Chiefs Roster Turnover: Who’s Left Since 2013

Roster Turnover:

Who’s Left Since 2013

by Paul Pulley

It has been mentioned several times lately about the amount of player turnover, not only on the Chiefs but on other teams also, just from last season. I thought it might be fun to take a look back at the 2013 fifty three man roster to begin that season, Andy Reid’s first year as the Kansas City Chiefs head coach, to see how many players are left from that team headed into the 2018 training camp.

There are a total of eight, that’s it, eight players that started in 2013 with Reid’s tenure as head coach.

Dustin Colquitt, drafted in the 3rd round by Kansas City in 2005, has been one of the leagues best punters since. At 36 years of age, Colquitt is the oldest and longest tenured Chief for 2018.

There are four players on the defense that were Chiefs in 2013.

• Eric Berry, drafted in the 1st round (5th overall) by Kansas City in 2010. Although Berry has missed most of three seasons to various injuries and illness, he is still one of the best safeties in the NFL.
• Justin Houston, drafted in round 3 in 2011, when completely healthy, has been one of the Leagues premier pass rushers and is extremely solid against the run. He is one of the best all around OLBs in the game.
• Allen Bailey, also drafted in the 3rd round of 2011. Even though Bailey isn’t a flashy player, he has been a solid defensive lineman for the Chiefs.
• Frank Zombo, a 2010 UDFA signed by the Green Bay Packers. Zombo played in Super Bowl XLV (which the Packers won). He signed with Kansas City in the spring of 2013 and has been an active special teams player and reserve OLB since. Zombo is the 3rd oldest player on the team at 31 years old.

There are three offensive players that were Chiefs in 2013.

• Eric Fisher, the 1st overall draft selection in 2013, has played his entire career under Andy Reid. Fisher has been a decent LT for the Chiefs, but most fans feel he has under-performed considering his lofty draft status. Probably over paid by former GM Dorsey, Fisher will be the 2nd highest paid Chief in 2018, behind only Houston.
• Travis Kelce, the 1st pick in the 3rd round (63 overall) of the 2013 draft. Kelce, like Fisher, has played his whole career under Reid. Kelce has become one of the very best tight ends in the NFL and if he can stay healthy and continue to produce at his high level, could end up as one of the best ever.
• Anthony Sherman, drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2011. Sherman was traded to Kansas City in the spring of 2013 and has been the fullback and a special teams stalwart since.

Note: an interesting note about that draft, normally there would be 64 picks in the first two rounds but there were two 2nd round picks forfeited that year, one by Cleveland for selecting Josh Gordon in the 2012 supplemental draft and the other by the Saints for Bountygate.

With the Kansas City Chiefs in somewhat of a youth movement, there are currently only six players on the roster over the age of 30. Both Dustin Colquitt (36) and Frank Zombo (31) mentioned above.

• Chad Henne, signed this year to backup starting QB Patrick Mahomes, is 33.
• In addition to those three are defensive linemen, Jarvis Jenkins and,
• Stefan Charles, both 30 years of age.
• Offensive lineman Jordan Devey is also 30 years old.

I will be surprised if all 6 make the 53 man roster to start the season. In addition to the six mentioned above, both Anthony Sherman and Eric Berry will both turn 30 in December and Justin Houston will turn 30 less than two weeks prior to Super Bowl LIII.

It looks as if this youth movement is a real thing and I do believe it is something that needed to happen.