The Kansas City Chiefs are entering the final stage of the 2026 NFL offseason. They’ve completed OTAs and mandatory minicamp. In just a few short weeks, Chiefs Kingdom will descend upon St. Joseph, Missouri, for 2026 training camp. That’s where the team will truly lay the foundation for the 2026 NFL season. Hopefully, it’s a foundation that garners better results than the 2025 campaign.

Kansas City currently has 90 players on the roster, and in late August, they’ll trim it to 53. There’s still a whole lot to learn about the players on the roster during training camp and in the preseason. That said, here’s an early projection of what the 53-man roster could look like when all is said and done.

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

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Offense: 25

Quarterbacks: 3

• Patrick Mahomes
• Justin Fields
• Garrett Nussmeier*

The Chiefs will finally go back to Andy Reid’s preferred number of quarterbacks on the 53-man roster because of Patrick Mahomes’ injury. Reid carried three on the 53-man roster all throughout the Alex Smith era, but has rarely done so with Mahomes. The most recent instance that they kept three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster was the 2022 NFL season, when Kansas City kept both Chad Henne and Shane Buechele along with Mahomes. Even if Mahomes is ready for Week 1, I don’t think the team will want to subject Garrett Nussmeier to waivers to get him on the practice squad. He’s close enough in terms of talent with Justin Fields that I think they’ll want to keep him available and on the roster, especially knowing that they’ve had QBs poached from the practice squad as recently as 2024.

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Running backs: 4

• Kenneth Walker
• Emari Demercado
• Emmett Johnson*
• Brashard Smith

I think this group is fairly set in stone at this point. Kenneth Walker is the clear-cut RB1 and alpha of the group. Emari Demercado has been the surprise of OTAs and mandatory minicamp, consistently earning opportunities behind Walker. I think fans will be surprised by him as well. I won’t be shocked if Emmett Johnson gives Demercado a run for his money, but right now I think Dave Toub has a grip on him and Brashard Smith as special-teams contributors.

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Tight ends: 3

• Travis Kelce
• Noah Gray
• Jared Wiley

Looking at the Chiefs’ tight end depth chart, they don’t really have any players outside of these three that need to be on the 53-man roster. Maybe one of Tre Watson, Jake Briningstool, John Michael Gyllenborg, and Mason Pline makes a case during training camp and preseason. However, I think it’s more likely they’re competing for a practice-squad spot than not at this point, unless someone gets hurt.

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Wide receivers: 6

• Xavier Worthy
• Tyquan Thornton
• Rashee Rice
• Jalen Royals
• Cyrus Allen*
• Jacob De Jesus**

I am going to go with a bit of a surprise as my No. 6 wide receiver. Some might opt for a big X receiver like Jeff Caldwell, Jason Brownlee, or Andrew Armstrong. Others might lean toward the incumbent Nikko Remigio. I can’t get over the fact that De Jesus has a reputation as an ace punt returner. He has been a standout receiver throughout OTAs and mandatory minicamp. If that continues throughout training camp and the preseason, I’d view him as indispensable.

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Offensive line: 9

• Josh Simmons
• Kingsley Suamataia
• Creed Humphrey
• Trey Smith
• Jaylon Moore
• Kahlil Benson**
• Esa Pole
• Hunter Nourzad
• C.J. Hanson

This group is fairly straightforward after the trade of Wanya Morris. Kahlil Benson and Esa Pole have risen up the depth charts. I could even see Ethan Driskell making a case for a spot during training camp. I will personally see this offseason as a complete failure if the combination of Hunter Nourzad, C.J. Hanson, Josh Thompson, and Pete Nygra cannot unseat incumbent Mike Caliendo as the top interior depth. Right now, I have Nourzad and Hanson penciled in, but it’s anyone’s game.

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Defense: 25

Defensive line: 9

EDGE: 4

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

Defensive tackle: 5

• Chris Jones
• Khyiris Tonga
• Peter Woods*
• Omarr Norman-Lott
• Amari McNeill**

I am going with an extra interior defensive lineman here because I’m not certain that Omarr Norman-Lott will be ready to start training camp. If that’s the case and he winds up on the Physically Unable To Perform (PUP) list, I’m betting on McNeill being the player the Chiefs roll with. One thing I think this current group is lacking is a long defensive end who can rush from the interior in Steve Spagnuolo’s NASCAR packages. If they look to add a player, I won’t be shocked if that’s the type they target.

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Linebacker: 6

• Nick Bolton
• Drue Tranquill
• Cooper McDonald
• Jeff Bassa
• Jack Cochrane
• Ethan Downs

I think this group is fairly straightforward. There’s not a whole lot of competition. Steve Spagnuolo prefers to carry six players at the position. Ethan Downs is currently listed at linebacker and not edge rusher. I do think they’re going to view him as a hybrid-style player with special teams value.

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Defensive backs: 10

Cornerbacks: 5

• Mansoor Delane*
• Nohl Williams
• L’Jarius Sneed
• Kader Kohou
• Jadon Canady*

Safety: 5

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

A bit of a surprise is Xavier Nwankpa making it as an undrafted free agent. He’d be the third UDFA to make it in this projection. Dave Toub name-dropped him earlier this offseason, and Chris Roland-Wallace’s versatility to play any spot in the secondary makes it possible. The bigger surprise here is that there is no Kristian Fulton. I think the return of L’Jarius Sneed makes him somewhat vulnerable. The Chiefs can trade him and clear quite a bit of cap space. He’s also the caliber of player that you could get a high Day 3 pick or a player in return. He’s someone I’ll be watching during 53-man roster cuts.

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Special teams: 3

Kicker: Harrison Butker

Punter: Matt Araiza

Long snapper: James Winchester

There’s no competition at any of these position groups, so it’s no surprise to see this bunch holding their roles. I will say that 2026 is a unique season for every specialist in the room. There’s a chance that all three of these players could be gone in 2027. Winchester is getting to the point where retirement is around the corner. Araiza is a restricted free agent in 2027. Butker has an out year in his contract and is coming off a down year in 2025.