The Kansas City Chiefs take on the New Orleans Saints in preseason Week 1. 

While the game is virtually meaningless when it comes to the team's record this upcoming season, it'll play a big role in evaluating the 90-man offseason roster ahead of 53-man roster cuts.

Several players will be looking to stand out and make their case for a spot as the Chiefs pursue consecutive Super Bowl titles during the 2023 NFL season. Here's a look at three of those players, who each have quite a bit riding on preseason performance starting in Week 1:

OT Lucas Niang

No player has more riding on preseason performance than Niang, in this writer's humble opinion. Early in the offseason, it looked as if the team had legitimate plans to rely on Niang as a starting option at right tackle. After all their acquisitions in the draft and free agency, competition for a roster spot at any tackle position is at an all-time high. 

Niang, of course, famously opted out of his rookie season in 2020. He returned in 2021 and briefly earned a role as the team's starting right tackle. A minor injury derailed that, and then in Week 17 against the Cincinnati Bengals, he suffered a season-ending patellar tendon injury.

In Super Bowl LVII, Niang came in for a snap at right tackle after Andrew Wylie had declared eligible for his Pokemon-themed play. The team trusted him in a big moment for the franchise, but will they trust him in a key depth position in 2023? His preseason performance will likely be the determining factor. 

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DE Joshua Kaindoh

A former fourth-round draft pick in 2021, Kaindoh has seen a strong training camp so far. However, putting things together on the practice field hasn't been a problem for Kaindoh to this point in his career. 

The problem has been that he's failed to produce in the opportunities where he has seen the field. In his three regular-season appearances since his rookie season, Kaindoh has recorded no official statistics. Last year in the preseason, Kaindoh recorded a sack against Packers QB Danny Etling. That's really been the highlight of his NFL career so far.

He's on the right track to have a standout preseason. I'm told he's put on 15 pounds of good weight and has been moving better than ever before. How he performs in the preseason could be the difference between making the 53-man roster or finding himself looking for a new team. Even Steve Spagnuolo has said that he's hoping to see Kaindoh "surface" this year.

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CB Dicaprio Bootle

A 2021 undrafted free agent, Bootle will be looking to make the 53-man roster for the first time in his professional career. Making the team as a cornerback will be harder than it has ever been, with competition from draft picks and incoming undrafted free agents.

Bootle's advantage of having experience on his side. He spent each of the past two seasons on the practice squad and has been promoted at times, primarily playing on special teams.

After Nazeeh Johnson's injury, Steve Spagnuolo mentioned Bootle as a potential replacement. 

"Bootle always gives us everything he's got," Spagnuolo said.

Well, it has come time for Bootle to show out and make his mark. 

Chiefs 53-man roster projection ahead of preseason Week 1

With preseason Week 1 around the corner, Charles Goldman updates his 53-man roster projection for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Featured image via Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports