Chiefs 53-Man Roster Projection: Kansas City has quality depth at the skill positions, versatility in the trenches
Projecting the Chiefs’ 53-man roster ahead of the regular season.
Following the Kansas City Chiefs’ first preseason game, we have a better idea as to who will make the 53-man roster later this month.
However, there are still some tough decisions to be made, particularly with skill position players. The Chiefs will wrap up training camp after Wednesday’s practice before facing the Seattle Seahawks on Friday. The starters will likely play a bit longer in that game, which will limit opportunities for players who are on the roster bubble to make an impact.
Let’s take a stab at what Kansas City’s 53-man roster could look like ahead of its Week 1 regular season matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. You can find our previous prediction here.
Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2025 draft picks. Players with double asterisks (**) are 2025 undrafted free agents. Players in italics are practice squad candidates.
Quarterback (2)
On the 53-man roster: Patrick Mahomes, Gardner Minshew
Cut: Bailey Zappe, Chris Oladokun
Minshew started training camp a bit sluggish as he adjusted to his new team, but has settled in nicely over the past week, which carried over to the preseason game. Zappe, on the other hand, struggled mightily as he threw two interceptions and completed less than 50 percent of his passes.
The Chiefs have needs elsewhere throughout the roster, so I don’t see the point in keeping three QBs. Keeping Oladokun on the practice squad has proved valuable over the last couple of years when the Chiefs prepare to face mobile QBs.
Running back (4)
On the 53-man roster: Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Elijah Mitchell, & Brashard Smith*
Cut: Elijah Young**, Carson Steele
Pacheco and Hunt are firmly the top two guys here. The Chiefs clearly have a plan to utilize Smith as a gadget player on offense and a return man on special teams. That left me with a decision to make between Mitchell and Steele, which wasn’t easy.
Steele provides value as a fullback and on kick return coverage, but Mitchell has looked very explosive during camp. K.C. badly needs speed out of the backfield, and Mitchell’s ceiling is simply higher. Steele would be a lock for the practice squad, but I would be worried about him getting plucked by another team.
Tight end (3)
On the 53-man roster: Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, & Robert Tonyan
Cut: Tre Watson**, Jared Wiley, Georquarius Spivey
IR: Jake Briningstool**
Tonyan has had a great camp and it translated to Saturday’s preseason game as he led the team in receptions (3) and receiving yards (49). While Wiley still has a lot of intriguing athletic tools, he’s more of a project than we thought after having a nice camp last year.
Briningstool has missed most of camp with a hamstring injury, so it makes a ton of sense to put him on IR and give him a year to learn mentally. Watson has had his moments during camp and would be a fine addition to the practice squad.
Wide receiver (7)
On the 53-man roster: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals*, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Nikko Remigio, Tyquan Thornton, & Jason Brownlee
Cut: Skyy Moore, Elijhah Badger**, Mac Dalena**, Jimmy Holliday, Key’Shawn Smith**
Reserve/Suspended: Rashee Rice
It’s probably safe to assume that Rice will begin the regular season suspended. That could pave the way for the Chiefs to keep seven WRs, which I believe they will thanks to emergence of Brownlee. Not only has Brownlee raised some eyebrows during camp, but he caught a TD pass from Mahomes on K.C.’s first preseason drive.
Brownlee would be delegated to the practice squad when Rice returns, but getting him some main roster experience will do him well. It’s time for the Skyy Moore experiment to be over, and Badger, Dalena, Holliday, and Smith have all flashed enough talent to be worthy of the practice squad.
Offensive line (9)
On the 53-man roster: Josh Simmons*, Kingsley Suamataia, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor, Jaylon Moore, Hunter Nourzad, Wanya Morris, and Mike Caliendo
Cut: Ethan Driskell, Joey Lombard**, C.J. Hanson, Chu Godrick, Dalton Cooper**,Esa Pole**
The Chiefs could very well keep 10 offensive linemen, but the versatility that so many possess allows them to go with nine. The biggest question mark in this group is how Suamataia will hold up at LG. If he can’t cut it, Nourzad and Caliendo are true guards who can step in, and even Moore and Morris can fill in there in a pinch.
Defensive line (9)
On the 53-man roster: George Karlaftis, Charles Omenihu, Mike Danna, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Ashton Gillotte*, Omarr Norman-Lott*, Chris Jones, Jerry Tillery, and Mike Pennel
Cut: Fabien Lovett, Malik Herring, Marlon Tuipulotu, Janarius Robinson, Coziah Izzard**
NFI: BJ Thompson
This is pretty straightforward for my money. Robinson appeared to be making a case for the 53-man roster, but a fractured foot that he sustained during the preseason game likely spells doom for him. So many of the Chiefs’ defensive linemen have the versatility to lineup at either DE or DT, so nine should be suffice.
Linebacker (6)
On the 53-man roster: Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Leo Chenal, Jack Cochrane, Jeffrey Bassa* & Cooper McDonald**
Cut: Cam Jones, Cole Christiansen, Brandon George**
Linebacker has been pretty set in stone since the Chiefs re-signed Bolton during the offseason. The only mild surprise here is the undrafted free agent McDonald making the team, who has received high praise from defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
Cornerback (6)
On the 53-man roster: Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Nazeeh Johnson, Nohl Williams*, Kevin Knowles**, & Chris Roland-Wallace
Cut: Joshua Williams, Jacobe Covington**, Melvin Smith**, Azizi Hearn, Ajani Carter
Reserve/PUP: Kristian Fulton
Fulton is finally starting to ease his way back into practice, but I don’t think he’ll be where he needs to by the time Week 1 rolls around. Roland-Wallace, who flashed as a rookie in 2024, looks even more comfortable within the defense this year. Knowles has also been impressive, but could be sent to the practice squad when Fulton is ready. I have Williams being cut as his game just hasn’t progressed over the past couple of years.
Safety (4)
On the 53-man roster: Bryan Cook, Jaden Hicks, Mike Edwards, & Chamarri Conner
Cut: Major Williams**, Glendon Miller**
IR: Deon Bush
No surprises here. Bush, who I don’t think would have made the cut, tore his Achilles during Saturday’s game and will miss the entire 2025 season. Cook, Hicks, Edwards, and Conner should all be contributors to K.C.’s secondary this year, and Williams and Miller could be strong practice squad candidates.
Special teams (3)
On the 53-man roster: K Harrison Butker, P Matt Araiza, & LS James Winchester
The Chiefs have no other players at these postions on their roster, so this is as clear as it gets. Butker and Winchester are among the best in the league at their respective positions, and Araiza has shown and improvement.
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