Chiefs 53-man roster projection ahead of preseason Week 1
Only four training camp practices remain before the Kansas City Chiefs will say goodbye to Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri for the season. After Friday's practice, they'll quickly turn their attention to the New Orleans Saints in preseason Week 1. During the preseason, the decision-makers in Kansas City will have their most rigorous […]
Only four training camp practices remain before the Kansas City Chiefs will say goodbye to Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri for the season. After Friday's practice, they'll quickly turn their attention to the New Orleans Saints in preseason Week 1.
During the preseason, the decision-makers in Kansas City will have their most rigorous task yet. They'll seek to evaluate the entire 90-man roster and they'll begin to make the decisions about how to trim it down to just 53 players alongside a 16-man practice squad. Realistically speaking, there are only a few spots up for grabs on the roster. Competition for those spots is as fierce as it has ever been.
With all of that in mind, here’s our latest 53-man roster projection for the Chiefs:
Note: Players with single asterisk (*) are 2023 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2023 undrafted free agents.
Quarterback (2)
In: Patrick Mahomes and Blaine Gabbert
Out: Shane Buechele and Chris Oladokun
The Why: My 53-man roster projections to this point have all included Buechele. So what has changed? I still think the team has invested too much time and resources to cut him, but I think their injury situation doesn't currently allow them the luxury of rostering a third quarterback. Gabbert has proven to be a capable No. 2 in training camp. If Buechele clears waivers, great. If not they can find another option for the practice squad.
Running back (4)
In: Isiah Pacheco, Jerick McKinnon, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Deneric Prince**
Out: La'Mical Perine and Jerrion Ealy
The Why: I expect that Clyde Edwards-Helaire gets a heavy dose of work during the preseason to try and drum up some trade interest. Given how devalued the position group is right now, it'll be harder to trade him than you might think. Ultimately, he might just be more valuable to the Chiefs, especially given how good he was in the red zone a season ago.
Tight end (4)
In: Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jody Fortson, and Matt Bushman
Out: Blake Bell, Kendall Blanton, and Izaiah Gathings**
The Why: Bell is a vested veteran, which means he's not subject to waivers during roster cuts. If Fortson isn't back on the field at all during the remainder of training camp and the preseason, I'd suspect he winds up on injured reserve after 53-man roster cuts. That'd give the team the option to bring him back from IR after the first four weeks of the season (or when he's healthy). If Bushman has the type of preseason that I think he'll have, then he's a shoo-in for the No. 4 tight end.
Wide receiver (7)
In: Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, Justin Watson, Rashee Rice*, Richie James, and Justyn Ross
Out: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Cornell Powell, Nikko Remigio**, Kekoa Crawford**, Ty Fryfogle, and Ty Scott**
The Why: The Chiefs have been peddling this narrative that Toney will be ready to play in Week 1, but I just don't buy it. Even if they don't plan to put him on injured reserve, I don't see any way they roster fewer than seven receivers to start the season short of more injuries. Justin Watson isn't going anywhere, Richie James is the team's starting punt returner, and Justyn Ross is too damn talented to try and sneak through waivers. If I could, I'd find a way to keep Nikko Remigio as well, but we'll just have to cross our fingers and hope he finds his way through waivers.
Offensive line (8)
In: Donovan Smith, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor, Nick Allegretti, Wanya Morris*, Mike Caliendo
Out: Lucas Niang, Darian Kinnard, Prince Tega Wanogho, Austin Reiter, Jerome Carvin**, Sebastian Guitterez, and Jason 'Chu' Godrick**
The Why: I decided to go light on the offensive line in this particular projection. It wouldn't be the first time Andy Reid has carried just eight offensive linemen (2013 and 2015), but it would be the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era. I think that the team is grooming Wanya Morris to play swing tackle. Both Nick Allegretti and Mike Caliendo have interior versatility (both guard spots and center) and we all know Joe Thuney can play tackle in a pinch. There just seems to be little progress from players like Lucas Niang and Darian Kinnard, and it might be better to rip the bandaid off quickly. Maybe you get lucky and one of them clears waivers and lands on the practice squad.
Defensive line (10)
In: George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Felix Anudike-Uzomah*, Joshua Kaindoh, Malik Herring, Chris Jones, Derrick Nnadi, Daniel Wise, Tershawn Wharton, Keondre Coburn*
Out: Danny Shelton, BJ Thompson*, Truman Jones, Matt Dickerson, Phil Hoskins, and Chris Williams
Reserve/suspended: Charles Omenihu
The Why: From my understanding, Omenihu will get moved to the reserve/suspended list on cutdown day. I suspect that the team will cut a vested veteran like Danny Shelton and keep him on the practice squad as they did a season ago. The biggest shock here is probably my decision to release fifth-round draft pick, BJ Thompson. My understanding is there hasn't been much doing there and he's very much a project, despite being a favorite of D-Line coach Joe Cullen.
Linebacker (5)
In: Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Willie Gay Jr., Leo Chenal, and Jack Cochrane
Out: Cole Christiansen and Cam Jones
The Why: Five seems like the magic number here. Bolton, Tranquill, Gay and Chenal have rotated a lot on the defensive side of the ball. Cochrane is a core special teams player, but he has also stepped up as a defender in his second season as well.
Cornerback (6)
In: L'Jarius Sneed, Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Joshua Williams, Nic Jones*, and Ekow Boye-Doe**
Out: Dicaprio Bootle, Kahlef Hailassie**, Reese Taylor**, Lamar Jackson, and Anthony Witherstone**
Already on IR: Nazeeh Johnson
The Why: There's no telling how Sneed's knee is going to hold up throughout the 2023 NFL season. I think the Chiefs have no choice other than going heavy at this position group because of that fact. Nic Jones and Ekow Boye-Doe have both worked in and played some with the first-team defense during training camp. They also seem to have captured the interest of Dave Toub on special teams.
Safety (4)
In: Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, Mike Edwards, and Chamarri Conner*
Out: Deon Bush, Anthony Cook** and Isaiah Norman**
The Why: Deon Bush is another vested veteran who won't need to clear waivers. The team could potentially bring him back, but I'm not sure if they will. His role on special teams seems to have diminished. Edwards has been quite the ballhawk as a No. 3 safety and Conner seems to be a jack-of-all-trades defensive back.
Special teams (3)
In: K Harrison Butker, P Tommy Townsend, and LS James Winchester
Out: None.
The Why: No competition here.
Chiefs release first unofficial depth chart ahead of preseason Week 1
The first Kansas City Chiefs depth chart of the preseason is here and you should take it all with a huge grain of salt.
Featured image via Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
