The Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially added cornerback Kevin Knowles to their roster on Tuesday, claiming him off waivers. This is a quick shuffle right before the 2026 season truly kicks off, and it shows the Bucs are serious about their depth. With this move, they also waived undrafted free agent linebacker Caden Fordham.
The Waiver Wire Rollercoaster for Knowles
This dude Kevin Knowles has been on a wild ride this week, huh? He actually made the Chiefs’ initial 53-player roster, which is no small feat for any player. But then Kansas City needed to make space on Monday after snagging two players off waivers themselves, one of whom was linebacker Jack Pybrun, who ironically, the Bucs had just waived on Sunday. Talk about a small world! Knowles, who is only 23, first entered the league in 2025 as an undrafted free agent. His rookie season was spent with the Chiefs, and he definitely saw some action.
What Knowles Brings to Tampa Bay
Even though he was undrafted, Knowles isn’t just a camp body. Last year, in his 2025 rookie season, he played in 13 games for the Chiefs. We’re talking 82 defensive snaps, which is solid for a young guy trying to find his footing. But where he really made his mark? Special teams. He logged a massive 231 snaps there, showing he’s a grinder and can contribute in a big way to a unit that needs it. During those games, he tallied 15 tackles and broke up two passes. That’s a decent stat line for limited defensive time, right? The Bucs clearly saw that upside, especially his special teams ability, and decided he was worth a roster spot.
This waiver claim happened September 1, which means Week 1 is right around the corner. Adding Knowles gives Tampa Bay some immediate, proven depth in the secondary and on special teams. It will be interesting to see how quickly he integrates and if he makes an impact on the field when the games start counting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
Leave a Reply