Train, Toss or Trade: The Not So Magnificent 37, Pt. 2 

It’s time for part two of Train, Toss or Trade. When we last left off, the roster was twenty three players down and seven practice squad spots filled. Cuts only get tougher as the remaining 14 players vie for three practice squad spots. The remaining position groups are QB, RB, TE and WR.

Position Group: QB

1. QB Aaron Murray: Trade: Chiefs may not be able to trade Murray, but they should try. Murray lacks Bray’s long term potential, and, with the arrival of Foles, his value as a steady backup has diminished for the Chiefs. If Chiefs can get anything in return for Murray, it would be a win for Dorsey. Murray has flashed enough that a QB starved franchise might be interested in him as a #3.

2. QB Kevin Hogan: Train: There may be some question as to whether Hogan can make the practice squad, he looked pretty good back when he was getting reps, but it’s doubtful any team would snatch a 5^th round pick from this year who has no experience in their offense and was relegated to a 5^th string QB (who knew such a thing existed). He also struggled with accuracy in his first start. If Chiefs don’t think he’ll make it through waivers, he’ll go on mystery IR, but I think Dorsey risks it and Hogan spends the year on the PS.

Position Group: RB

1. RB Darrin Reaves: Trade: Reaves is a good player, but Chiefs are stacked at RB. He probably wouldn’t last another year on the PS, though Chiefs could chance it. If they can get decent compensation for him, Chiefs should take it.

2. FB Trey Milliard: Toss: Milliard could be a decent starting FB, but in, what should be, a championship year, Chiefs will value Sherman’s leadership enough to absorb his cap hit for another year. Milliard could easily be a reserve futures signing next year though. No sense wasting a PS spot on a position that’s going extinct in the NFL. It may not be too long before Chiefs do away with the FB position altogether.

Position Group: TE

1. TE James O’Shaughnessy: Train: Shag showed some solid potential last year, but he still looks to be recovering from a doozy of a foot injury. Chiefs should be able to sneak him onto the PS and have a nice receiving TE available mid season if someone gets hurt. If Chiefs decide to drop Knile Davis, Shag might make it for his STs play. Another possibility is that Chiefs roll into the season with only two QBs on the roster, if Bray goes on IR. Chiefs might keep an extra TE, OLB or OL in that situation.

2. TE Brain Parker: Trade: Parker is a phenomenal blocker who continues to struggle with the passing game. Chiefs have a good blocker in Harris and good receivers in Travis last name and Travis first name. Blocking TEs are still valued in the NFL and someone might cough up a pick for Parker.

Position Group: WR

1. WR DaRon Brown: Toss: I was never a huge fan of this pick in the first place. Brown boasts great hands and strength. He’s not a superior athlete, and doesn’t gain a lot of separation. He had a nice play in the first preseason game. He’s not an ideal target for Alex Smith, but if Chiefs went with more of a gunslinger at QB in the future, Brown’s ability to make contested catches could be valuable. In the end, Chiefs are confident in their depth at WR. I expect them to carry six and so they might not keep one on the practice squad.

2. WR Frankie Hammond: Toss: I really hope Chiefs get rid of Hammond. Every year they put us through this nonsense. Hammond shows up in preseason, makes the roster, and then proceeds to demonstrate the catch radius of an inebriated mole rat. He’s actually a good punt returner when he hangs on to the ball, but Dorsey needs to break Toub’s heart to lower fans’ blood pressure.

3. WR Seantavius Jones: Toss: Jones is a big WR with a good catch radius, but he’s really only a possession WR which doesn’t fit Chiefs offense right now.

4. WR Mitch Mathews: Toss: I was all aboard the Mathews train, but like so many big WRs in the NFL, poor old Mitch never made it off the line. Big guys like that are vulnerable to press coverage if they aren’t fast enough off the line.

5. WR Kashif Moore: Toss: Moore is to DAT as DAT is to Tyreek Hill. He was a nice reserve future signing when picked him up, but few teams have room for more than one short WR and Chiefs will likely carry two (Wilson and Hill). He doesn’t really have any upside to develop, but he’s a good training camp body since he can do some of the same types of plays as Hill and DAT.

6. WR DeAnthony Thomas: Trade: Thomas won’t be easy to cut, but finding a roster spot for him is even tougher. Ideally, Chiefs are able to find away to get rid of a receiver they don’t trust anymore and also receive some compensation from a speed hungry team. Talent was never an issue with Thomas, but durability concerns and a mysterious injury last year have haunted him.

7. WR Mike Williams: Toss: Williams was once a great receiver, but unlike Streater he’s yet to consistently show he can be that guy. Flashing is fine for UDFAs and rookies. Grizzled veterans have to show something more. Williams has yet to do that and with all the drops in training camp, he’s going to need to win his preseason match-ups decisively and repeatedly to change his fate.

If you counted carefully, you’ll note that I’ve only listed 13 cuts in this piece for a grad total of 36. That’s because Houston is on track to start the year on the PUP list. When he comes back someone else is going to get cut, but until then, that’s all the roster cuts we should see. Lot of football between then and now which could change everything. It’s unlikely that Chiefs pick up anybody on the Waiver wire since they’ll be near the bottom of the list, but with Dorsey, it’s never something you can completely rule out.

Final Practice Squad

Kevin Hogan, Jarrod Pughsley, Garrick Mayweather, Zach Sterrup, Terrence Smith, Bryce Cheek, Shak Randolph, Niko Davis, Jimmy Staten, James O’Shaugnessy.

What do you think Chiefs fans? Do you like this practice squad or is there someone else you’d like to see there?