We're beginning a series looking at four unheralded players who have a reasonable shot to make the Kansas City Chiefs’ regular-season roster with a strong showing at training camp.
How acquired: Undrafted free agent, 2013.
Looking ahead: There will be room on the roster for a wide receiver who plays well at camp and in the preseason, and Hammond is one of the strongest candidates to do that. He spent all of his rookie season on the practice squad, so the Chiefs obviously feel there is plenty to work with. Hammond is fast, and working mostly as a slot receiver in offseason practice, he showed the knack for running good routes and the ability to take a short catch and turn it into a big play. Hammond can also return punts and kickoffs, an ability that never hurts, though the Chiefs have other candidates in front of him in line.
Possible role: The Chiefs are trying to identify a slot receiver to replace Dexter McCluster, who departed as a free agent. They have several candidates, including Junior Hemingway, De’Anthony Thomas, Weston Dressler and Hammond. They could wind up dividing the work, and Hammond could find himself in that mix.