The Kansas City Chiefs have officially trimmed their 90-man offseason roster and assembled their first iteration of the 53-man roster for the 2025 NFL season. The team will continue to tinker with the roster throughout the coming weeks and during the season. This is merely the initial iteration of what will be an evolving roster for a team with Super Bowl LX aspirations.

Without further ado, here’s a look at the 53-man roster:

Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are rookies

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Quarterback (2)

IN: Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew
Reaction: The writing was on the wall that Minshew would be the second guy to make it. He was the only quarterback to take second-team snaps throughout training camp and the preseason. Chris Oladokun had a solid preseason performance, but he remains more of an emergency third quarterback on the practice squad.

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Running back (4)

IN: Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Elijah Mitchell, and Brashard Smith*
Reaction: It’s crazy to think that this time last year, it was Carson Steele and Clyde Edwards-Helaire making the 53-man roster behind Pacheco. This time around, it’s Kareem Hunt, Elijah Mitchell, and rookie Brashard Smith, which feels like an infinitely better running back room. I’m not convinced that Mitchell is safe. They could still make another addition here as well, just like they did with Samaje Perine last season.

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Tight end (3)

IN: Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, and Jared Wiley
Reaction: Travis Kelce and Noah Gray headline this group. After having one of the better training camps and preseason performances in Kansas City, Robert Tonyan was left off the 53-man roster. He’s a vested veteran and had no guaranteed money attached to his deal. I expect that the Chiefs will re-sign him after making some procedural moves.

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Wide receiver (8)

IN: Rashee Rice, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Royals*, Jason Brownlee, and Nikko Remigio
Reaction: With Rashee Rice’s status still up in the air, the Chiefs had to go with more players at wide receiver than they typically would. Jalen Royals is also dealing with an injury, and one that Andy Reid suggested on Tuesday might keep the rookie sidelined for a period of time. Jason Brownlee likely makes the roster because of that injury.

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Offensive line (9)

IN: Josh Simmons*, Kingsley Suamataia, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor, Jaylon Moore, Mike Caliendo, Wanya Morris, and Hunter Nourzad
Reaction: Outside of the starting lineup, the theme of this group seems to be versatility. Between Mooore, Caliendo, Morris, and Nourzad, the team can virtually fill any spot on the offensive line in a pinch. The starters are markedly better than they were a year ago, as is OL No. 6, Moore. Beyond that, though? I’m not sure the Chiefs raised the bar enough here.

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Defensive line (9)

IN: George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Chris Jones, Malik Herring, Ashton Gillotte*, Charles Omenihu, Omarr Norman-Lott*, Jerry Tillery, and Derrick Nnadi
Reaction: The trade for Derrick Nnadi really sealed the deal on this defensive line room. They opt to go heavy on the interior defensive line in the wake of Felix Anudike-Uzomah’s season-ending injury. This shouldn’t surprise, given that Chris Jones, Jerry Tillery, and even LB Leo Chenal can play edge for the Chiefs in certain situations. Malik Herring also has inside-outside flex.

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Linebacker (6)

On the 53-man roster: Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Leo Chenal, Jack Cochrane, Jeff Bassa*, Cooper McDonald*
Reaction: This goes about as we predicted, sans Cam Jones. Cooper McDonald made it from a rookie minicamp tryout to the 53-man roster. Jack Cochrane might become the new-age Daniel Sorensen, thanks to the support from the defensive coaching staff.

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Cornerback (5)

IN: Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Kristian Fulton, Nohl Williams*, and Josh Williams
Reaction: This group had a lot of question marks coming into the season, but could quietly be one of the deepest groups on the 53-man roster. That will especially be the case if Kristian Fulton is healthy and rookie Nohl Williams continues to develop.

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Safety (4)

IN: Bryan Cook, Chamarri Conner, Jaden Hicks, and Chris Roland-Wallace
Reaction: Mike Edwards’ vested status put a target on his back with roster cuts, but the truth is that the group they kept offers this defense the most positional flexibility in the secondary.

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Special teams (3)

On the 53-man roster: K Harrison Butker, P Matt Araiza, and LS James Winchester
Reaction: This group had no competition after they waived Eddie Czaplicki during training camp, so no surprises here.

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