The Kansas City Chiefs are set to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL preseason. This is the next big step in the team’s evaluation of the 90-man roster ahead of roster cuts on Aug. 30.

The Chiefs’ first preseason matchup against the Rams gave the team valuable roster information. Kansas City has also since wrapped up 2026 NFL training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri. What have we learned since our 53-man roster projection 1.0?

Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2026 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2026 undrafted free agents.

Offense: 26

Quarterbacks: 3

• Patrick Mahomes
• Justin Fields
• Garrett Nussmeier*

Cut: Chris Oladokun

It’s becoming clear the Chiefs will keep three quarterbacks. It’s not just because Patrick Mahomes is coming off a knee injury, though. Asked about keeping both Fields and Nussmeier, assistant GM Mike Bradway laid it all out there.

“I think that’s fair,” Bradway said. “With the way the position looks, obviously, both those guys are having really good camps too. I think Justin (Fields) has shown growth each day, and I think obviously his athleticism stands out. But Nuss (Garrett Nussmeier), for a seventh-round pick, I think you can see his command, his poise, his accuracy. So, I think not just because of Pat. I think it’s just those two guys are really good football players, too.”

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Running backs: 3

• Kenneth Walker
• Emmett Johnson*
• Brashard Smith

Cut: Emari Demercado, Jaydn Ott**, EJ Smith**

Maybe I’m reading into Demercado’s preseason snaps too much, but he played just five snaps on offense and five snaps on special teams. They all came in the second half, with all of his offensive snaps coming in the fourth quarter. It could just be the Chiefs wanting to get Emmett Johnson and Brashard Smith a ton of snaps, but his contract makes you wonder. Cutting Demercado would save about $690K compared to $550K in dead money. There’s also the fact that Jaydn Ott and E.J. Smith look like the type of developmental guys you can sneak onto the practice squad.

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Tight ends: 4

• Travis Kelce
• Noah Gray
• Jared Wiley
• Jake Briningstool

IR: John Michael Gyllenborg**

Cut: Tre Watson, Mason Pline

I feel increasingly confident that the Chiefs will keep four tight ends on the 53-man roster. Not only is there a trend toward 13 personnel in the NFL this season, but Wiley and Briningstool have each flashed during training camp and the preseason. This is as much about the 2026 NFL season as it is about building depth and continuity for the post-Travis Kelce reality that the team could face in 2027.

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Wide receivers: 7

• Xavier Worthy
• Tyquan Thornton
• Rashee Rice
• Jalen Royals
• Cyrus Allen*
• Nikko Remigio
• Andrew Armstrong

IR: Jeff Caldwell**

Cut: Jimmy Holiday, Jason Brownlee, Jacob De Jesus**, Omari Evans**, Xavier Loyd**, Jeff Weimer**

I still think the Chiefs go with seven wide receivers for the 2026 NFL season. Between the constant ticky-tacky injuries, the need at return specialist, and Andrew Armstrong quietly being a stud, this group has the potential to be way better than it looks on paper. It also helps that Chris O’Shea is coaching them this year. I think the one thing that could change this situation is if someone else emerges as the top return specialist outside of Nikko Remigio.

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Offensive line: 9

• Josh Simmons
• Kingsley Suamataia
• Creed Humphrey
• Trey Smith
• Jaylon Moore
• Kahlil Benson**
• Hunter Nourzad
• Mike Caliendo
• Esa Pole

Cut: C.J. Hansen, Ethan Driskell, Pete Nygra**, Josh Thompson**, Kellen Diesch, Chu Godrick

With Josh Simmons and Trey Smith out of practice, the pecking order for the offensive tackle and offensive guard positions is coming increasingly clear. I’d put this group in pen, even ahead of preseason Week 2. Driskell might have a shot, but he needs to clean up the penalties this week.

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Defense: 24

Defensive line: 9

EDGE: 5

• George Karlaftis
• Felix Anudike-Uzomah
• Ashton Gillotte
• R Mason Thomas*
• Emmanuel Ogbah

Defensive tackle: 4

• Chris Jones
• Khyiris Tonga
• Peter Woods*
• Marcus Harris

Reserve/PUP: Omarr Norman-Lott

IR: Ethan Downs

Cut: Amari McNeil**, Cole Brevard**, Daron Payne**, VJ Anthony**, Ethan Hurkett**, Tyreke Smith

Marcus Harris is the player that nobody knows about who is likely to make the 53-man roster. He’s likely a placeholder for when Omarr Norman-Lott is ready to return, but he’s been more than that during training camp and the preseason. Chiefs DL coach Joe Cullen spoke about him this past week.

“I was just saying to Marcus (Harris) today, he’s consistent,” Cullen said. “What I mean by that, I know what I’m getting. He’s physical. He manages his gap. He works hard, and impressed that he comes to work every day. He’s been stout in there.”

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Linebacker: 5

• Nick Bolton
• Drue Tranquill
• Cooper McDonald
• Jeff Bassa
• Cam Jones

IR: Jack Cochrane

Cut: Kam Arnold, Wesley Bissainthe**, Cole Christiansen

I think that Cochrane’s knee injury might be a bit more serious than the team has let on so far. I could see him as another short-term IR candidate. That said, Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo likes to carry six linebackers. In my opinion, this group just isn’t talented enough to do so right now. I’d really like to see them add another body here during waivers or via trade.

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Defensive backs: 10

Cornerbacks: 5

• Mansoor Delane*
• Nohl Williams
• L’Jarius Sneed
• Melvin Smith Jr.
• Jadon Canady*

Safety: 5

• Alohi Gilman
• Chamarri Conner
• Jaden Hicks
• Chris Roland-Wallace
• Xavier Nwankpa**

Traded: Kristian Fulton, Kader Kohou

Cut: Kevin Knowles, Kaiir Elam, Zelmar Vedder**, D’Arco Perkins-McCallister**, Tanner McCallister, DeShon Singleton**

I think the Chiefs have a surplus of defensive backs. Fulton and Kohou feel like the odd men out. However, they’re probably also the most likely to go on to start for other teams. I’d wager that one or both could be traded, especially if they get a lot of playing time and flash in the next two preseason games. Look at Perkins-McAllister and Singleton as depth and long-term developmental options who could land back on the practice squad.

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Special teams: 3

Kicker: Harrison Butker

Punter: Matt Araiza

Long snapper: James Winchester

Cut: None

Again, there’s no competition within this group, so it’s pretty straightforward for Kansas City.