Here is my last mark of putting up the final 53 man roster with some notes on who will go to the PS. There are tough releases in this last effort. I went with Litton as the PS QB. I like what Shurmur did though in the last 2 Pre-Season games. That is a tough choice at least it is for me.
Quarterbacks (2)
1. Patrick Mahomes
2. Matt Moore
Chase Litton to the PS
Running Backs (5)
3. Damien Williams
4. Darwin Thompson
5. Darrel Williams
6. Tremon Smith
7. Anthony Sherman
The Chiefs really like Damien Williams, and he will remain the starter. Darwin Thompson is making a case to be the number two RB and I wrote about him in my previous article and created a category of “Draft Ace in the making”. We have more than one of those. I should explain that and why I give late picks a “B” rating when they haven’t done much. For a late guy to earn a “B” he sticks with the team. It’s not the same level as a B on rounds 1 or 2 nor the same as rounds 3 or 4. Like that.
Darwin “D-Train” Thompson is a dynamic athlete and a good pass protector, for a guy his size. Darrel Williams remains #3. Carlos Hyde is released. Sausage is a mainstay, FB, S/T, TE. Tremon Smith has S/T ability and is very fast as well. He has great hands and is a receiver out of the backfield plus has YAC ability. Downside is he doesn’t have much time since moving to backfield from CB. Upside? Speed. I think do to speed, that he is retained and they will hope he stands out on S/T.
Hybrid John Lovett to the IR.
Wide Receivers (7)
8. Tyreek Hill
9. Sammy Watkins
10. Mecole Hardman
11. DeMarcus Robinson
12. De’Anthony Thomas
13. Cody Thompson
14. Byron Pringle
Marcus Kemp to IR, Gehrig Dieter to the IR
I kept 7 WR’s. I couldn’t cut either Thompson nor Pringle. Andy Reid caused this problem along with Veach and it’s necessary because of what DAT brings to the group. This is, I think, the best across the board WR Group in the NFL and without a doubt that is true due to “Speed”. One of our member followers suggested the group be identified as “KC Speed Wagon”. I like that nickname for the group.
Tight Ends(3)
15. Travis Kelce
16. Blake Bell
17. Jody Fortson
I have Already noted that John Lovett asld be assigned to the PS. He is the guy I want to fit here but unavailable due to injury so he goes to the IR. Nick Keizer who played steady to the PS & Deon Yelder hurt…to the IR?
Here I kept 3 but the surprise is the 3rd TE. We can put 2 on the PS and beyond that, Yelder is hurt. We do need some dynamism with the backup and It appeared to me from play hat Fortson is that guy.
Offensive Line (8)
18. Eric Fisher LOT
19. Andrew Wylie LOG
20. Austin Reiter OC
21. LD-T ROG
22. MITCH SCHWARTZ ROT
23. Nick Allegretti
24. Jeff Allen SW/G
25. Cam Erving SW/T
Pace Murhy, Dino Boyd, Jimmy Murray, Ryan Hunter to the PS. If any can’t, then they are released. I don’t know what to do with McKenzie. He is still not ready and the Chiefs are wasting their time and should release him..Or they are stashing him but to me, he isn’t good enough to supplant the above 3 depth players so for me he is wasting a spot on the IR and it’s release time.
I would like there to be a 9th Offensive lineman – a tackle. We have 2 tackles that need NFL game snaps: Pace Murphy and Dino Boyd. It appears that Boyd is a year away but Murphy is the 1st backup behind Schwartz. The only way to get snaps is to get them in games. Chiefs are Weak at OT: Erving is currently sported as SW/T. Allen is a SW/I = Interior OL. If it works, it works. I prefer at OT. Erving can play there but you don’t want him to have to start 8 games or 10 to replace a starter.
Allen added some depth there, though he’s better on the inside too. Allegretti seems to have the lead in the backup Center battler. McKenzie is still very much a work in progress, but he’s improved supposedly but not enough to overtake the 3 depth players.
Back to Reggie’s son: He looks the part of an OG. If he is kept he has to go to the PS. He did not have an NFL snap in 2018 and won’t this year. Last year he did not suit up for the 44. They likely give him another year to develop.
Don’t be surprised if Chiefs make a trade, or signing, at OT. They may also consider flipping Wylie and Erving’s roles, as Wylie is a superior Tackle and Erving is decent, on the inside. Reid Toyed with this in camp and pre season.
Safety(5)
26. Tyrann Mathieu SS
27. Juan Thornhill FS
28. Armani Watts FS#2
29. Jordan Lucas Depth safety
30. Daniel Sorensen SS#2/HY/Nickel LB
Cornerbacks (8)
31. Kendall Fuller ICB
32. Bashaud Breeland (OCB)
33. Charvarius Ward (OCB)
34. Rashad Fenton
35. Morris Claiborne – get’s immediate 4 game suspension but on Roster first to “count”. The Chiefs can thus carry one more but who?
36. Herb Miller
Keith Reaser to the IR, D’Montre Wade to the PS.
If I have any hope of a big move by GM Brett Veach as this weekend flows through it is to obtain one more CB that is a top end type player. This is our weakest group on both sides of the ball and the addition of a singe player here would change the outlook for that group completely to the other side of rating. I am not saying the players who have the least experience cannot play in the NFL as a starter. But we have a lot of transition and this is the year of a Super Bowl Run.
Brett? I have been Hollering about this position and Linebackers for 3 years and then some. Do it now.
Among the CB’s, the top four are obvious. It gets less clear from there. Herb Miller gets the first nod to make the roster. He started as a tryout player and has improved consistently throughout camp. D’Montre Wade faded. I think Wade sticks for depth though. Mark Fields seems to have some attitude problems, and I have heard Rumblings that there was background discord with Fields and he will not make the roster.
Veach brought in Morris Claiborne and that should help. But he misses the first 4 games with a suspension unless his appeal wins out. I doubt that will be the case.
Defensive Ends (4)
37. Frank Clark
38. Alex Okafor
39. Emmanuel Ogbah
40. Tanoh Kpassagnon
Defensive Tackles (4)
41. Chris Jones
42. Derrick Nnadi
43. khalen Saunders
44. Xavier Williams
Breeland Speaks to the IR
Linebackers (6)
45. Anthony Hitchens
46. Darron Lee
47. Damien Wilson
48. Reggie Ragland
49. Ben Niemann
50. Jeremiah Attaochu
Dorian O’Daniel is released
People are going to holler about this choice because DOD has speed. OTOH, He got no playing time except on S/T. If it isn’t DOD it will be Attaochu.
I am still not happy about the LB group. Here is my second group that I feel uncertain about. In the 4th pre-season game, Reggie Ragland played a bunch as did Attaochu. I think they were shopping out Ragland and giving Jeremiah more snaps. OTOH, they didn’t play DOD a bunch so my hunch about that release may be wrong — after all, he is a draft pick.
Special Teams (3)
51, Dustin Colquitt P
52. Harrison Butker PK
53. James Winchester LS
Jack Fox to the PS
No Surprise here, Fox to the PS For next year. I fear he will get snatched by a needy team.T
That’s my finale
I have 3 more that I did as we flowed along. Maybe more. Due to volatility of camp and pre-season, my efforts are to sort keep and drop lists to give myself a view of how I think it will fall out. I believe we will see more than one move by GM Brett Veach. I am hoping for 2 of them, one a CB and one at LB. Wait and see. I wouldn’t mind if the LB were….. it would be…. ??? Kiko Alonso at LB and –?– at CB. You’ll have to fill that last question mark blank in your own self.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne