Breaking down the Kansas City Chiefs training camp roster

The Chiefs will take 90 players to training camp, which starts July 20 when rookies and quarterbacks report to Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, and really gets going with the first full-squad workout July 24. But the roster will shrink to 53 before the season opener Sept. 7 against the Titans at Arrowhead Stadium. Here’s a breakdown of the camp roster by position group:

*denotes projected starter

Quarterbacks (4)

Smith lived up to his reputation as a game manager early last season, when he was conservative with the football during the Chiefs’ 9-0 start. But he started to show serious improvement in the second half of the season, when he trusted his receivers a bit more and started to air it out while still protecting the ball. That’s the Smith the Chiefs need, and it carried over to offseason workouts this year. Daniel fared OK in the San Diego game last season, his first regular-season action, but will have to hold off Bray for the backup spot. Murray could enter the fray as well, but he might be best served by sitting and watching as a rookie, as Bray did a year ago.

Running backs (9)

Charles, 27, is an elite player in his prime who also happens to be coming off a career year. But he needs a break every now and then, so the Chiefs will be expecting more from Davis, a 2013 third-round pick who flashed some big-play ability as a rookie. Gray was the No. 3 back last year, but he’ll have to hold off a versatile speedster in McKnight to make the team. Thomas, a fourth-round pick this year, is slight for the position but offers game-breaking speed and will also play in the slot. Sherman emerged as one of the league’s best fullbacks last season and is just entering his prime.

Wide receivers (13)

The Chiefs had one of the least-productive wide receiver corps in football last season, and while some of that had to do with the all-around brilliance of Charles, the receivers themselves had a lot to do with it. The Chiefs also lost slot receiver and special-teams demon Dexter McCluster to free agency in March. The good news is that Bowe looked great during offseason workouts, and many youngsters (Hemingway, Jenkins and Hammond) entering their second year in Reid’s complicated system offer some upside while Dressler, a CFL transport, looked very comfortable in the slot.

Tight ends (5)

Fasano was brought in as a free agent last season for his experience, and he proved to be reliable when he wasn’t battling injuries. He finally looked healthy this spring, but if the potentially explosive Kelce — who had his rookie season wiped out because of injuries — is ready to go, he will see lots of playing time in a pass-catching role. He sat out most of offseason training as he recovered from microfracture surgery in his knee. McGrath is a steady-but-unspectacular target, but if everyone stays healthy, he might have to hold off the gifted-but-raw Harris for playing time.

Offensive linemen (15)

This group is largely unproven, as two starters (Branden Albert and Jon Asamoah) and one backup-turned-starter (Geoff Schwartz) departed via free agency. The good news is that four of the five players who are projected to start — Fisher, Allen, Hudson and Stephenson — are young players with good pedigrees. All four were taken in the third round or higher over the last four years. If any of the youngsters falter, Linkenbach and Webb provide versatility and insurance. Keep an eye on right guard, where Fulton — a sixth-rounder this year—ate into Johnson’s first-team reps in offseason workouts.

Defensive linemen (10)

In Poe, the Chiefs have one of the best nose guards in football and a reliable anchor for their 3-4 defense. DeVito lived up to his reputation as a solid run-stopping defensive end last season, but could be taken out of the game by teams that threw a lot. The Chiefs made an effort to improve their pass rush by letting Tyson Jackson, another run-stopping end, walk in free agency and signing the versatile Walker, who can back up the overworked Poe when necessary and compete with intriguing returnees Bailey and Catapano for the other starting end spot.

Linebackers (13)

This is clearly the strength of the defense, as Derrick Johnson, Hali and Houston are all coming off Pro Bowl seasons. Akeem Jordan, who was solid as the starter inside next to Johnson last season, left via free agency and it appears Mays — who was signed as a free agent — has the inside track at replacing him. Ford, a first-round pick, at the very least figures to be an intriguing rotational player this season, thanks to his pass-rush ability.

Defensive backs (17)

Berry, a three-time Pro Bowler, leads a secondary that will be tested early and often. Abdullah and Commings are battling for the starting free safety job, but both flashed big-play ability in offseason workouts and could earn time in the Chiefs’ nickel and dime subpackages. The big question is at corner, which is fairly unsettled following the release of veteran Brandon Flowers and Sean Smith’s arrest for allegedly driving under the influence in June. Owens could see some time as the nickel, but on the outside, youngsters Marcus Cooper, Ron Parker and Phillip Gaines — while talented — are unproven.

Specialists (4)

Colquitt and Succop have been the Chiefs’ starting punter and kicker, respectively, for the last five seasons, and there’s a good chance they’ll again be the duo come the season opener. But keep an eye on Santos, the rookie from Tulane who made 78 percent of his field goals as a four-year starter and impressed coaches with his strong leg in offseason training. He will have to win the job outright, however, to replace the fairly-reliable Succop.

This story was originally published July 12, 2014 at 6:40 PM with the headline "Breaking down the Kansas City Chiefs training camp roster."