The Kansas City Chiefs will soon have rookies and quarterbacks report to Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri, for their annual training camp.

Veterans will follow shortly after as Kansas City prepares for the 2026 NFL season. With 90 players on the roster and only 53 spots available, at least 37 players will be released before the regular season begins. Every position group carries meaningful competition, and the work done during training camp will set the foundation for the Chiefs’ season.

Here is a position-by-position look at the players with the most to gain and lose during camp.

Quarterback

While quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the most notable storyline at training camp, his situation is fairly simple. He’s the star. He has no competition for the starting job. The only questions surrounding Mahomes relate to his health. Everything about this position is his so long as he’s healthy.

The three quarterbacks behind him, however, have plenty more on the line. Justin Fields is a journeyman veteran now 27, playing for his fourth NFL team. This opportunity in Kansas City could be a rebirth of sorts, putting him on a Sam Darnold-like track if all goes well. Fields has had multiple chances at other clubs but has been unable to hold down a starting job, typically because of turnovers and efficiency concerns. Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Fields came to the team to play quarterback, so this isn’t just an athleticism-related gimmick.

Then there’s seventh-round rookie Garrett Nussmeier, who fell down draft boards after a 2025 college season marred by injury and uncertainty. He tried to play through it, which may have done him more harm than good in terms of draft valuation. That slide ultimately brought him to Kansas City, and he has a real opportunity to establish himself as the team’s long-term backup behind Mahomes. As much as Fields has a role to lose, Nussmeier has one to win.

Chris Oladokun has been around long enough for the coaching staff to know what he offers. At this point, he profiles as a practice-squad and scout-team quarterback. I don’t expect him to get many opportunities in training camp or the preseason.

Running back

The only settled piece of the Chiefs’ running back room is that Kenneth Walker III is the lead back. Beyond Walker, there is significant competition.

Emari Demercado, a talented and productive player on limited touches with the Arizona Cardinals, has an opportunity to prove he can be more than a tertiary piece. He took a lot of second-team repetitions during OTAs and mandatory minicamp and will look to hold that role through camp.

Rookie Emmett Johnson fell to the fifth round despite incredible production during his final season at Nebraska. He has a steeper climb as a rookie, but history is full of examples of young running backs seizing opportunity. Chiefs fans even saw that as recently as 2022 with Isiah Pacheco. That scenario could be in play for Johnson.

Brashard Smith, a former wide receiver turned running back, might have the most to lose. He was the only holdover in a room that has been transformed under DeMarco Murray and Eric Bieniemy. Smith was tasked with adding strength this offseason, and the question remains whether the coaching staff envisions him as a running back with a defined role or a tweener stuck between a murky receiver competition and a fierce backfield battle.

E.J. Smith, son of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith, also has a lot to gain. He was mentioned as a potential kick returner for special teams coordinator Dave Toub during the offseason program, and that job remains wide open.

Wide receiver

This might be the position group with the most opportunities to gain and the most standing to lose during Kansas City Chiefs training camp.

Rashee Rice is the headliner, returning from knee surgery while still dealing with off-field issues. Whether those factors have cost him any ground with the coaching staff remains to be seen. A good training camp and preseason could make the staff forget about the poor decision-making this offseason. It could also put him and the team on the path to a successful 2026 season. Anything less than a good camp and preseason could spell disaster for Rice.

Xavier Worthy enters his third season needing to show significant improvement. Jalen Royals is looking to bounce back after a disappointing rookie year in which he saw virtually no offensive or special teams snaps.

Tyquan Thornton burst onto the scene in his first year with Kansas City in 2025, but his role diminished as the team got healthier. He has a chance to solidify a more consistent offensive role through a strong camp and preseason.

Rookie Cyrus Allen has generated buzz ahead of camp, but he’ll need to clear Andy Reid’s well-documented rookie receiver learning curve. Reid asks his young receivers to learn all three positions thoroughly before earning significant snaps.

Beyond the top names, Andrew Armstrong turned heads during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, while Jacob de Jesus could factor into the punt returner competition and has become a favorite target of Nussmeier. There are other talented players garnering outside interest like Jeff Caldwell, but it remains to be seen which of these players rise to the top during training camp.

Tight end

Travis Kelce and Noah Gray anchor the room, but competition exists behind them. Jared Wiley enters a key season after a knee injury disrupted the early stages of his career. He needs to show more explosiveness in the passing game and soundness as a blocker. If he doesn’t, others are waiting.

Tre Watson, a second-year player, took advantage of first-team repetitions during OTAs and didn’t miss a beat. His ability to block from multiple alignments while contributing as a receiver will be tested during camp. There was excitement for fellow UDFA Jake Briningstool in 2025, and there’s a new local fan-favorite in the house in John Michael Gyllenborg.

Offensive line

The right tackle battle between incumbent Jaylon Moore and challengers Esa Pole and Kahlil Benson headlines this group. Benson, the undrafted rookie out of Indiana, has the most to gain here. Meanwhile, Moore has the most to lose. Benson earning the starting job could be in the best interest of the team and finances. Moore losing out could be the difference between an extension and a two-year stay in Kansas City.

On the interior, Mike Caliendo has served as the fourth offensive lineman for several years. It feels like it’s time to change that designation. Hunter Nourzad took over that swing role later last season when injuries created openings. C.J. Hanson, entering his third season after playing at Holy Cross, should be at the point where his body and playbook knowledge are ready for NFL contribution. Among undrafted rookies, Josh Thompson out of LSU is the name to watch after a nearly flawless final college season.

Kansas City Chiefs training camp is where opportunities are won and lost. What these players do in St. Joseph will set the stage for every checkpoint of the 2026 NFL season.