Kansas City Chiefs 2015 training-camp roster, with analysis for each position group

The Chiefs have 89 players on their roster for training camp, which starts Tuesday when rookies and quarterbacks report to Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.

Camp, however, really gets going with the first full-squad workout Aug. 1, and the roster will shrink to 53 before the season opener Sept. 13 against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

Here’s a breakdown of the camp roster by position, with analysis.

*denotes projected starter

QUARTERBACKS (4)

Analysis: Smith is the unquestioned starter, and it will be interesting to see how he fares with upgraded weapons at receiver (Jeremy Maclin and Chris Conley) and another year of experience in the offense. Smith did a fine job protecting the football last year (amid regular pressure, no less), but the Chiefs’ offense could potentially jump a level if he learns to take a few more chances. Daniel has fared well in his limited playing time the last two years and is a solid insurance plan if Smith goes down with an injury. Murray made some noticeable strides toward the end of organized team activities this spring, when he made a few really nice throws. It will be interesting to see how his development continues when the pads come on. Bray has a big arm and a gunslinger’s mentality that separates him the other quarterbacks on the roster but the torn ACL he suffered in January certainly did not help his development. The Chiefs have been working with him on the mental part of the position and he could have used the reps he missed out on in the spring.

RUNNING BACKS (5)

Analysis: At 28, Charles remains an outstanding back who is smack dab in the middle of his prime. He is a multipurpose weapon that defenses have to account for on every play. He is almost certainly in for another big season if — and it’s a big if — he can find a way to avoid the nagging injuries that plagued him all of last year. The truth is, as long as he’s on the field, he’s still probably going to get his. Davis is a physical specimen — a big, strong, fast guy who was productive as a runner when he carried the ball last year but must continue to develop his vision. He also has room to grow as a receiver and blocker, as well, before he can assume the top role in Reid’s offense. Gray, meanwhile, is a valuable, reliable special teams player who is coming off a torn ACL. Keep an eye on West, an intriguing youngster with some quickness and receiving ability. He could potentially push for a roster spot with a strong camp.

FULLBACKS (2)

Analysis: Sherman is a hard-nosed, lunch-pail type who does a lot of the offense’s dirty work as a blocker and has even chipped in as a receiver, catching a total of 28 passes the last two seasons. He was an excellent find by general manager John Dorsey, who acquired him two years ago for cornerback Javier Arenas. Ware, a former running back at LSU, was a pleasant surprise as a runner in OTAs. His decisiveness, power and quickness (for his size) was apparent, but with Sherman entrenched at the position, Ware will need to prove his worth as a swing guy and special-teams contributor to stick.

WIDE RECEIVERS (13)

Analysis: Maclin was the prize of free agency for the Chiefs, who somehow went all of 2014 without recording a wide receiver touchdown. The offense was still productive, and coach Andy Reid deserves a ton of credit for that, but the stat was embarrassing, nonetheless. So out went longtime Chief Dwayne Bowe, who latched on with Cleveland, and here comes Maclin, whose explosiveness and familiarity with Reid’s system figures to make him a better fit as the No. 1 receiver in this offense than Bowe was. Maclin likely will be flanked on the outside by Wilson or Chris Conley, two youngsters with upside, but Avant is a consistent veteran whose hands, veteran savvy and knowledge of the scheme could help him carve out a role. Meanwhile, the lightning-quick Thomas — whose toughness belies his size — returns as a jack-of-all-trades weapon, though his role could expand now that he’s officially been moved to receiver. Reid and his offensive coaching staff deserve credit for finding creative ways to utilize Thomas. Hammond and Hemingway, who have each earned playing time the last two seasons, lead a crop of other pass catchers who will need to contribute on special teams to earn a roster spot. Among those getting a close look will be the 6-foot-4 Cook, an undrafted rookie who utilized his combination of length and ball skills to star during OTAs, and Williams, who had some nice moments in the spring, as well. Brown was the team’s seventh-round draft pick this year, and he will also get a shot.

TIGHT ENDS (6)

Analysis: All signs are pointing up for Kelce, who could be in for a huge year. With veteran Anthony Fasano now gone, he is the unquestioned No. 1 tight end, which means he’ll likely see a lot of passes from Smith, who loves to throw to the position. Kelce’s combination of athleticism and ball skills is unique, and he has Pro Bowl potential as long as he continues to master the offense (and focus on his ball security). Things get interesting after that, though, as Harris — who played in eight games last year prior to a season-ending foot injury — missed all of OTAs after being forced to undergo additional surgery and still has much to prove. Gordon is a big-bodied veteran who can help as a blocker, and O’Shaughnessy and Taylor each flashed some receiving ability in the spring, but there’s simply not a lot of proven production here after Kelce, which isn’t ideal.

TACKLES (4)

Analysis: Here’s a group that is long on talent but still has much to prove. Given the pass-happy state of the NFL, that’s certainly not ideal. Start with Fisher, the former No. 1 overall pick who made strides at left tackle in 2014 but has not yet lived up to his lofty draft status. This is an enormous year for him, but the hope is that with a full offseason of training — and a full, injury-free year under his belt — the third-year pro has improved his strength, confidence and technique enough to take the next step. Likewise, this is a contract year for Stephenson, who was a key part of the line in 2013 as a swing tackle but was put in the doghouse last year after he was forced to serve a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy against performance-enhancing drugs. Still, the former third-round pick is big and athletic, and if he can lock down a starting job, he’ll bring some needed nastiness to the line. But first he might have to hold off fellow fourth-year pro Jeff Allen, who could also be in the mix at right guard. Sherrod is a former first-round pick whose career hasn’t quite panned out, partly due to injuries, but he could stick as a swing tackle. Rooks is a young player who is trying to compete for the same role.

GUARDS (7)

Analysis: The offseason addition of Grubbs, a nine-year veteran who made the Pro Bowl in 2013, was a big one. Even if the 31-year-old doesn’t return to his 2013 form, he’ll still be a significant upgrade over the players the Chiefs trotted out at this position in 2014. He’ll also be a steady, veteran complement to Fisher, which will should restore Alex Smith’s confidence in his blindside protection. Meanwhile, the starting right guard position is up in the air, but Allen, who essentially had his entire 2014 season wiped out due to an elbow injury, could get first crack at the job if Reid was serious about the Chiefs not being interested in Evan Mathis. Mathis would be another huge upgrade — yes, the 33-year-old can still play at a high level, as evidenced by his absurd 2014 Pro Football Focus grade of plus-25.8 — but Allen isn’t a bad option, either. He is entering a contract year, so he will be motivated to reclaim a starting spot, either here or at right tackle. Last year’s starter at right guard, Zach Fulton, returns for his second year, but Fanaika — a lumbering, powerful veteran who signed a three-year deal this offseason — could push for playing time. Fanaika will, at the very least, provide some much-needed depth. Second-round pick Mitch Morse is athletic, smart and tough, so so he could also work his way into the mix if he fails to beat out Eric Kush at center. Duvernay-Tardif has the athletic tools to be a starter one day, but the Chiefs took him a year ago as a raw, developmental type. It will be really interesting to see how far he’s come along once the pads come on.

CENTERS (4)

Analysis: Center was arguably the only position along the entire offensive line that the Chiefs received above-average production from in 2014, but last year’s starter, Rodney Hudson, bolted for Oakland during free agency. Kush, a sixth-round pick in 2013, has been Hudson’s understudy the last two years and will get first crack at the job. He earned the majority of the first-team reps in OTAs but will still need to hold off Morse during camp. The Chiefs like Morse’s upside, as evidenced by his draft position (second round), but he also played tackle in college and could easily move to guard if Kush beats him out. Regardless, Morse’s versatility will help him see the field, both in the short term and the long term.

DEFENSIVE ENDS (6)

Analysis: Provided everyone stays healthy, the Chiefs are positioned to have an adequate amount of depth and versatility at this position. Bailey impressed the new regime enough to land a four-year extension last fall — as one of the few holdovers from the Scott Pioli era, this says a lot about his talent — and has become an useful three-down player. Run-stuffer Mike DeVito had his 2014 season wiped out due to an Achilles injury, but he’s back now, and can even slide to nose tackle in a pinch. His return will almost certainly help a run defense that was far too leaky in 2014. Jaye Howard is a quick, penetrating type showed flashes a year ago in DeVito’s absence, but he’ll be looking to be more consistent, overall, in a contract year. Mike Catapano had his entire 2014 season wiped out by a mysterious concussion and gastrointestinal virus, but is up to 290 pounds and has some real upside as a pass rusher with his quickness, strength and dedication to his craft.

NOSE TACKLES (5)

Analysis: Poe, the big man in the middle, has reached the Pro Bowl the last two seasons and has become a centerpiece of the Chiefs’ young defense. He has, however, played an absurd amount of snaps the last two years — 1,970 combined, 752 more than the next Chiefs defensive lineman (Allen Bailey). Poe’s play tailed off down the stretch a year ago, too — he posted a Pro Football Focus grade of negative-6.1 in the last five games — so it’s fair to wonder how much his workload played a role in this. DeVito is probably the best bet to spell him for a few snaps, as he earned some reps there in OTAs. But Vaughn Martin is a veteran with experience at the position, and Nunez-Roches, a sixth-round pick this year, could potentially help in passing situations.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (7)

Analysis: This is, perhaps, the Chiefs’ strongest position. In Houston and Hali, the Chiefs boast one of the league’s best pass-rush duos. Houston recently cashed in on his 22-sack season in 2014 with a massive $101 million deal that made him one of the league’s highest-paid defenders. He is worth it, however. He is destructive as a pass rusher and formidable as a run stopper, and is an elite player at a premium position. Hali, 31, is a relentless pass rusher who continues to make plays with his effort and intensity. He only had six sacks a year ago, thanks partly to a balky knee, but he still made the Pro Bowl. The Chiefs also had quality depth here, as Ford — a first-round pick a year ago — offers long-term upside as a pass-rusher with his outstanding quickness off the edge. The coaching staff could do a better job of getting him on the field in passing situations, but he also needs to make strides as a run stopper to earn the coaches’ trust. Martin is another intriguing pass rusher the team has spent the last two years developing, and he — like Zombo — brings added value as a reliable special teamer. Moses will look to earn a spot after missing all of last year with an injury, while Harold is an interesting developmental type.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS (6)

Analysis: The Chiefs have effectively placed their fate here in the hands of Derrick Johnson, who essentially missed all of 2014 with an Achilles injury. His quickness, anticipation and playmaking ability was sorely missed, as teams found much more success running the ball up the middle against the Chiefs than they did the previous year. Johnson is back now, but the Chiefs didn’t do a ton to upgrade here, at least in the short term. If he gets hurt again, it will be up to Mauga, James-Michael Johnson and a trio of youngsters to step up. Mauga played well enough a year ago to be re-signed this offseason to a three-year deal and could be a decent complement to Johnson, provided he can stay healthy. Meanwhile, this is a huge year for James-Michael Johnson, who earned plenty of playing time in Johnson’s absence a year ago and is entering a contract year but is going to be challenged for a roster spot by Alexander and Wilson, a pair of mid-round picks. Alexander boasts excellent quickness but needs to add bulk, while Wilson possesses adequate bulk and plus athleticism but struggled to fight off blocks in college. He did flash a nose for the ball in coverage during OTAs, however. March is a speedy undrafted free agent who also made some plays in coverage this spring.

CORNERBACKS (9)

Analysis: Smith is coming off his best season and is the team’s unquestioned No. 1 cornerback, but the Chiefs are going to be relying on some youngsters the first three weeks of the season while he serves his recently announced suspension. Gaines seems like a solid bet to start after a strong spring in which he flashed speed and coverage ability, but Peters will need to hold off Fleming, Nelson and Cooper for the starting job. It will be interesting to see how Peters, an aggressive, competitive, press-man corner, fares in pads. Secondary coach Al Harris worked with him on refining his coverage technique during the spring, which will be important for him going forward. Nelson seemed to get most of his work as a nickel corner during the spring, which makes sense. He possesses quick hips and is competitive. Fleming had some nice moments after the Chiefs plucked him from the Ravens’ practice squad last season, while Cooper, who was the team’s rookie of the year in 2013, began last season as the starter but fell out of favor after some early struggles. Like Peters, his technique will be important as teams will try to test him vertically. All these players will need to stay mentally tough, as opposing quarterbacks will surely try to pick before and after Smith’s return.

SAFETIES (7)

Analysis: The Chiefs seem set at safety. Abdullah had a solid campaign in 2014, his first as a starter with the team, and is a steady and reliable player with the ability to play some corner and linebacker in nickel. Parker, meanwhile, figures to be entrenched after a 2014 season that saw him bounce between corner and his more natural position of safety. He was definitely more effective at safety, where his athleticism helps him cover a lot of ground, and while his tackling needs to improve, his versatility and coverage ability make him a solid option. The Chiefs have said they anticipate him staying there this season, though he could certainly help out at corner in a pinch. Branch is a player who is similar to Abdullah in the fact he can play some nickel corner. Injuries have hindered him the last few years but he was very productive with Oakland from 2009 to 2012. McCray is a valuable special teams player who even earned a handful of defensive snaps in 2014, which is a positive sign for his development. The Chiefs had high hopes for Commings after investing a fifth-round pick in him in 2013, but injuries have kept him from make an impact the last two years. Commings showed some real flashes as a center-field type before his season-ending ankle injury last August, and will need to prove he still has that kind of range to stick around. Sorensen is a developmental type whose smarts helped him stick around a season ago. It will be interesting to see what kind of strides he’s made since then. Berry is a Pro Bowl player who is currently battling Hodgkin lymphoma. Reid said Berry continues to make good progress in his recovery, but it is unclear when he will return to football.

KICKERS (1)

Analysis: With Santos’ rookie year behind him, the Chiefs are probably banking on a better season from Santos. His field goal-conversion percentage of 83.3 percent tied for 19th in the league, but his 26 touchbacks on kickoffs ranked 28th in the league, per Pro Football Focus. The Chiefs would surely like to reduce the number of returns they have to cover in 2015.

PUNTERS (1)

Analysis: After 11 years, Colquitt remains a constant positive at his position. His 31 punts inside the 20 in 2014 was tied for the fourth-most in the league, and his return average of 6.6 was the league’s sixth-best mark.

LONG SNAPPERS (2)

Analysis: The Chiefs will have a new snapper this year after they decided to move on from Thomas Gafford, who had manned the position since 2008. The NFL’s decision to make extra points a more competitive play means there’s less room for error for all involved, including the snaps. Whoever wins the job will need to be on point with his snaps, lest he costs the team at some point.

This story was originally published July 24, 2015 at 2:51 PM with the headline "Kansas City Chiefs 2015 training-camp roster, with analysis for each position group."