Guessing at the 53-man Roster – A Way Too Early View

Who knows what the final result will be, come September. I’ll take a stab at it. With the +1’s, My totals won’t add up to 53 named players. I am not sure where the additions will be made nor which ones will be eliminated. For example, I used +1 for the OL, CBs, DTs, and DEs-it is my hope that Brett Veach engineers two acquisitions by hook or crook for DT and DE. My point is, this is not going to tally up to 53 players named.

OFFENSE(26)

Let me start with the OL – I think the line will be very strong and if I have a sad pronouncement it is that Lucas Niang will begin the season on the PUP. I thought Niang’s play improved as the 2021 season progressed but a freaky injury knocked him out with a Peteller tear that was caused when Trey Smith was knocked off his pegs and fell right on Niang’s knee.

Linemen(8+1): (Brown, Thuney, Humphrey, Smith, Wylie, Allegretti, Kinnard, Christian)- Orlando Brown Jr., Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Andrew Wylie, Nick Allegretti, Darian Kinnard, and, Geron Christian. That is 8 men–I am unsure of who the 9th(or possibly the 10th) player will be. At this point? I think Andrew Wylie will get the nod at ROT. Orlando Brown will be the LOT(even if on the tag). The Chiefs are likely to bring 9 players to the roster and they have a good mix of depth with players who have diversity. Austin Reiter might be the 9th player on the list.

Quarterbacks(2): (Patrick Mahomes, Chad Henne)- Patrick Mahomes, and Chad Henne are in all likelihood paired up again. Shane Buechele(SMU) is back again and the Chiefs brought Dustin Crum(Kent St) to the 90-man roster. Buechele started his collegiate play at UT but then transferred to SMU.

The Chiefs will only keep two QBs on the active roster as is the usual case. Buechele has a leg up over Crum to achieve at least a spot on the Practice Squad. It is possible that the decision comes down to retaining both the young QBs. I’d venture that it is only one but we will have to wait to find out.

Running Backs(4): (CEH, RJ, Pacheco, McKinnon)- Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Ronald Jones, Isiah Pachecho, Jerrick McKinnon. I have a feeling that Pacheco is going to put the pedal to the metal in Training Camp. If that is so, and the Chiefs only retain four RBs to the active roster, then Derrick Gore may be the odd man out. Also in camp is UDFA Derrion Ealy about whom we have heard good appraisals. Camp ought to be fun to watch these guys competing for a roster spot in camp. McKinnon was the player who brought the Juice to the RB group in 2021.

Fullback(1): (Michael Burton)– Mike Burton may see his role expand if the Chiefs use a power ground game in 2022. He is a staple for Dave Toubs Special Teams Corps. Burton is a solid Runner inside the tackles and a very good blocker. Andy Reid has a place for a fullback in his game schemes so I am pretty sure Burton will be on the active roster.

Tight Ends(4): (Kelce, Fortson, Gray, Bell)- We won’t discuss the #1 TE because we know who it will be: Travis Kelce. The Chiefs will keep four players and the next three will be Jody Fortson, Noah Gray, and Blake Bell. Matt Bushman(BYU) will get the nod to go to the PS. Jordan Franks(USF) and Mark Vital(Baylor), both entering their 2nd NFL Year are also in the mix. I’d wager that Bushman goes to the PS because of Andy Reid’s ties to BYU. Just my best guess. All three players are in tough competition to earn that potential PS spot.

Wide Receivers(6): (Hardman, MVS, JSS, Moore, Gordon, Wilson)- This group is basically set in concrete for the first four of six players who will form the WR Corp: Mecole Hardman, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Skyy Moore. From that point on, it is difficult to determine who is going to win one of the final two roster roles. At this point, from what we have heard, Josh Gordon, Justin Wilson, and Justyn Ross appear to have a good shot at making up the final two players in the expected 6-player room. One thing to mention is the congenital neck problem that Ross has plus missing time. The NFL Teams did not go after him in the draft but vied to get Ross signed as a UDFA. Ross chose the Chiefs. Had it not been for the neck problem and an injury, Ross would likely have been drafted in the top 64 players of the 2021 draft.

We have to add other capable WRs though: Cornell Powell, drafted in 2021, and Daurice Fountain should also be in the competition mix. Ross, a UDFA with a ton of talent, has got to be a front runner but Wilson has extended ability for Toub’s special teams. It is going to be interesting to see how this works out. I was pretty hyped about Powell last year but he didn’t prove out for the active roster in 2021. Being a draft pick if he doesn’t win out in camp, he will go back to the PS. Gordon has had a strong showing in camp as has Ross. Wilson, Ross, and Gordon, in my mind, are vying for the final two roster spots for the receiver corps. It may come down to experience and who the Chiefs feel will be the least likely to be stolen from the PS.

Omar Bayless, Gary Jennings, Matthew Sexton, and Corey Coleman round out the possibilities. All four of these WRs have NFL time.

Keep in mind that it is possible that one of the latter players could be part of a trade package–but that is just speculation.

The only real question for the roster on the offensive side of the ball is going to be who wins the 9th roster spot for the OL. From there on, it will be who bends the wall in training camp.

(What may change about this list is in the +1’s Notations)

DEFENSE (25-I am over due to the +1 for DT)

I view the Defense’s side of the roster as improved and I see a lot of reasons why. The players that will form the nucleus may be young but are players with fundamentally sound football experience, possessing speed, toughness, and physicality which is one of the key ways that Brett Veach has focused on building the roster for the past three seasons.

Safeties(4): (Reid, Thornhill, Cook, Bush)- This is an easy group to write about – it’s going to be a strong corps. Justin Reid and Juan Thornhill will likely be the starting pair. I think the Veach signing of Reid was right on the money and Thornhill is a proven commodity. Juan wants to earn Pro-Bowl Stature in 2022. Adding Bryan Cook in the draft was a very strong move. I think Cook is going to make his bones early in 2022. The Chiefs acquired Deon Bush, another strong addition. Last year, Devon Key drew some attention and was on the PS in 2021 while Nazeeh Johnson and Nasir Greer are also in the mix.

Linebackers(5): (Gay, Bolton, Chenal, Carter, Lee) – I am pleased as punch about the LB crew. Brett Veach drafted an LB in the early rounds of the last three drafts. Willie Gay, Nick Bolton, and this year, Leo Chenal. I see these three players as the foundation of the LB Corp. I am sure that DC Steve Spagnuolo will use his usual method of bringing Chenal along slowly, but I believe Chenal will quickly emerge as a cornerstone player.

Besides these three players, Brett Veach sought out Jermaine Carter, Jr., and with good reason. Finally, Veach signed Elijah Lee and we did hear Lee’s name called in the OTAs and mini-camp. Mike Rose(Iowa St) and Jack Cochrane(SD) are two more players who are vying for a spot. I like what both UDFAs bring to the table. I think the latter two go to the PS with LB corp consisting of Gay, Bolton, Chenal, Carter, and Lee on the active roster. I really like Rose’s length and Cochrane’s overall LB moxie. Darius Harris and Shilique Calhoun round out the LB stable. I think Calhoun fits more to the OLB/DE role due to his length and weight. We’ll see what unfolds in camp.

Cornerbacks(6): (Sneed, McDuffie, Baker, Fenton, Johnson, Williams)- What I see from the CB Corps is solid players up and down the board. This group is going to have a strong season. L’Jarius Sneed and Trent Mcduffie will be the starters outside, while Rashad Fenton will be on the field when three CBs is required. Fenton has proven himself after being drafted in the 6th round. He played the slot a bunch in year one and since has played both that role and as a boundary CB since then. It may be that Spags moves Sneed to the slot as he has done in the past in this case. Lonnie Johnson, though, may change the format. The player that may surprise us all is Joshua Williams who has 4.4-40 speed and is 6-4. He was drafted in the 4th round out of Fayetteville St. DeAndre Baker rounds out the position group. Baker was signed and when inserted immediately showed his ability. Unfortunately for him, he suffered a broken leg in the same game. He was back last season but didn’t get much of a look. This year, I think he completes the CB room. That gives me 6 CBs to begin on opening day. Jaylen Watson was also drafted in 2022 so I am not going to rule him out. Chris Lammons is another possibility but he faces legal issues which must get cleared up. He could be available but who knows what his status will be from the NFL.

Defensive Tackles(4+1): (Jones, Nnadi, Stallworth, Wharton, I’m over +1 because we need a Pass Rush DT)– Needless to say, this position group boasts one of the top DTs in the NFL: Chris Jones. The group has solid role players but no 3-down DT besides Jones. I am not happy with the mix for a single reason: Pass Rush Effectiveness. Derrick Nnadi is a proven player who does not demonstrate pass-rush effectiveness. Neither does Khalen Saunders or Tershawn Wharton. Taylor Stallworth was brought aboard to strengthen the group but is not a pass-rush player either. The Chiefs are in dire need of a DT who is also strong in the pass rush. If the Chiefs had a 3-down DT opposite CJ, it would knock my socks off.

Defensive Ends(4+1): (Clark, Karlaftis, Kaindoh, Herring)- I feel similarly about the DE group. It has Frank Clark on the right who has not lived up to his billing or the bill presented to Brett Veach. George Karlaftis was drafted in round one of the 2022 draft. Mike Danna is a support DE, Josh Kaindoh, Malik Herring, and Austin Edwards are unknown potential players but nothing I would hang my hat on. (What may change about the Defense is identified by the +1 notation.

SPECIALISTS(3)

The Specialists are Chiefs Standard Fare(3): (Butker, Townsend, Winchester) – Harrison Butker(PK), Tommy Townsend(PU), and James Winchester(LS). There is no question in regard to the specialist group at this time.

Wrapping it Up

That’s a wrap. I think my choices make sense but we have not even gotten to training camp. Much could change over the next 3 weeks. Hopefully, the Orlando Brown contract is resolved and Brett Veach trades for a DE or DT who can bolster the pass rush. Come to think of it, adding two Fee Agents to solve the two biggest weaknesses, both on the DL, is just what the doctor ordered.

David Bell – ArrowheadOne