The Kansas City Chiefs have released third-round rookie cornerback KeiVarae Russell, NFL Network's Rand Getlin reports.

Letting go of a premium draft selection so early is a rarity in today's game. Getlin adds that the release came down to a "numbers game" on special teams, but it's certainly also possible that there's more to the story.

Either way, the talented Notre Dame product shouldn't last long on the waiver wire.

A number of teams around the league are desperate for help at the cornerback position, and taking a chance on a recent Day 2 pick would be a sensible move to potentially solidify the future of that all-important spot.

The Chiefs move forward with Kenneth Acker, Steven Nelson, and sixth-round rookie D.J. White to round out the cornerback group behind starters Marcus Peters and Phillip Gaines.