With preseason over, here’s our projection for Kansas City Chiefs’ 53-player roster
Each NFL team faces difficult roster decisions as the cut-down day approaches.
The Chiefs, who wrapped up their preseason schedule with a 34-21 loss to the Chicago Bears on Thursday, are dealing with Super Bowl-favorite decisions. They’re not sweating over starting positions, except perhaps one. Their biggest task involves depth, and getting it right at the end of the position groups.
Also, the Chiefs must balance roster spots among the groups. For instance, if the Chiefs keep seven wide receivers, does it come at the expense of a fourth running back or 10th offensive lineman?
A year ago, the Chiefs’ 53-man roster entering the season included three running backs and three tight ends. There have been years under Andy Reid when the Chiefs kept as few as eight offensive linemen and as many as 10.
The five position groups on defense — end, tackle, linebacker, cornerback and safety — have averaged about five players each per season. But the Chiefs under Reid have never kept five at each position. Neither does this projection.
The 53-man roster has to be set by Tuesday afternoon. Here’s our projection on how things will play out:
Offense (25)
Quarterback (2) Patrick Mahomes, Carson Wentz
Keeping two instead of three, which the Chiefs have done in most of Reid’s first 11 seasons, gives them flexibility at other positions.
Running back (3) Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Carson Steele
Edwards-Helarie has missed several training camp practices dealing with PTSD, but offensive coordinator Matt Nagy made it sound like he’ll be part of the roster: “I think we know who he is. We know what his strengths are, and we know how to use them,” Nagy said.
Steele has been a training camp and preseason standout — he had his own 50-yard touchdown drive on three carries against the Bears — and can slide to fullback. If the Chiefs keep four, Deneric Prince makes the team.
Rugby player Louis Rees-Zammit played well on Thursday and heads to the practice squad.
Wide receiver (7): Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, Mecole Hardman, Justyn Ross
Reid kept seven wide receivers for the first time last season, and look for the trend to continue with Brown likely missing early action while recovering from a shoulder injury.
The projection omits Kadarius Toney, Nikko Remigio and Cornell Powell. Toney’s injury issues continued during a lackluster training camp. Remigio could have done without a bad moment in the preseason opener when he appeared to have the ball stripped away, a call that was overturned but still a troubling moment.
Remigio led the Chiefs in the preseason with seven receptions. Powell had a pair of touchdown catches, including one on Thursday.
Tight end (4): Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, Irv Smith, Jr.
The Chiefs kept three tight ends a year ago after carrying four the previous four seasons. Smith hasn’t made splashy plays but is a good blocker and special teams contributor.
Offensive linemen (9): Jawaan Taylor, Trey Smith, Creed Humphrey, Joe Thuney, Kingsley Suamataia, Wanya Morris, Mike Caliendo, Lucas Niang, Hunter Nourzad
The starters are set with the rookie Suamataia winning the job over second-year Morris. That will make Morris the swing tackle. Caliendo can back up either guard spot and snap, as can Nourzad. Niang, a tackle, got snaps at guard at training camp.
This projection puts seventh-round draft pick C.J. Hanson on the 16-member practice squad if he clears waivers.
Morris left Thursday’s game with a knee injury, but Andy Reid said he doesn’t expect Morris to miss the opener.
Defense (25)
Defensive tackle (6): Chris Jones, Derrick Nnadi, Tershawn Wharton, Mike Pennel, Matt Dickerson, Neil Farrell
Injuries kept Jones from playing in the preseason, and Nnadi returned for the third game, giving Wharton, Pennel, Dickerson and Farrell plenty of reps. Wharton has been the best of the bunch.
Dickerson appeared in 12 regular-season and one playoff game for the Chiefs last season.
Defensive end (4): George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Malik Herring
Charles Omenihu will start the season on the physically unable to perform list and will miss the early part of the season. This leaves the Chiefs shorthanded at a demanding position.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah appears to have improved over last season and is in line to play more than the 20% of the defensive snaps he got as a rookie. But the Chiefs are looking for disruption from their 2023 first-round draft pick.
This is a position group that could use some stability and bears watching as teams release veterans and waive players.
Linebacker (5): Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Leo Chenal, Jack Cochrane, Cam Jones
Jones would seem to have an edge the edge over Cole Christiansen because of his special teams usage. Jones played 67% of special teams snaps last season, ranking fifth on the team.
Cornerback (5): Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Joshua Williams, Nazeeh Johnson, Keith Taylor
The unsettled starting role comes from this position group. McDuffie, the All-Pro, is a starter. But the second cornerback has been a revolving door because of injuries to Watson, Williams and Johnson. As for the fifth corner, Taylor, at 6-3, has the size the Chiefs seek at this position.
Safety (5): Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, Chamarri Conner, Jaden Hicks, Deon Bush
A strong position group, although Reid didn’t play in the preseason while recovering from a quad injury. Cook returned to action after missing the end of the season and playoffs with an ankle injury. Hicks, the fourth-round pick, had an impressive training camp.
Conner also has played slot corner during the preseason and could see snaps there.
Specialist (3): Harrison Butker, Matt Araiza, James Winchester
Enter new punter Araiza, exit Tommy Townsend. Winchester should be ready for the opener after suffering a shoulder injury against the Detroit Lions last week.
This story was originally published August 23, 2024 at 6:00 AM.