Kansas City Chiefs

The First Crack at the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2016 53-Man Roster

Jason Seibel August 9, 2016 No Comments

Screen Shot 2016-07-24 at 9.35.52 PMWhile I never thought this day would come, it’s finally here. We are officially less than a week away from actual Kansas City Chiefs football. Well, maybe not real football, because it’s only preseason, but football will be played this Saturday night under the lights at Arrowhead Stadium.

 

The Chiefs take with them their training camp roster of 90 players into this first preseason game. While the first round of cuts–trimming the roster from 90 to 75 players–doesn’t occur until August 30th, some players within the Chiefs organization have already begun to rise to top and make a name for themselves. That is evidenced by the fact that the Chiefs public relations department released the team’s first depth chart over the weekend.

 

 

Keeping in mind this depth chart was compiled by PR folks with the Chiefs to appease the beat writers–and fans–everyone should take it with a grain of salt. That being said, we’ll use that as a spring board to start putting together the projected 53-man roster the Chiefs will go into the 2016 season with. I’ll break down each position group by starter and then backups, providing analysis on why I believe they make the team over anybody else. Finally, I’ll re-do this exercise after every preseason game until we get to our actual final 53-man roster.

 

Ready? Here we go!

The Offense

Quarterbacks:

 

QB1: 11 Alex Smith

 

QB2: 4 Nick Foles

 

QB3: 9 Tyler Bray

 

Didn’t Make the Cut: 7 Aaron Murray, 8 Kevin Hogan

 

Obviously Smith starts the season at the first string quarterback. In fact, last weekE, after the Chiefs signed Foles, head coach Andy Reid was asked if the move had anything to do with the club’s feelings about Smith. Reid had a quick answer that put the issue to bed.

 

“It’s Alex’s football team, this has nothing to do with Alex. In fact, Nick and Alex are friends. They were both in the Pro Bowl together and have stayed in touch. Nick knows that it’s Alex’s team and Alex knows that it’s his team.”

 

I think that pretty much sums up who the starting quarterback of this football team is. However, the second and third string positions are very much up for debate. While Foles will most likely still be learning the Chiefs offense at the beginning of the season, I think Reid would be crazy not to name him as Smith’s primary backup. He is the most game-ready should anything happen to Alex and knows enough about the offense to get the job done. That is truly not a mark against Bray as I think he could play, but Foles was brought in for a reason. That reason was to replace former QB2 Chase Daniel as Smith’s primary understudy.

 

Where does that leave Aaron Murray and Kevin Hogan? I think Hogan could land on the practice squad. If Murray doesn’t develop some strange, late, preseason injury like a stubbed toe or a flesh-eating virus that lands him on IR–as the Chiefs have done with Bray in the past–I think he could either be trade bait or cut outright.

 

Running Backs:

 

RB1: 25 Jamaal Charles

 

RB2: 35 Charcandrick West

 

RB3: 34 Knile Davis

 

FB1: 32 Spencer Ware

 

Didn’t Make the Cut: 24 Darrin Reaves, 42 Anthony Sherman, 40 Trey Millard

 

The biggest surprise here is keeping Davis and cutting Sherman. First, let me say that this scenario only plays out if Charles can make it back from his ACL rehab by the time roster cut-downs happen. Second, let me say that Anthony Sherman is one of my favorite players on this team. However, he has two things running against him. First, he’s got a cap number of $2 million this season. The Chiefs can recoup $1 million of that by cutting him, giving them a little wiggle room under the cap. Second, Ware is a fullback by trade who filled in nicely as an RB2 last season behind West when Charles went down. While Spencer isn’t quite the blocker that Sherman is, being able to pull the double duty of halfback and fullback gives Ware the edge. Finally, for some reason, the Chiefs continue to be enamored with Knile Davis. Yes, he ran back a kickoff for a huge touchdown to star the playoff game against the Houston Texans last year.

 

 

But that was it. Not sure why they continue to hold onto him, but I see them doing so for now.

 

Where does that leave Reaves and Sherman? If the Chiefs’ general manager John Dorsey could find a trade partner for Sherman, he’d deserve GM of the year out of the gate. Most teams don’t even carry a FB on their roster anymore so the market could be pretty dry. The other two could be potential practice squad players.

 

Wide Receivers:

 

WR1: 19 Jeremy Maclin

 

WR2: 81 Tyreek Hill

 

WR3: 12 Albert Wilson

 

WR4: 17 Chris Conley

 

WR5: 10 Rod Streater

 

WR6: De’Anthony Thomas

 

Didn’t Make the Cut: 85 Frankie Hammond Jr., 89 Kashif Moore, 1 Da’Ron Brown, 6 Mseantavius Jones, 14 Demarcus Robinson, 15 Mike Williams, 83 Mitch Matthews

 

Yes, I have rookie Tyreek Hill listed as the No. 2 receiver behind Maclin. Have you seen his highlights? Without having seen this kid in a game yet–we’ll hopefully get a good dose of him on Saturday night–I think he is legit. While a couple of flashy catches in camp don’t necessarily translate into actual game-time ability, his speed, his cuts and his ability to track the deep ball have been consistent. As in Every. Single. Play. All of them. It’s crazy.

 

 

 

If you didn’t know by now, Reid makes all of his receivers learn all of the WR positions for every play. Yes, it’s a pretty complicated system. That being said, it’s tough to provide a “depth chart” for the WRs because they all play inside and outside. Just because Wilson is the third guy on the list, doesn’t mean he is the starting slot-receiver. I think, right now, Maclin and Hill are the two best receivers on the team. After that, it’s pretty much anybody’s guess.

 

As of the guys who didn’t make it, I would suspect one or two of the rookies could be PS candidates. I haven’t heard Mike Williams’ name mentioned hardly at all during this camp. If he’s not making plays that get talked about, chances are, the coaches aren’t taking notice either.

 

Finally, we come to De’Anthony Thomas. Everybody was so taken aback by his speed, and then last year after his concussion, there were questions if he even wanted to play football. I think this guy is one of the most on-the-bubble players on the team. If he can’t get it together, the Chiefs have already found DAT v2.0 and his name is Hill.

 

Tight Ends:

 

TE1: 87 Travis Kelce

 

TE2: 80 James O’Shaughnessy

 

TE3: 82 Brian Parker

 

Didn’t Make the Cut: 84 Demetrius Harris, 88 Ross Travis

 

travis-kelce-2If you haven’t heard, Kelce has a television show coming out in October on the E! Network called “Chasing Kelce” where the prolific and outspoken tight end tries to find love amongst a pool of women that includes one gal from every state in the union. While the ladies are surely chasing him, I truly think every tight end in the league will also be chasing the stats he puts up this year. By the end of it, the Madden people will be kicking themselves because they put the wrong tight end on the cover of this year’s game.

 

Behind Kelce will be the duo of O’Shaughnessy, aka Shag Nasty, and Brian Parker, aka you have a boring name and I don’t have a nickname for you. These guys both played well last year when given the opportunity, and if it wasn’t for a preseason injury to Shag Nasty, I think he would have been a huge compliment to Kelce on the line.

 

As for the two who didn’t make it, I’ll say that the Demetrius Harris (former basketball player turned football player) experiment is finally over. Harris had every chance in the world to prove his worth, but dropped key passes and missed key blocks throughout last season. As for Ross Travis…I don’t know who you are, but you’re a tight end with the Chiefs and you’re wearing #88? Really? Come on, man!

 

Offensive Line:

 

Note: I’ll break these guys down as a group instead of individual positions.

 

LT1: 72 Eric Fisher

 

LG1: 79 Parker Ehinger

 

LG2: 60 Jarrod Pughsley

 

C1: 62 Mitch Morse

 

C2: 73 Zach Fulton

 

RG1: 75 Jah Reid

 

RG2: 76Laurent Duvernay-Tardif

 

RT1: 71 Mitchell Schwartz

 

RT2: 62 Curtis Feight

 

Didn’t Make the Cut: 74 Zach Sterup, 69 Reid Fragel, 64 Daniel Munyer, 68 Drew Nowak, 77 Jordan Devey, 65 Garrick Mayweather

 

The offensive line for the Chiefs has been the weakest part of the offense since Reid636025661797738932-1667833046_Chiefs Offensive Line Story 6.26 arrived in Kansas City. That is partially because there has been no stability. Dorsey may have finally fixed that problem. With Fisher signing a huge offseason contract extension and the team bringing in free agent Schwartz, Dorsey believes he’s found his bookend tackles. Morse was very good as a center last year–I say that modestly, he was top 5 in the position–and Fulton served as an above average backup when Morse went down with injury. While Jah Reid was a bit inconsistent, he played better inside than outside, which is why I gave him the nod at RG1. Dorsey extended him in the offseason, so obviously the team likes him. The biggest question mark on this line right now is the rookie Ehinger. If he can play, the Chiefs have a line that will be together for the next several year. It’s quite and exciting thought.

 

As for the guys who didn’t make, it’s nothing personal, but I haven’t heard their names, and therefore they haven’t stood out. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

The Defense

 

Defensive Line:

 

DE1: 95 Chris Jones

 

DE2: 97 Allen Bailey

 

DE3: 96 Jaye Howard

 

DE4: 98 Nick Williams

 

NT1: 92 Dontari Poe

 

NT2: Rakeem Nunez-Roches

 

Didn’t Make the Cut: 94 Jimmy Staten, 93 Daivd King, 66 Niko Davis,

 

This could potentially be the best defensive line (in a 3-4 base defense) in the NFL. That is not a biased statement. Jones was a steal in the second round of the draft and he continues to step up and make plays in camp. Poe continues to be a beast and he looks like he’s on a mission. If you haven’t seen it yet, watch how he goes after LDT in one-on-one drills when Dr. Larry takes him to the ground. He’s got the fire in his belly. Plus, it’s a contract year for him, so there’s that.

 

 

Just like with the receivers above, it’s tough to “order” these guys because Chiefs’ defensive coordinator Bob Sutton moves his players around so much, the word “starter” doesn’t really mean anything. But I think these are definitely the four that make it.

 

Let’s be honest, with the six guys who made the roster, guys like Jimmy Staten, Niko Daivs and David King didn’t really stand a chance, did they?

 

Pass Rushers:

 

OLB1: 55 Dee Ford

 

OLB2: 91 Tamba Hali

 

OLB3: 51 Frank Zombo

 

OLB4: 54 Dezman Moses

 

IR Designated to Return: 50 Justin Houston (Eligible to return Week 7)

 

Didn’t Make the Cut: 40 Andy Mulumba, 52 Dadi Nicolas, 46 Jonathan Massaquoi

 

This is the year of the Ford. It has to be or the Chiefs defense will only be a shadow of itself from seasons past. There has been nothing that come from the team leadership or medical staff to indicate Houston is anywhere near ready to play football. I don’t see how he could possibly could be ready for the opening game against the San Diego Chargers. Hali, on the other hand, is getting the veteran benefit of sitting out of camp to protect his knees. He knows this defense inside and out and will be ready to play come Week 1.

 

Moses and Zombo are good backups who can come in when the starters need a break. They’re not world beaters, but they know the scheme. The other guys competing for a spot just can’t compete with that. I’d look for Dadi Nicolas to land on the PS so the Chiefs can hold onto him should something happen to Hali.

 

Inside Linebackers:

 

ILB1: 56 Derrick (Big DJ) Johnson

 

ILB2: 59 Justin March

 

ILB3: 90 Josh Mauga

 

ILB4: 57 (Little) D.J. Alexander

 

Didn’t Make the Cut: 62 Terrance Smith, 53 Ramik Wilson, 44 Tyrell Adams

 

When paired with the Chiefs’ defensive line, this middle linebacking corps could be the best in the league. Big D.J. continues to play at a high level and took a rather significant pay cut to remain with the Chiefs, during the offseason. There is youth around him as I truly believe March and Alexander and will be the future in the middle of the field for this team.

 

It’ll be a tough cut for Ramik Wilson, but I think he’ll be signed quickly by another team. I think he suffers from trying to make a team with so much talent in the middle. He’d be a starter on another squad, but here, he’s the fifth best guy on the roster.

 

Cornerbacks:

 

CB1: 22 Marcus Peters

 

CB2: 23 Phillip Gaines

 

CB3: 20 Steven Nelson

 

CB4: 26 KeiVarae Russell

 

CB5: 31 Marcus Cooper

 

CB6: 24 D.J. White

 

Didn’t Make the Cut: 45 Bryce Cheek, 48 Malcom Jackson, 1 Deveron Carr

 

Peters, Gaines and Nelson are the best corners on this football team. Peters could be a defensive player of the year candidate if his sophomore season is as good as his rookie campaign was. I mean, the guy has notched an interception in five straight practices according to Chiefs’ beat writer Terez Paylor.

 

Here is the video of a couple of those.

 

 

Gaines had his season cut short by injury just as he was starting to really shine and Nelson came on towards the end of last season. Beyond those three, I’m really guessing. Cooper makes the squad because the coaches seem to like him and he knows the scheme really well. I think the rookie, Russell, will be there as well.

 

Safeties:

 

SS1: 29 Eric Berry

 

SS2: 49 Daniel Sorensen

 

FS1: 38 Ron Parker

 

FS2: 30 Jamell Fleming

 

Didn’t Make the Cut: 21 Eric Murray, 47 Shak Randolph, 39 Jeron Johnson, 27 Stevie Brown, 43 Akeem Davis

 

While this may be Eric Berry’s last season in Chiefs’ Red and Gold, he will certainly play his last season here. Berry will come in at the end of camp, sign his franchise tag tender and start the season as the Chiefs strong safety. What happens beyond that is anyone’s guess. Parker has cemented his role as the starter at free safety after a successful transition from cornerback last season. Sorensen is a key special teams contributor, which is how I believe he stays on this roster and I think Fleming makes the squad as a free safety because the team saw what they were able to do with Parker.

 

I would look for Murray and Randolph to be potential PS candidates when they are cut.

 

Special Teams

Specialists:

 

P: 2 Dustin Colquitt

 

K: 5 Cairo Santos

 

LS: 41 James Winchester

 

The Chiefs didn’t bring in any competition for the punter, kicker or long snapper positions this offseason. They seem to be satisfied with their specialists. It makes guessing who makes the roster pretty easy.

 

Returners:

 

Note: Keep in mind, these players don’t count agains the 53-man roster because they already count in their respective position groups.

 

PR1: 81 Tyreek Hill

 

PR2: 13 De’Anthony Thomas

 

KR1: 34 Knile Davis

 

KR2: 81 Tyreek Hill

 

KR3: 13 De’Anthony Thomas

 

This special teams could be truly special this season. When the media asked special teams coordinator Dave Toub about Hill’s speed, Toub had this to say:

 

“Speed wise – he’s the fastest person I’ve ever had, hands down. I say that and I coached Devin Hester. Devin Hester is probably a tenth of a second slower than Tyreek [Hill].”

 

That’s high praise from the guy who coached Devin Hester to all of his return touchdowns.

 

So, there you have it fellow Chiefs fans! My 53-man roster prediction! How did I do? Do you think I’m close? Any changes? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comment section. Sound off and let me know. And remember, I’ll be doing an update every week from now until we actually get the final roster from the team.