KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The time has come for the Chiefs to whittle down their 91-player roster down to 53 before 5 p.m. Central Time Sunday.
The deadline for the initial 53-player roster, however, is just the beginning, as General Manager Brett Veach and his staff will continue scouring the waiver wire, free agency, and certainly other clubs’ rosters for upgrades. Starting shortly after noon Central Time Monday, teams can begin field practice squads of 16 players plus an exemption for an International Player.
Without further ado, here’s my projection for the Chiefs’ initial 53-player roster.
Quarterbacks (3)
On the roster: Patrick Mahomes, Justin Fields and Garrett Nussmeier
In the mix: Chris Oladokun
It’s long past time to stop pretending — Mahomes is healthy and ready to start Week 1, barring an unforeseen catastrophe. Field still has more to polish, and he can learn much from this coaching staff and Mahomes. Nussmeier delivered an uneven performance during the preseason — 370 yards passing, no touchdowns, an interception and a 70.5 passer rating — but there’s enough there to continue nurturing. Odds are that if a team claimed Nussmeier on waivers, the move would stunt his development, but that won’t stop some teams. If the Chiefs want to ensure he remains in Kansas City, they need to stash him on the 53-player roster.
Running backs (4)
On the roster: Kenneth Walker, Emari Demercado, Emmett Johnson and Brashard Smith
Practice squad candidate: EJ Smith
In the mix: Jaydn Ott
The running back room is set and raring to go. Johnson averaged 4.7 yards per carry in the preseason, and he also caught six passes for 35 yards. Smith led the club with 130 yards on the ground in the preseason while averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt combined to average 3.8 yards per attempt last year. The rushing attack is much improved. Smith and Johnson might also team on kick returns. EJ Smith shined as a kick returner during training camp, but there’s no spot on the roster for now.
Wide receivers (5)
On the roster: Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, Cyrus Allen and Jalen Royals
Practice squad candidates: Nikko Remigio, Andrew Armstrong, Jason Brownlee Jimmy Holiday
In the mix: Jacob De Jesus, Omari Evans, Xavier Loyd and Jeff Weimer
Injured reserve: Jeff Caldwell
The most difficult decision on this roster came down to how Veach juggles an offense with 10 offensive linemen, four tight ends and three quarterbacks. By trying to sneak Remigio onto the practice squad. It’s also possible a cut could come somewhere else, including on the defense. Remigio has done everything this team has asked, but special teams coordinator Dave Toub last week summed up the problem succinctly: “I wish he had Worthy’s speed on the top end.” His intangles are top-notch, but the pressure is on for the special teams to get more productive.
Armstrong has had an outstanding camp as well — if the Chiefs try to squeeze Nussmeier on to the practice squad, or opt to go with three tight ends, Armstrong is another outstanding candidate. The 5-foot-6 DeJesus is elusive in the return game and should earn a practice squad spot.
Tight ends (4)
On the roster: Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jared Wiley and Jake Briningstool
Practice squad candidates: Tre Watson and Mason Pline
In the mix:
Injured reserve: John Michael Gyllenborg
The tight end room is the one position where almost anything could happen. Let’s be real — Briningstool was the only tight end to shine during the preseason, leading the club with eight catches for 76 yards. He’s earned a spot. Wiley chipped in five catches for 51 yards, and he’s showing signs of returning to form after a torn ACL in October 2024 wrecked his rookie campaign and second season. The Chiefs have done nothing but show confidence in Gray, but it’s worth noting he has no more guarantees in his contract, and the club could save almost $4 million in cap space by making Gray a surprise cut.
Offensive line (10)
On the roster: LT Josh Simmons, LG Kingsley Suamataia, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith and RT Jaylon Moore, OT Kahlil Benson, G/C Hunter Nourzad, C/G Mike Caliendo, OG Josh Ezeudu and OT Diego Pounds
Practice squad candidates: C Pete Nygra and OT Chukwuebuka Godrick
In the mix: OT Esa Pole, OT Ethan Driskell, OG C.J. Hanson OG Josh Thompson
Injured reserve: T/G Matt Waletzko
The late additions of Ezeudu and Pounds complicate the offensive line picture, but they also provide upgrades in depth on the interior and the edge. Nourzad and Caliendo offer the best combination of experience and skill among the other options. Pole hasn’t shown the breakout performance expected in season two, and could be the odd man out. Nygra is a sleeper pick for sure, and he’s earned a practice squad role,
The Saturday addition of Pounds knocks Pole off the initial 53-player roster.
Defensive line (9)
On the roster: DE George Karlaftis, DT Chris Jones, NT Khyiris Tonga, DE Ashton Gillotte, DT Peter Woods, DE R Mason Thomas, DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DT Marcus Harris and DE Tyreke Smith
Physically unable to perform list: DT Omarr Norman-Lott
Practice squad candidates: DE Emmanuel Ogbah
In the mix: DT Cole Brevard, DT Damon Payne, DE VJ Anthony, DT Amari McNeill, DE Ethan Hurkett and DE Niles King
Injured reserve: DE Ethan Downs
The depth chart looks mostly set, with the first seven names guaranteed locks for the roster. There’s no doub that Harris and Smith are the two next best candidates for the team, and they’ve performed well in the preseason. Few of the other young players and undrafted free agents stood out during camp and the preseason.
Depth remains a concern for the Chiefs at both edge and tackle, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Veach remain on the lookout for waiver wire cuts and trade opportunities Sunday and the next few days.
Linebackers (5)
On the roster: WLB Drue Tranquill, MLB Nick Bolton, SLB Cooper McDonald, OLB/MLB Jack Cochrane and WLB Jeffrey Bassa
Practice squad candidates: LB Cole Christiansen and OLB Cam Jones
In the mix: LB Kam Arnold and LB Wesley Bissainthe
Injury questions linger at linebacker, but Tranquill looks on track for Week 1, and maybe Cochrane too. Bassa has had a strong preseason. Christiansen and Jones provide experience depth and special teams help. If there’s a sleeper pick for the practice squad, it’s Arnold, who is a former safety converted to linebacker.
Cornerbacks (6)
On the roster: LCB Mansoor Delane, RCB Nohl Williams, RCB Kristian Fulton, CB L’Jarius Sneed, SCB Jadon Canady and CB Melvin Smith
Practice squad candidates: SCB Kevin Knowles and D’arco Perkins-McAllister
In the mix: SCB Kader Kohou, Kaiir Elam and Zelmar Vedder
Even after the preseason, there remain plenty of questions about the team’s secondary. Delane is a lock to start, and Williams has been the Chiefs’ second-best cornerback in camp. Where does Sneed fit in? What’s been holding back Fulton? Is Smith healthy after an injury Friday night? There’s more mystery at cornerback than any other group on the roster.
The position battle for slot corner likely affects at least three cornerbacks, along with safety Chris Roland-Wallace. The club added slot specialist Kohu during free agency, then drafted Canady. Knowles played six games last season with 61 snaps in the slot, 16 in the box and just one at outside corner. It’s unlikely all three make the roster, and if just one wins a job, it’s Canady’s to lose.
Can defensive backs coach Dave Merritt still mold Elam back into the player who was the No. 23 overall selection in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, just two spots behind Trent McDuffie? Elam replacing McDuffie on the Kansas City roster is Alanis Morissette’s kind of irony.
Safeties (4)
On the roster: FS Alohi Gillman, SS Chamarri Conner, SCB/FS Chris Roland-Wallace and FS/SS Jaden Hicks
Practice squad candidates: Xavier Nwankpa and DeShon Singleton
In the mix: Tanner McCallister
Injury questions surrounding Gillman and Conner could prompt the Chiefs to keep a fifth safety at the cost of a sixth corner. The club could opt for five and five at corner and safety regardless because their safeties have flexibility to play in the slot as well as in the box.
Specialists (3)
On the roster: K Harrison Butker, P Matt Araiza and LS James Winchester
In the mix: None
Camp competition: None
The three specialists are the only players on the roster with zero competition. Buter and Winchester are entering their 10th season as teammates, although Winchester joined the Chiefs two years before the kicker did. Araiza enters only his third year, but whereas last year he had competition during OTAs, no other punter has been on the team’s roster this offseason. The trio will remain in place for a third-straight season.
