP list: Omarr Norman-Lott)Linebackers (5)Drue Tranquill, Nick Bolton, Cooper McDonald, Jeffrey Bassa, Jack CochraneCornerbacks (7)Mansoor Delane, Nohl Williams, Chris Roland-Wallace, Jadon Canady, L’Jarius Sneed, Kristian Fulton, Kevin KnowlesSafeties (4)Alohi Gilman, Chamarri Conner, Jaden Hicks, Xavier NwankpaSpecialists (3)K Harrison Butker, P Matt Araiza, LS James Winchester