The Kansas City Chiefs have signed 22-year old Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, taking a flyer on an athlete that ran at 4.43 40-yard dash, with a 9-foot-7 broad jump and 29-inch vertical leap at the IPP Pro Day workouts last week.
Rees-Zammit is anticipated to play running back in the NFL, with the potential of shifting to receiver. The original news of the signing was reported by Jordan Schultz of The Bleacher Support. Rees-Zammit chose the two-time World Champion Chiefs over interest from the Browns, Jets, and Broncos. He visited in-person with all four teams.
Chances of the rugby standout making the Chiefs roster will be improved in 2024 compared to past years, as each team will have a 17th spot on the practice squad available for an international player. That player could be moved to the active roster up to three times throughout the season. One training camp roster exemption for an international player has also been approved for 2024.
In other NFL news, the Tennessee Titans have signed former Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to a four-year contract with $76.4 million, with $55 million guaranteed and a $20 million signing bonus. Sneed emerged as a star for the 2023 Chiefs defense, with 78 tackles, 14 passes defensed, and two interceptions. He was traded to Tennessee on Friday, March 22nd, with Kansas City receiving a third-round pick in the 2025 draft, and the teams swapping 7th round picks in this year’s draft proceedings in Detroit.
Tennessee has remade its defensive backfield this offseason, with cornerback Chidobe Awuzie headed to the Titans on a three-year contract. However, former top cornerback Kristian Fulton left for a contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Los Angeles Rams have signed former Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White to a one-year, $8.5 million, banking on a return to health for the former All-Pro, after he missed most of the 2023 season after tearing his Achilles in Week 4.