KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As rosterology moves through the preseason, it’s important to remember that while performance on the field is the overriding consideration in building a roster, there are business considerations that must be factored in as well.
When calculating an initial 53-player roster, it’s vital to consider NFL transaction rules and the contract status of each player. During the final cutdown from 90 players to 53 on Aug. 29, any player with fewer than four years of accrued experience must be placed on waivers. Any of the other 31 teams can then claim that player and snatch them away.
Players with more than four years of experience become free agents immediately, however, free to sign with any team — including the team that just released them. The Chiefs have taken advantage of this rule in the past by releasing a veteran with a handshake agreement to re-sign them in the next few days.
This is particularly useful if a team has a player that needs to start the season on injured reserve. In order for a player to be eligible as designated to return from injured reserve, they must start the season on the active roster. That’s why players such as Nazeeh Johnson and Jody Fortson can’t return from IR this season. But if the Chiefs want to place on injured reserve a player such as Nic Jones, who suffered a hand injury last week against New Orleans, he must first be on the initial active roster.
Contract status also comes into play. If a player has guaranteed money in his contract or dead cap money from a signing bonus remaining on his contract, that money accelerates on the cap immediately.
Players such as Blake Bell and Danny Shelton, for example, have veteran minimum exception salaries with no guaranteed money. They are prime examples of veterans who could be released for a day or two in order to move a player to injured reserve.
Charles Omenihu, who will start the campaign with a six-game suspension, is eligible to be moved to the suspended list in conjunction with the reduction to 53 players and doesn’t need to be included on the active roster. It’s a similar situation if Chris Jones doesn’t report to the club before Aug. 29. He can be placed on the did not report list without being added to the 53-player roster.
These considerations become more vital as we move further into the preseason with roster cuts just 11 days away.
Quarterbacks (3)
Starter: Patrick Mahomes
Backups: Blaine Gabbert and Shane Buechele
Players to watch: Chris Oladokun
The only question at quarterback is whether to keep Buechele on the 53-player roster as the third quarterback, and the reason to do so is compelling. The new emergency quarterback rule incentivizes teams to keep a third quarterback on the active roster and it’s unlikely Buechele would make it through waivers.
But the most compelling is Buechele has successfully built his resume. Over the past three preseasons, he’s completed 64 percent of his passes while compiling a 93.9 passer rating. It’s much too risky to expose Buechele on the waiver wire.
Running Backs (3)
Starters: Isiah Pacheco
Backups: Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Players to watch: La’Michal Perine
In the mix: Jerrion Ealy and Deneric Prince
The biggest observed depth chart change at training camp this week affected the running back group where undrafted rookie free agent Prince dropped behind Perine and Ealy in the rotation and also dropped from the No. 1 kick return position. Reid attributed Prince’s struggle to fatigue and struggles to get his pad level down.
“Right now the legs are tired,” Reid said “He’s getting a lot of reps, he’s kind of battling through himself right now.”
Perine led the team’s running backs with 24 yards on six carries against New Orleans, and he’s been the biggest benefactor of Prince’s drop on the depth chart this week. A fourth-round selection for the New York Jets in 2020, Perine has the edge of experience including time on the Chiefs’ practice squad last season.
“He kind of does everything well,” Reid said. “He’s good in the pass game, good protection, good in the run game, good eyes, vision, feet. He’s been very consistent through the camp, and he picks things up easy so that’s been good for him I think.”
Given the current value of the running back position in the league, keeping Perine and Prince on the practice squad is a reasonable possibility. The Chiefs need depth at other positions, which makes keeping a fourth running back an expensive luxury.
Wide Receivers (7)
Starters: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney and Sky Moore
Backups: Justin Watson, Rashee Rice, Richie James and Justyn Ross
Players to watch: Ihmir Smith-Marsette
In the mix: Cornell Powell, Ty Fryfogle, Kekoa Crawford and Ty Scott
Injured reserve: Nikko Remigio
One of the most hotly debated questions of training camp centered on how many receivers the Chiefs will keep to start the season. Right now all evidence points to the club keeping seven, especially if Toney isn’t ready to start in Week 1.
Watson has stepped into the starting lineup with Toney out, and Rice is a lock to make the roster. James is currently installed as the top punt returner and this week replaced Prince atop the kick returner depth chart. Not only that, James has demonstrated consistent playmaking ability in St. Joseph.
The toughest decision involves Ross, and it doesn’t feel that tough. Ross shows big-play ability and his size makes him a threat the Chiefs have needed in the vertical passing game. He’s still raw and will make some youthful mistakes but he’s not worth risking on the waiver wire after the Chiefs have invested in his development.
Tight Ends (3)
Starter: Travis Kelce
Backups: Noah Gray and Blake Bell
Players to watch: Matt Bushman
In the mix: Kendall Blanton and Izaiah Gathings
Injured reserve: Jody Fortson
Fortson’s shoulder surgery landing him on injured reserve complicates the structure of the tight-end group. The Chiefs have demonstrated a strong penchant for multiple tight end sets in training camp with three tight ends on the field frequently. Add in the lack of a full back and carrying four tight ends on game day isn’t implausible. Kelce, Gray and Bell are easy choices.
The fourth tight end is a more difficult decision. Bushman has impressed again this year in training camp but he needs a better performance in the next two preseason games to claim the No. 4 spot. Blanton is an experienced option, and Gathings has flashed at times since his arrival after Fortson’s injury.
Bell could still be a veteran to release for a day if the Chiefs need to squeeze a player onto injured reserve to start the season.
Offensive Line (9)
Starters: LT Donovan Smith, LG Joe Thuney, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith and RT Jawaan Taylor
Backups: G/C Nick Allegretti, OT Wanya Morris, OT Prince Tega Wanogho and G/T Darian Kinnard
Players to watch: OT Lucas Niang and G/C Mike Caliendo
In the mix: C Austin Reiter, G Jerome Carvin, G/T Sebastian Gutierrez, C Anderson Hardy and T/G Chukwuebuka (Jason) Godrick
The offensive line remains a difficult position to juggle because the Chiefs have quality depth across the line and plenty of prospects as well. Allegretti is a virtual lock to make the roster as the backup at all three interior positions and Kinnard could become a future starter at guard. The biggest questions to answer are at the tackle position. Morris projects as a long-term solution at tackle, but the biggest decision will rest with whether to keep nine or 10 offensive lineman. If the team can only keep nine, it’s an even battle right now between Wanogho and Niang, according to offensive line coach Andy Heck.
“I’ve been trying to get them equal amount of work right and left,” Heck said. “If you’re going to be that swing tackle, you got to be comfortable on both sides. And it’s been very good competition. I like the way all three men have worked. They’ve got different things that they’re working on, and we’ll continue to evaluate that as we go through camp with a similar rotation.”
Defensive Line (10)
Starters: DE George Karlaftis, DT Chris Jones, DT Derrick Nnadi and DE Mike Danna
Backups: DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DT Tershawn Wharton, DT Keondre Coburn, DT Daniel Wise, DE BJ Thompson and DE Malik Herring
Suspended list: DE Charles Omenihu
Players to watch: DT Danny Shelton
In the mix: DE Joshua Kaindoh, DT Phil Hoskins, DT Matt Dickerson, DT Chris Williams and DE Truman Jones
The Jones holdout enter day 28 Friday and it’s now reached a point where it must be considered in roster construction. It’s reasonable to question whether Jones will be ready for a normal workload in Week 1 arriving at this late day — and that’s assuming he still arrives before Week 1.
With Wharton also remaining out with a knee issue, depth at defensive tackle is a question mark. If Wharton’s setback requires him to start the season on injured reserve, the Chiefs will need additional help on the interior. The amount of work Wise has received in the absence of Jones makes him a likely roster candidate. If Wharton needs to start the season on injured reserve or Jones doesn’t arrive before Week 1, Shelton is a likely roster addition.
At defensive end, Thompson, Herring and Kaindoh are likely battling for two roster spots.
Linebackers (5)
Starters: WLB Willie Gay, MLB Nick Bolton and SLB Leo Chenal
Backups: Drue Tranquill and Jack Cochrane
In the mix: Cole Christiansen, Cam Jones and Olakunle Fatukasi
The linebacker group looks largely set. Cochrane entrenched himself as a key special teams performer last season and he’s built upon that role in training camp. He’s also worked as a backup Mike linebacker behind Bolton adding to his versatility. The addition of Tranquill may give defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo his deepest linebacker corps since his arrival in 2019.
Cornerbacks (5)
Starters: L’Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie
Backups: Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson and Nic Jones
Injured reserve: Nazeeh Johnson and Anthony Witherstone
Players to watch: Ekow Boye-Doe and Kahlef Hailassie
In the mix: Dicaprio Bootle, Lamar Jackson, Reese Taylor and Duron Lowe
The loss of Johnson hurts especially since his fellow second-year mates Williams and Watson have struggled at times during this year’s camp. Jones is seeing a specialist for his fractured hand and will likely start the season on injured reserve.
Sneed’s ongoing battle with knee inflammation adds to the drama at cornerback, where the Chiefs may have to consider keeping a sixth option entering the season. Boye-Doe and Hailassie have impressed during camp and both have made compelling cases to make the roster. If Jones needs to start the season on injured reserve, don’t be surprised if the club releases veterans such as Bell or Shelton to sneak one of the undrafted rookies onto the squad.
Safeties (5)
Starters: Justin Reid and Bryan Cook
Backups: Mike Edwards, Chamarri Conner and Deon Bush
Player to watch: Anthony Cook
In the mix: Isaiah Norman
The quartet of Reid, Cook, Edwards and Conner are virtual locks for the roster but Bush could find himself the odd man out. His best roster resume relies on his special teams value, however, and both Edwards and Conner could fill that role.
Bush has one thing in his favor that Bell and Shelton do not — his $1.165 million base salary includes a $350,000 guarantee. That’s not much, but with the Chiefs only $269,569 under the salary cap every dollar remains significant.
Specialists (3)
Starters: K Harrison Butker, P Tommy Townsend and LS James Winchester
With no competition in camp for any of the three specialists, this group is locked in 100 percent.
