Chiefs 53-Man Roster 2025: A practice squad move in 2024 could influence Brett Veach and Andy Reid's decisions at quarterback
The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up Phase III of the offseason program last week with their final mandatory minicamp practice. In four short weeks, the team will focus on the most consequential stretch of the offseason with its 2025 training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri. That's where all the fun and hard work truly begins as […]
The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up Phase III of the offseason program last week with their final mandatory minicamp practice. In four short weeks, the team will focus on the most consequential stretch of the offseason with its 2025 training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri.
That's where all the fun and hard work truly begins as the team seeks to pare down its 90-man offseason roster, selecting 53 players and a 16-man practice squad to compete for Super Bowl LX during the 2025 NFL season. What could that 53-man roster look like following roster cuts? Over the next few days, we'll look at some of the quirks of the 90-man roster and how that could impact things when they trim down the roster.
Let's get things started with the quarterback position. . .
Kansas City Chiefs currently have four quarterbacks on the 90-man offseason roster
The Chiefs have four quarterbacks on the 90-man offseason roster, which has been fairly standard practice for the team in recent years. With training camp on the horizon, Andy Reid typically likes to have four quarterbacks for depth purposes and to allow every team member a chance to shine in practice.
This year, the group comprises Patrick Mahomes, Gardner Minshew, Chris Oladokun, and Bailey Zappe. Mahomes, of course, is the salty veteran in Kansas City, heading into his ninth NFL season and eighth as a starting quarterback. Oladokun and Zappe have both been in the system before, with Minshew being the lone newcomer to the team at quarterback this year. If Minshew earns the No. 2 role, it'll be the third consecutive season in which Mahomes has a new backup quarterback.
The main difference from last year is that Carson Wentz is no longer with the team. After a poor showing in Kansas City in 2024, he remains a free agent and is transitioning to coaching with his alma mater. They've also got no Ian Book on the 90-man roster, which doesn't come as a big surprise. He tucked the ball and ran with the fourth-team offense more than he rightfully should have.
How many quarterbacks will the Chiefs keep on the 53-man roster in 2025?
It has been a rare occurrence for the Chiefs to keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster during the Patrick Mahomes era. The most recent instance was the 2022 NFL season, when Kansas City kept both Chad Henne and Shane Buechele alongside Mahomes. It was a common tactic during the Alex Smith era Chiefs, with virtually three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster every season when he was the starting quarterback. Andy Reid has often opted for three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster as a head coach because it's the most important position in football and having a stable of talent can help your team in more ways than one.
While I tend to believe that this 90-man roster is far too talented with the non-quarterback skill positions to keep three quarterbacks, I could see a path to Coach Reid going back to his old ways. Gardner Minshew is the clear No. 2 quarterback in Kansas City as a former NFL starter, including with the Las Vegas Raiders just a season ago. I think he'll only increase his stranglehold on that spot during training camp and the preseason, but things can always go awry over the next few months leading into the season. He'll need to show that he's a little bit sharper than he was in OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
Last season, the Chiefs lost their No. 3 quarterback, Bailey Zappe, when he was signed from the practice squad and to the 53-man roster for the Cleveland Browns. They ultimately brought QB Chris Oladokun back on the practice squad while Zappe played a reserve role with the Browns.
Kansas City signed Zappe again this offseason, which vindicated my thoughts that they didn't want to lose him when he was poached in 2024. He's now competing with Oladokun for the No. 3 quarterback spot, but will that spot be one on the practice squad or the 53-man roster? I can't help but think that the Chiefs might seek to avoid having a quarterback poached from the practice squad again in 2025. That could influence decision-making regarding the 53-man roster, especially if either Oladokun or Zappe has a standout preseason performance.
Right now, I'm sticking with two quarterbacks, Mahomes and Minshew, on the 53-man roster. I'm not ready to rule out the possibility that three quarterbacks could make it when we reach the final cutdown date in August. Minshew has more to prove, while Zappe and Oladokun have to square the No. 3 job before making a case for the 53-man roster.
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