KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After a weekend of pouring through game film, analyzing scouting reports and meeting with the coaching staff, general manager Brett Veach and his personnel team must have an initial 53-player roster in place before 3 p.m. central time Tuesday.
It’s a daunting task, and my final rosterology reflects the difficulty in making the final decisions on the roster. The precise order of the depth chart is debatable at a few positions, such as running back and wide receiver. Choosing whether to keep a fourth running back, fourth tight end, seventh wide receiver and 10th offensive line might be the most difficult decisions Veach and his staff have faced on deadline day since he took over as GM in 2017.
I prefer to issue my final roster projection after the first practice following the final preseason game to fully factor in the effects of the full preseason. There were indeed changes made Monday that I would not have made after the game Thursday night. The addition of receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster also greatly impacted the final roster projection.
Although the Chiefs officially waived 12 players Monday, none of the 12 made my previous 53-player projection, and none were slated to make the final projection today.
Here’s my final prognostication, suprises and all.
Quarterback (2)
Starter: Patrick Mahomes
Backup: Carson Wentz
Practice Squad Candidate: Chris Oladokun
Waived/Released: Ian Book
Oladokun appears to have the practice squad quarterback role nailed down with the departure of Book, who was waived on Monday. Oladokun is a solid understudy for Mahomes and Went and also offers a strong scout team presence against running quarterbacks. Expect Oladokun to get work next as the scout team Lamar Jackson.
Running back (4)
Starters: Isiah Pacheco
Backups: Carson Steele, Deneric Prince and Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Practice Squad Candidate: Louis Rees-Zammit and Keontay Ingram
In the mix: Emani Bailey
Steele has earned his role, and it wouldn’t surprise if he opens the season as the No. 2 back behind Pacheco. Edwards-Helaire is back at practice and appears in Kansas City’s plans but his stomach ailment makes availability a concern. Adding Prince to the mix makes sense, even if it costs you an extra offensive lineman or tight end.
Wide Receiver (7)
Starters: Hollywood Brown, Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy
Backups: Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, Mecole Hardman and JuJu Smith-Schuster
Practice Squad Candidate: Justyn Ross, Nikko Remigio, Montrell Washington and Cornell Powell
In the mix: Kadarius Toney
Waived/Released: Phillip Brooks, Kyle Sheets and Jaaron Hayek
The return of Smith-Schuster further muddies the water of a complicated wide receiver room. Smith-Schuster replaces Ross in this projection but could his return signal a bigger shakeup among this group? Moore is one of Kansas City’s best trade candidates, and the return of Smith-Schuster gives that possibility more credence. Smith-Schuster turns 28 in November, but age has never been a concern as much as the miles on his knees. With injury history still a concern there and Brown is likely to miss a game or two with his shoulder injury, keeping at least six receivers seems in the cards for the Chiefs.
Tight End (3)
Starter: Travis Kelce
Backups: Noah Gray and Jared Wiley
Practice Squad Candidate: Irv Smith Jr. and Baylor Cupp
Waived/Released: Geor’Quarius Spivey
Smith has done just about everything necessary to make this 53-player roster, and perhaps he still does. It’s a numbers game unfortunately on the offensive side with Prince, Smith and C.J. Hanson vying for the final spot. How often will the Chiefs need a fourth tight end? Cupp is a strong practice squad candidate, and keeping Smith in one of the veteran slots on the practice squad would be a big win for the Chiefs as well.
Offensive Line (9)
Starters: LT Kingsley Suamataia, LG Joe Thuney, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith and RT Jawaan Taylor
Backups: OT Wanya Morris, OT Lucas Niang, G/C Mike Caliendo and C/G Hunter Nourzad
Practice Squad Candidate: OG C.J. Hanson, Ethan Driskell and Chukwuebuka Godrick
Waived/Released: OG Nick Torres and OL Griffin McDowell
Hanson is the 54th man on the roster in this projection, getting bumped for Prince to keep a fourth running back. It’s a risk to sneak him on the practice squad, however, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Chiefs kept 10 offensive linemen. It also wouldn’t be a shock if Veach scours the waiver wire for depth at offensive tackle with Morris dealing with a bone bruise and Niang inconsistent during the preseason. There are nothing but good feelings for Kansas City’s starting five but depth could get challenged by an injury or two.
Defensive Line (10)
Starters: DE George Karlaftis, DT Chris Jones, DT Tershawn Wharton and DE Mike Danna
Backups: DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DT Mike Pennel, DT Neil Farrell, DE Malik Herring, DT Matt Dickerson and DT Derrick Nnadi
Practice Squad Candidate: DT Fabien Lovett and DE Truman Jones
Waived/Released: DT Alex Gubner and DE Owen Carney
Physically Unable to Perform List: DE Charles Omenihu
Non-football Injury List: DE BJ Thompson
Defensive end is another area where it wouldn’t surprise to see the Chiefs scout the waiver wire or explre a trade for an edge player. Jones, Wharton, Farrell and Dickerson have at least some inside-outside flexibility, especially in passing situations. The expected return of Omenihu at midseason promises reinforcements on the edge but that does nothing to address depth in the event of another injury. A sixth tackle might be advisable with the Chiefs wanting to limit snaps for Pennel at age 33 and Nnadi still not 100% from his triceps surgery.
Linebacker (5)
Starters: SLB Leo Chenal, MLB Nick Bolton and WLB Drue Tranquill
Backups: MLB/OLB Jack Cochrane and OLB/MLB Cam Jones
Practice Squad Candidate: OLB Curtis Jacobs, OLB Cole Christiansen and OLB Swayze Bozeman
Five linebackers are a virtual lock for the Chiefs but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Jacobs sneaked on to the initial 53 as a sixth linebacker. Cochrane and Jones offer versatiity inside and outside and both are solid special teams performers. Christiansen is a sleeper for the active roster as a special teams player but he, Jacobs and Bozeman are all potential practice squad signees.
Cornerback (5)
Starters: Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson
Backups: Nazeeh Johnson, Joshua Williams and Keith Taylor
Practice Squad Candidate: Kamal Hadden and Nic Jones
Waived/Released: Kelvin Joseph, Ekow Boye-Doe and Miles Battle
No position group on the Chiefs is more riddled and challenged by injuries than cornerback. Johnson (knee) and Williams (hamstring) didn’t take part in team periods on Monday. That leaves Watson as the current holder of the No. 2 corner spot after his return to action for the first time in Thursday’s preseason loss to Chicago. How is next up? Taylor seems to have nailed down the No. 5 slot in the rotation, followed by Jones. But will the Chiefs keep six corners? Maybe not with Chamarri Conner among safeties who can play slot and help at corner. It would be no surprise if the Chiefs added another corner within the next 48 hours via trade or waivers to beef up depth and experience.
Safety (5)
Starters: Justin Reid and Bryan Cook
Backups: Chamarri Conner, Jaden Hicks and Chris Roland-Wallace
Practice Squad Candidate: Deon Bush
In the mix: D.J. Miller and Tyree Gillespie
There is zero doubt about the first four safeties with Reid, Cook, Conner and Hicks as 100% locks, barring an injury in the next 24 hours. But the upset pick of the 53 here is Roland-Wallace, who might have become the darling of training camp if not for the meteoric rise of Steele at running back. Roland-Wallace spent four years at cornerback at Arizona and a transfer season at USC before signing as an undrafted free agent with the Chiefs. The club opted to move him to safety, and the 5-foot-11, 201-pounder thrived in the change. His experience at corner also gives him experience there if needed. Bush might still be the pick on the 53 for special teams but Roland-Wallace has earned a shot, and may not make it through waivers.
Specialist (3)
Starters: K Harrison Butker, P Matt Araiza and LS James Winchester
Waived/Released: LS Randen Plattner
Winchester returned to practice Monday after suffering an AC sprain in his shoulder in the team’s second preseason game. Plattner ably filled in against the Bears but Winchester is ready for Week 1.
Summary
The Chiefs have a deep and talented roster but Veach and his staff are always searching for short-term and long-term improvement. There isn’t interest in spending a lot of money or divesting draft choices, so don’t expect the Chiefs to add to the salary cap or move a lot of draft picks. Swapping players who might get cut by the Chiefs for another team’s potential cut would be ideal. Look at defensive end, cornerback and offensive tackle as potential additions
