ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — When the Chiefs take the field for their first training camp practice Tuesday morning, the jockeying will begin.
Slightly more than 30 of the 90 players on the field have little to no concerns of making the roster, assuming they remain healthy. For the more than 50 other players, it’s a career-in-the-balance sprint to prove in 17 practices that they deserve to be among the 53 players on the roster to begin the new NFL season.
Rosterology is my attempt to project what the initial 53-player roster might include. Make no mistake; stars will rise and fall throughout training camp. Players who shined during offseason workouts won’t look the same in the pressure cooker of St. Joseph, Missouri. Players who emerge during the first week can wither away as practices become more physical and preseason games begin. Another player swimming against the stream early in camp can put the pieces together in a few weeks and win a job.
It’s the romance of roster building that makes training camp an enjoyable treat for fans and terrifying agony for players who hope to earn a living playing football.
This projection is an exercise to see where the Chiefs’ roster sits entering training camp. The order in which you see the players’ names is based mainly on their likelihood of making the roster in the humble opinion of one reporter. The decisions are based primarily on observations from offseason workouts and conversations with team and league sources.
Players to watch are often — but not always — young players on the roster bubble or who may become surprise performers in camp. In the mix are players who might be practice-squad candidates or not quite ready to crack the roster of the AFC champions.
Quarterback (2)
Starter: Patrick Mahomes
Backup: Gardner Minshew
Player to watch: Bailey Zappe
In the mix: Chris Oladokun
There’s not much to debate here, with perennial MVP candidate Mahomes ensconced as the starter and the journeyman Minshew a reliable short-term understudy if needed to take the stage. Oladokun is an ideal practice squad quarterback and is particularly valuable as a scout team quarterback during the season. The wildcard is Zappe. The 26-year-old still has dazzling arm talent, but the mental side of the game remains his biggest obstacle.
Running Back (4)
Starter: Isiah Pacheco
Backups: Kareem Hunt, Elijah Mitchell and Brashard Smith
Player to watch: Elijah Young
In the mix: Carson Steele
Barring any injuries during camp, the veteran trio of Pacheco, Hunt and Mitchell all seem safe bets to make the roster. Each brings something different to the table, with the hard-running, between-the-tackles of Pacheco, the short-yardage master in Hunt and the speedster Mitchell. Smith is intriguing as a backfield candidate with his speed, change of direction, and pass-catching skills, but those also make him an ideal return specialist, which will likely be his initial role. Young, the former Mizzou running back bypassed on the depth chart by Cody Schrader, is an intriguing young candidate. Steele has expanded his versatility and could still make the team as a part-time fullback, running back and emergency tight end, plus as a full-time special-teams performer.
Wide Receiver (6)
Starter: Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown
Backups: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Royals and Nikko Remigio
Players to watch: Elijah Badger and Mac Dalena
In the mix: Skyy Moore, Tyquan Thornton, Jason Brownlee and Jimmy Holiday
There are two key questions facing Kansas City’s receiving group: can everyone stay healthy, and when (plus for how long) will Rice get suspended? On the latter question, the Chiefs are hoping Rice will be available in Week 1 when they travel to Brazil to face the Los Angeles Chargers, and that he will only be absent two to four games. But the club is bracing for an extended suspension, and that could impact the initial 53-player roster. Until otherwise notified, assume Rice is available Week 1. Brown and Smith-Schuster are veterans with injury histories.
Tight End (3)
Starter: Travis Kelce
Backups: Noah Gray and Jared Wiley
Players to watch: Jake Briningstool and Robert Tonyan
In the mix: Tre Watson and Geor’Quarius Spivey
This could easily be the most volatile position group for projecting its start to the season. There are no questions at the top, with Kelce and Gray the clear-cut top two options. It gets more questionable after that. Wiley is returning from a torn ACL and it isn’t easy to project where his health and his game will be on Sept. 5. Questions also follow Briningstool, who is an undrafted rookie with everything to prove, and Tonyan, who as a veteran must demonstrate that he can still perform the way he once did with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. Four tight ends are not out of the question, but would probably come at the expense of another roster spot for an offensive player.
Offensive Line (10)
Starters: LT Josh Simmons, LG Kingsley Suamataia, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, RT Jawaan Taylor
Backups: T Jaylon Moore, G/C Mike Caliendo, T Wanya Morris, C/G Hunter Nourzad and T Ethan Driskell
Players to watch: T Esa Pole, G Dalton Cooper
In the mix: T Chukwuebuka Godrick, C.J. Hanson, C Joey Lombard
Defensive Line (9)
Starter: DE George Karlaftis, DT Chris Jones, DT Omarr Norman-Lott and DE Mike Danna
Backups: DE Charles Omenihu, DT Mike Pennel, DE Felix Audike-Uzoma, DE Ashton Gillotte, DT Jerry Tillery
Players to watch: DE Marlon Tuipulotu, DE Janarius Robinson, DT Favien Lovett and DT Coziah Izzard
In the mix: Malik Herring
The top eight defensive linemen should comfortably make this team, barring any injuries or performance stepbacks. The ninth — and maybe 10th — defensive line spot should be an extensive battle. Tillery is the most accomplished veteran, and he lands on the positive side of the bubble for now. Tuipulotu arrived on the practice squad last season, and this will be his first real chance to prove his mettle, and the same is true for Robinson, a former Raider who signed with KC in April. Lovett is a second-year undrafted free agent, while Izzard is this year’s undrafted free agent. Anyone from this group could make the roster. The same holds true for Herring, who is entering his fifth season with the club.
Linebackers (6)
Starters: Drue Tranquill, Nick Bolton and Leo Chenal
Backups: Jeffrey Bassa, Jack Cochrane and Brandon George
Player to watch: Cooper McDonald
In the mix: Cam Jones and Cole Christiansen
Bassa must prove he can withstand NFL punishment as an undersized linebacker, but it’s a safe bet. Cochrane played 297 special-teams snaps last season, second only to Jaden Hicks, who will likely play many fewer snaps this season. Jones ranked fourth with 284 special-teams snaps, and that’s his most compelling roster case. Coordinator Dave Toub can’t afford too much turnover with Chris Roland-Wallace (249) and Joshua Williams (221) also on the roster bubble. George was arguably the top performer among undrafted free agents during offseason workouts, but McDonald was also impressive. Everyone in this group is a legitimate NFL linebacker or special-teams ace.
Cornerback (6)
Starters: Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson
Backups: Kristian Fulton, Joshua Williams, Nazeeh Johnson and Nohl Williams
Player to watch: Melvin Smith Jr.
In the mix: Chris Roland-Wallace, Eric Scott and Darius Rush
One could make a convincing argument that cornerback is the deepest position group on this roster. While there’s a gap between McDuffie and the next best corner, Watson and Fulton have solid resumes. Joshua Williams, Johnson, and Roland-Wallace have all played well at times, but lack consistency. If Roland-Wallace can show versatility as a reliable nickel corner who can drop into a safety role at times, he can secure his spot on the 53.
Safety (4)
Starters: Bryan Cook and Jayden Hicks
Backups: Chamarri Conner and Mike Edwards
Players to watch: Major Williams and Glendon Miller
In the mix: Deon Bush, Jacobe Covington and Kevin Knowles
Cook, Hicks and Conner are locks to make the roster. But the rest of this group has questions. Edwards struggled last season at stops in Buffalo and Tampa Bay, and hopes a return to where he shined in 2023 as a part-time starter can revitalize his career. Bush is a reliable veteran special-teams player, but his best role is as a practice-squad activation and insurance policy. Williams is the most intriguing of the undrafted free agents, especially since the Chiefs need depth at free safety.
Specialist (3)
Starters: K Harrison Butker, P Matt Araiza and LS James Winchester
Player to watch: Eddie Czaplicki
Forget left tackle, left guard and every other position battle in camp. This will be the highlight for as long as it lasts. There will be no team in the NFL with two punters in camp with legs as strong as Araiza and Czaplicki. Both won the Ray Guy Award as college football’s most outstanding punter, with Araiza taking the crown in 2021 and Czaplicki in 2024. Araiza demonstrated better hangtime and improved touch during offseason practices, and that’s what the Chiefs needed to see. Make no mistake — both these guys should be punting in the NFL full-time this season.
