Kansas City’s training camp is underway in St. Joseph. Right now, here’s how we see late August’s 53-man roster.
Kansas City Chiefs training camp is underway, with four full-team practices officially in the books. The Chiefs have their first off day on Thursday, which we thought to be the perfect time to unleash our initial 53-man roster projection.
As we say every year, while we always try to do our best in these projection exercises, there is little to no chance this will be the roster after the final cutdown on August 27 — and it is nearly impossible to account for players who are to be released from other rosters.
Following last year’s change, there is only one cutdown date following the conclusion of the preseason: from 90 to 53 players on August 27.
My projections are based on things I’ve seen, heard and hypothesized. Let’s dive in:
Offense (25)
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Quarterbacks (2): Patrick Mahomes, Carson Wentz
This offseason, the league changed the emergency quarterback rule, eliminating the requirement that a third quarterback be on the 53-man roster to be used in a game. I do think there is a battle brewing between Chris Oladokun and Ian Book for that practice squad spot, but that isn’t what we’re dealing with here.
Running backs (3): Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Deneric Prince
Don’t do it to me again, Deneric.
Last year, I was bullish on the 2023 undrafted free agent during training camp. But in the final hour, La’Mical Perine pushed ahead of him in standing with the coaches. Ultimately, the Chiefs didn’t keep either player. Jerick McKinnon is no longer on the roster, opening up the door for a third running back — a necessary measure considering the injury history of the top two players in the room. With much more caution than last year, I’ll go with Prince, who has seen opportunities with the first team early on in camp.
Obviously, I don’t have Rees-Zammit making the roster at this stage. Given that he has never played football, I still think he has a tall hill to climb. We’ll see if he makes an appearance in later projections.
Fullback (0):
There has been speculation that undrafted free agent Carson Steele could push Andy Reid to return to having a fullback on the roster. So far, though, we haven’t seen many signs of that in camp.
Wide receivers (7): Hollywood Brown, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, Mecole Hardman, Kadarius Toney, Nikko Remigio
Reid and general manager Brett Veach broke a long-standing trend in 2023’s initial 53-man roster, keeping an unprecedented seven wide receivers on the initial team. I think the back end of the room makes them stay with that.
In my opinion, the top four names in this room are locks. Picking the rest gets a bit murky. There was a point in the offseason where I would have put Rice on the suspension list, but I continue to get the sense a suspension stemming from his off-the-field matters could be pushed to the 2025 season. That means he would take up a spot here.
Hardman’s familiarity with the playbook and willingness to do whatever Reid asks of him (plus his punt-return upside) are making me keep him on this year’s team. When he stays healthy, Kansas City sees value in Toney as a unique weapon — and through four days of camp, it’s been so far, so good. Finally, I think Remigio has a lot of supporters on the coaching staff. He should be in the mix to be the team’s starting kick returner.
In this scenario, Veach simultaneously makes the difficult decision to part with former second-rounder Skyy Moore and fan favorite Justyn Ross. But sometimes, it’s simply a numbers game. If Moore ends up on the outside looking in, I wonder if he could be moved for a late-round pick swap.
Tight ends (4): Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, Irv Smith Jr.
There’s no more hiding the fact that Kelce is in the twilight of his career; even he would admit it. The now-world-famous tight end has joked (with Reid joining in) that he wants to be “worn out” — but I think reality will dictate that he sees his snap count managed so he can be most effective in a postseason run.
That could mean more snaps for Gray initially — and over time, the same for Wiley as he acclimates to the playbook and life as a professional. If each of them proves capable, Reid would relish having four tight ends for that elusive T-Rex package. That would give Smith a nice opportunity to revamp his career.
Offensive line (9): LT Wanya Morris, LG Joe Thuney, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, RT Jawaan Taylor, Kingsley Suamataia, Mike Caliendo, Hunter Nourzad, “Chu” Godrick
We’re still early in camp, so I’m not convinced Morris will win the starting left tackle job. Still, the first few days have indicated it could be his job to lose. The loser of the left tackle battle between Morris and Suamataia should be the next man up if a tackle goes down.
Mike Caliendo — who dressed for eight games last season — filled in for Thuney at left guard during the first few days of training camp. I see him as a potential candidate to take over Nick Allegretti’s swing-interior role.
The Chiefs drafted Nourzad in the fifth round as a developmental interior lineman, and “Chu” Godrick’s recent reps with the first team in camp have made me believe that offensive line coach Andy Heck may deem him ready for the big show.
Lucas Niang’s recent work at guard has led me to think that the Chiefs are making a last-ditch effort to find some upside as they face a tough decision.
Defense (25)
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Defensive tackles (5): Chris Jones, Tershawn Wharton, Derrick Nnadi, Mike Pennel, Matt Dickerson
It’s incredible to remember that at this time last year, Jones didn’t make the 53-man roster. Instead, he was listed on the Reserve/Did Not Report list. This season, that entire situation is different; Jones is in camp from beginning to end. Pennel showed his value late last year, appearing in four playoff games. Dickerson may not dress every week — but last year, he made the initial roster, proving that the Chiefs see him as a reliable backup.
Defensive ends (5): George Karlaftis, Michael Danna, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Malik Herring, Truman Jones
The first three players are obvious. I think Malik Herring continues to stick around, too; he’s shown gradual growth since joining the team as an undrafted free agent back in 2021. Truman Jones spent last year on Kansas City’s practice squad, so he has more to prove during this training camp — but based on the roster numbers, I think he has a great chance to stick. That could change when all-around defensive line weapon Charles Omenihu is eventually ready to get back into the fold.
Linebackers (5): Nick Bolton, Leo Chenal, Drue Tranquill, Jack Cochrane, Cam Jones
Like with other position groups, the top three players are cemented. Willie Gay Jr.’s departure to the New Orleans Saints could mean more defensive snaps for Cochrane, but we already know how special teams coordinator Dave Toub feels about both he and Jones on his units. Cochrane (336) and Jones (283) were among the top five players in special teams snaps last season.
Cornerbacks (6): Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson, Nazeeh Johnson, Nic Jones, Kelvin Joseph
I feel comfortable with the top five players in this room, but I think former 2021 second-rounder Kelvin Joseph will have to earn his spot. To do so, he’ll need to ward off rookie sixth-rounder Kamal Hadden and 2023’s undrafted cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe.
Prior to Joseph’s excused absences this week, he had been working outside in the second team across from Johnson. In a perfect world, the Chiefs would sneak Hadden and Boye-Doe onto the practice squad — but both players can shake up the group (and our later projections) over the next month.
Safeties (4): Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, Chamarri Conner, Jaden Hicks
In my opinion, behind Reid, the Chiefs have quietly built one of the NFL’s best young safety groups. At this writing, Conner appears to have erected a stronghold around the starting nickel job. Meanwhile, Hicks — who has been called a “draft steal” after falling to the Chiefs in the fourth round — has been looking the part in the early days.
Specialists (3)
Placekicker Harrison Butker, punter Matt Araiza and long-snapper James Winchester
There is no competition for any of the specialists in camp.
Under contract, not counted on active roster (2)
Reserve/PUP: Charles Omenihu
Reserve/NFI: BJ Thompson
Chiefs position quantities at the 53-man cutdown since 2013
Here’s a look at Chiefs position quantities throughout the years since Andy Reid took over the Chiefs in 2013:
*Eric Berry had a roster exemption at the 53-man roster cutdown in 2016 and was included in most cutdown listings.