The Kansas City Chiefs have finished training camp and played two exhibition games. The Arrowhead Pride staff has been locked into the entire preseason process, publishing a 53-man roster prediction after one week of camp.
Here’s an updated prediction with just one preseason game left:
Offense (26)
Quarterbacks (3): Patrick Mahomes, Justin Fields and Garrett Nussmeier
NO CHANGE
I’ve been confident in rookie Garrett Nussmeier’s ability since he performed well in camp. His preseason performances have only solidified his spot on the roster.
Running backs (4): Kenneth Walker, Brashard Smith, Emari Demercado and Emmett Johnson
NO CHANGE
I’ll repeat the opening line from the initial
update: “This group feels pretty set in stone as the team’s backfield for this season.”
However, there’s reason to believe rookie Emmett Johnson is higher on the backfield totem pole than I initially believed. Each back is going to have a role on the team, but Johnson looks like the obvious choice to take the lion’s share of the reps if starter Kenneth Walker is ever unavailable.
Wide receivers (6): Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, Cyrus Allen, Jalen Royals and Andrew Armstrong
NO CHANGE
Nikko Remigio, the team’s starting kick and punt returner currently, is looming over a group that looks better by the day. I believe it would be a mistake to cut one of these 6 players in favor of keeping Remigio, especially when Brashard Smith appears to be a quality option to return kicks.
Tight ends (4): Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jared Wiley and Jake Briningstool
CHANGE: Jake Briningstool makes the cut
There’s a case to be made that the Chiefs’ reserve tight ends are not an important enough group to roster three tight ends behind the legendary Travis Kelce, who will take the bulk of the snaps this year, whether the team’s winning or losing (proved by his reliability down the stretch of last year’s lost season).
However, Briningstool has made enough of a statement in training camp and the preseason to deserve a spot on an NFL 53-man roster. With the future of the tight end position in question, the young pass catcher from Clemson could be a bigger part of the offense in future seasons.
Offensive linemen (9): LT Joshua Simmons, LG Kingsley Suamataia, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, RT Jaylon Moore, Kahlil Benson, Esa Pole, Hunter Nourzad and Mike Caliendo
NO CHANGE
We still don’t know exactly what the starting offensive line will look like in Week 1, but I have a hard time seeing the unit shape up any other way.
While the team tries to figure out if rookie Kahlil Benson can play guard, it’s worth keeping around interior backups like Nourzad and Caliendo, who have been with the team for multiple years.
Defense (24)
Defensive tackles (4): Chris Jones, Khyiris Tonga, Peter Woods and Marcus Harris
CHANGE: Marcus Harris in place of Omarr Norman-Lott on PUP
As the season draws near, the realization of second-year defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott’s recovery timeline has hit. He has been on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list for the entirety of training camp, and there’s a chance he starts the season still on the list. That would force him to miss at least the first four games of the season.
If we project that to be the case, the answer for who the Chiefs’ fourth defensive tackle would be is easy: second-year player Marcus Harris from Auburn has flashed throughout camp and in the preseason, especially Week 2.
Defensive ends (5): George Karlaftis, Ashton Gillotte, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, R Mason Thomas and Emmanuel Ogbah
CHANGE: Emmanuel Ogbah in place of Tyreke Smith
When I first started drawing up a 53-man roster prediction earlier this summer, I had “veteran defensive end” written in as the fifth player for the edge defenders. The signing of Ogbah always seemed like a natural move to make before the season begins.
Linebackers (5): Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Jeffrey Bassa, Cole McDonald and Jack Cochrane
NO CHANGE
There’s nothing to change here, although it is interesting that veteran linebacker Cole Christiansen has been so involved in the Chiefs’ starting special teams this preseason. That might be because Cochrane is playing more with the starting defense in place of linebacker Drue Tranquill.
Former Chiefs linebacker and special-teams player Cam Jones was also signed recently, but there’s only one spot for the special-teams-only reserve in this group, and Cochrane has seemingly earned it.
Cornerbacks (5): Mansoor Delane, Nohl Williams, L’Jarius Sneed, Jadon Canady and Kevin Knowles
CHANGES: Cut (or trade) Kristian Fulton
Kevin Knowles in place of Kader Kohou
There has not been any evidence that veteran Kristian Fulton has any kind of role in the Chiefs’ defense through two preseason games. He has been with the second-team defense through camp and the exhibition games, even playing behind Melvin Smith Jr. in the opening exhibition. The team would immediately save $5 million by cutting him, which is probably more likely than finding a trade partner.
The Chiefs guaranteed Kohou $1.8 million this season in an attempt to find a reliable slot defender for the Chiefs’ defense. In the preseason, it appears safety Christian Roland-Wallace has manned that spot in the first-team defense, and rookie Jadon Canady has flashed as seemingly a slot-only defender so far.
Kohou seems to be lost in the mix, and with Knowles’ key role in the Chiefs’ special teams, the second-year defensive back from Florida State seems to be in line to make the team over the newcoming veteran.
Safeties (5): Alohi Gilman, Chamarri Conner, Christian Roland-Wallace, Jaden Hicks and Xavier Nwankpa
NO CHANGE
This group seems pretty straightforward, especially now that third-year safety Jaden Hicks has come on strong in preseason games, potentially strengthening the depth of the young, fresh-faced secondary in 2026.
Specialists (3)
Placekicker Harrison Butker, punter Matt Araiza and long snapper James Winchester
The usual suspects.
