Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tennessee defensive lineman Bryson Eason (DL09) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tennessee defensive lineman Bryson Eason (DL09) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Following Sunday's 53-man roster cutdown, the Chiefs planned to be active on the waiver wire to add defensive line depth. They made two moves, bringing in two experienced defensive linemen who impressed in the preseason: Bryson Eason off the 49ers' roster and Jack Pyburn off the Buccaneers'. Eason was a six-year starter on the Tennessee defensive line, where he proved to be a well-rounded run stuffer on the interior.
After a complete overhaul of their defensive line, the Chiefs still felt the need to add depth due to injuries to Ethan Downs and Omarr Norman-Lott. In 2025, Eason and Norman-Lott made up one of the best defensive tackle units in college football. Now, after landing one in the draft, the Chiefs have claimed Eason through the waiver wire, and the two will be reunited in Kansas City.
49ers UDFA DT Bryson Eason absolutely man-handles Titans starting OG pic.twitter.com/Tv68MLQKtJ
— Brad (@Graham_SFN) August 15, 2026
At the front of the Chiefs' defensive tackle room, the team has a strong unit with Chris Jones, Peter Woods, and Khyiris Tonga. But depth behind them has been hard to come by, and with Norman-Lott starting the season on the PUP list, it was a top priority. Eason had a strong preseason with the 49ers, especially as a run defender, and was a tough loss for them on cutdown day this Sunday.
The Chiefs were looking for reliable players to bring in on the defensive line who they felt could play a rotational role as a stopgap defensive tackle. Eason may never be known as someone who takes over a game and dominates, but he does a great job of holding his ground and plugging gaps on the interior. As a pass rusher, he is subpar, but he uses his compact build well to push back into the pocket and force the quarterback out of his comfort zone.
In the offseason, I wrote this about Eason before the 2026 NFL Draft and gave him a Day 3 grade.
"Eason will be one of the oldest players in the 2026 NFL Draft, something that will scare off a lot of scouts, as he was a bit of a late bloomer after six years with Tennessee. Eason remained loyal to Tennessee through all of his college career, and he really started to find the field late in his third season. He made his name as a run stuffer but slowly proved he's more well-rounded and has the tools to be an every-down three-technique. He has average size, but does a good job using that size to generate leverage and impact the game. Against Alabama, he took their left guard, Geno VanDeMark, to church early in the game and gave him fits all night. To me, Eason feels like a great fourth DT on an even-front NFL defense."
Matthew Chabot
Bryson Eason gets a big hug from his family on Senior Day #Vols pic.twitter.com/jEm8pZL9Qn
— Casey Kay (@caseykaytv) November 23, 2024
My scouting report for Eason projects him to be exactly what the Chiefs are looking for: a well-rounded, three-down defensive tackle who can plug and play as a 0-3-tech defensive lineman. He will be a true run stuffer on early downs who can win with power and leverage on the inside as needed. With his addition, Brett Veach has rounded out a defensive line that is looking to make waves in 2026.
With so many new faces, the Chiefs are looking to show that their retooled defensive line can consistently get to the quarterback. Eason gives Steve Spagnuolo a safety net as a player who can step in and fill gaps if others go down with injuries or need to be rotated out. Now, two weeks away from Week 1, the Chiefs have seemingly finalized their 53-man roster and hope their defensive line can make a statement in 2026 and beyond.
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