Kansas City Chiefs claim rookie cornerback off waivers from Indianapolis Colts

The Kansas City Chiefs have added a 2023 fifth-round draft pick to their secondary.

KC picked up former Indianapolis Colts defensive back Darius Rush on a waiver claim. Rush, the third pick of the fifth round (138th overall) in April’s draft, battled hamstring and hip injuries during training camp before the Colts waived him Tuesday.

Rush has some qualities the Chiefs have liked in the past. He has good size for a cornerback (6-2, 198 pounds) and also was one of the standouts at the Senior Bowl — an event that also included Chiefs 2023 draft picks Rashee Rice, Wanya Morris, Chamarri Conner and undrafted free-agent pickup Cam Jones.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein projected Rush as a third-to-fourth-round pick in his pre-draft write-up.

“Rush is big, long and physical,” Zierlein wrote. “He struggles to stay connected with routes from both press and off coverages but could improve with more technique work. He will never have the short area foot quickness to mirror and match routes but has impressive ball skills to disrupt the catch when he’s in position.”

KC will need to trim a player from its initial 53-man roster to make room for Rush.

Browns claim Chiefs rookie CB Kahlef Hailassie

Kansas City also lost a rookie cornerback to the waiver wire, as Cleveland claimed Kahlef Hailassie.

The Browns got a good look at Hailassie last week; he posted the Chiefs’ second-best defensive grade, according to Pro Football Focus, in the team’s third preseason game against the Browns.

Hailassie, a 6-1, 194-pound undrafted corner out of Western Kentucky, also had an interception in the Chiefs’ preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints.