The Kansas City Chiefs will hold their first training camp practice Tuesday morning, with four full-team workouts scheduled from Tuesday to Friday. The Chiefs have their first off day on Saturday.
As we repeat annually, while we always try to do our best in these projection exercises, there is almost no chance this matches the final 53 on August 26 — and it is nearly impossible to account for players who are to be released from other rosters.
My projections blend things I’ve seen, heard and inferred.
Let’s dive in:
Offense (25)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26063565/2188812516.jpg)
Photo by David Jensen/Getty ImagesQuarterbacks (2): Patrick Mahomes, Gardner Minshew
The league’s top quarterback will have his fourth backup in as many seasons: journeyman Gardner Minshew. He arrives in Kansas City with plenty of experience, having started 46 games over his six-year NFL career. Chris Oladokun and Bailey Zappe are expected to compete for the team’s third-string position on the practice squad.
Running backs (4): Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Carson Steele, Brashard Smith
The running back room may be a little trickier than advertised, as I see the only true locks at the top and bottom. Isiah Pacheco added more weight for his contract season, while rookie Brashard Smith projects to be a gadget piece while starting at one of the returner positions.
Quietly, free-agent running back Elijah Mitchell signed for a greater signing bonus and guaranteed money than Kareem Hunt — but my resistance in following that trail comes from Mitchell’s historical lack of durability. Special teams coordinator Dave Toub seems to have a plan for Carson Steele, and he lined up 55 times as a fullback during the 2024 regular season.
Wide receivers (6): Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Royals, Nikko Remigio, Tyquan Thornton
For this exercise, we have assumed that Rashee Rice will head straight for the suspended list. Among those who will be left, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and rookie Jalen Royals are all set for the roster.
If Kansas City initially keeps six, the final two seats will be up for grabs among seven or eight contenders. Nikko Remigio showed to be a capable returner at the end of 2024’s campaign, and Toub has not been shy about his love for his game.
I think this could be the end of the road for Skyy Moore, who hasn’t been able to carve out a consistent role since being selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He will have to beat out several capable options — including Tyquan Thornton (who has been in the system since November) — if he hopes to make the final roster.
Tight ends (4): Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, Jake Briningstool
Kansas City head coach Andy Reid announced that three Chiefs would head to the physically unable to perform (PUP) list out of the gate in training camp. The pleasant surprise is that Jared Wiley wasn’t mentioned among them. After tearing his ACL last season, Wiley might be limited to begin training camp, but his absence from PUP tells me he may be further ahead than we first thought.
Some analysts projected Clemson’s Jake Briningstool to go late in the draft on Day 3 — and when he didn’t, the Chiefs scooped him up as an undrafted free agent. Reid only kept three tight ends on the initial roster in 2022 and 2023 but returned to four in 2024. Give me Briningstool over veteran Robert Tonyan, whose salary would become fully guaranteed if he is on the 53 for Week 1.
Offensive line (9): LT Josh Simmons, LG Kingsley Suamataia, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, RT Jawaan Taylor, Jaylon Moore, Hunter Nourzad, Mike Caliendo, Wanya Morris
In this year’s offensive line class, I find it more difficult to project who will actually start at certain positions — left tackle, left guard and right tackle — than who will make the roster.
Every name listed here feels like a strong bet to make the 53, though I wonder if a 10th lineman like Ethan Driskell or CJ Hanson might be kept in favor of a fourth tight end or running back.
Defense (25)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26063588/2180023142.jpg)
Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesDefensive tackles (4): Chris Jones, Omarr Norman-Lott, Mike Pennel, Jerry Tillery
Chris Jones, rookie Omarr Norman-Lott and Mike Pennel are set to make the initial roster. Still, I wonder about Jerry Tillery, who shares similarities with Norman-Lott.
Could defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo instead opt for a run-stuffer like practice-squad tackle Fabien Lovett?
Defensive ends (5): George Karlaftis, Charles Omenihu, Mike Danna, Ashton Gillotte, Felix Anudike-Uzomah
Much like the defensive tackle position, the selections here seem rather solid. Malik Herring has been with the club since 2021 and would be a tough cut, but I think former first-rounder Felix Anudike-Uzomah will have another chance to push for production.
Linebackers (6): Nick Bolton, Leo Chenal, Drue Tranquill, Jack Cochrane, Jeff Bassa, Brandon George
Kansas City knows its starters in the linebacker room. Meanwhile, Jack Cochrane finished second on the club in special-teams snaps despite suffering a season-ending injury in December.
The Chiefs are high on fifth-round rookie Jeff Bassa’s football IQ. He should have no better teacher than starting MIKE linebacker Nick Bolton. The Chiefs visited with undrafted free agent Brandon George at his pro day and brought him in for a top-30 visit, indicating they liked what they saw at Pittsburgh. George could be a classic Toub special, pushing Cam Jones off the roster for a greater ceiling.
Cornerbacks (6): Trent McDuffie, Kristian Fulton, Jaylen Watson, Nazeeh Johnson, Nohl Williams, Chris Roland-Wallace
Near the end of the 2024 season, Spagnuolo gave Chris Roland-Wallace more playing time than Joshua Williams. Because of the additions of veteran Krisitan Fulton and rookie Nohl Williams, I think the pure numbers game could edge Joshua Williams out.
Safeties (4): Bryan Cook, Jaden Hicks, Chamarri Conner, Mike Edwards
Of all of the position groups listed in this entire projection (other than quarterback), this may be the most obvious — that is, unless an undrafted free agent comes out of the woodwork.
Specialists (3)
Placekicker Harrison Butker, punter Eddie Czaplicki and long-snapper James Winchester
I don’t think undrafted free agent punter Eddie Czaplicki would have made it through OTAs if this wasn’t his job to lose.
Under contract, not counted on active roster (1)
Suspended list: WR Rashee Rice
Non-football injury list: DE 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.
More from arrowheadpride.com:
- Two funny moments during Alex Smith’s press conference after the Chiefs win
- Chiefs’ Marcus Peters, who gave up two TDs, said he was “hella weak” against the Redskins
- NFL power rankings: Does anyone dare not rank the Kansas City Chiefs No. 1?
- Justin Houston’s late TD in Chiefs game was worth $100,000 to one gambler
- Arrowheadlines: Chiefs heroes of the game, what the Redskins are saying
- Andy Reid called the Chiefs new kicker ButtKicker.com, Travis Kelce introduced himself to him
- Chiefs’ Andy Reid has the look of a guy who is 4-0
