Wrapping Up The Roster: Predictions For Kansas City’s Final 53 – With training camp past and just a couple preseason contests remaining, Chiefs roster should be, very nearly, set. There’s generally a couple surprises, on cut-down day, but, at the moment, there’s enough data to make a fairly good guess as to how the roster will shake out. Here’s mine:
Quarterbacks (2)
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- 1. Patrick Mahomes
- 2. Chad Henne
Shurmur and Litton have both had ups and downs, Chiefs should be able to keep whichever one they want on the practice squad.
Running Backs (5)
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- 3. Damien Williams
- 4. Darwin Thompson
- 5. Darrel Williams
- 6. Anthony Sherman
- 7. John Lovett
Chiefs really like Damien Williams, and he will remain the starter. Darwin Thompson is making a case to be the number two RB. He’s a dynamic athlete and a good pass protector, for a guy his size. Darrel Williams and Carlos Hyde are likely fighting for a roster spot. Williams is younger, has a bit more burst, and offers more as a pass catcher. Sherman is a given. John Lovett could be a candidate for mystery IR (when teams stash a player they can’t keep on the roster, on the injured reserve list). However, Chiefs have kept him around, and they were very high on him, prior to the injury. If he’s healthy enough to play, on STs, week one, he should have a roster spot.
Wide Receivers (6)
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- 8. Tyreek Hill
- 9. Sammy Watkins
- 10. Mecole Hardman
- 11. DeMarcus Robinson
- 12. De’Anthony Thomas
- 13. Cody Thompson
Marcus Kemp was going to make the roster, before his injury. Chiefs will replace him with two guys: Thompson and DAT. Cody T is a solid possession receiver who runs good routes and possesses solid hands. DAT is a special teams stalwart who can replace Kemp, as a gunner. Robinson will start the season as Chiefs’ #3 WR, but, by the end of the year, Hardman will supplant him. Byron Pringle and Rashard Davis both flashed in camp, but neither performed, particularly well, under the bright lights, on game day.
Tight Ends (2)
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- 14. Travis Kelce
- 15. Blake Bell
Chiefs have a ton of talent at WR and are unlikely to use multiple TE sets. As such, Bell’s ability on STs gives him the edge. Yelder was coming on, with a strong performance, against the Steelers, but a, likely, high ankle sprain will cause him to miss too much time to make the roster. At this point, it’s Bell’s job to lose.
Special Teams (3)
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- 16. Dustin Colquitt
- 17. Harrison Butker
- 18. James Winchester
No surprises here.
Offensive Line (9)
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- 19. Eric Fisher
- 20. Andrew Wylie
- 21. Austin Reiter
- 22. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
- 23. Mitchell Schwartz
- 24. Cam Erving
- 25. Kahlil McKenzie
- 26. Nick Allegretti
- 27. Jeff Allen
Chiefs are thin at OT. Erving can play there, but not well. 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. 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.
Safety(4)
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- 28. Tyrann Mathieu
- 29. Juan Thornhill
- 30. Armani Watts
- 31. Daniel Sorensen
Injury sidelined Lucas for much of the off-season, otherwise he might have given Sorenson more of a fight. Chiefs should feel decent about their safety group. Watts has flashed big play ability, and Sorenson remains a solid, if uninspiring, veteran. Mathieu is a great leader and Thornhill has a chance to be a household name.
Cornerbacks (6)
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- 32. Kendall Fuller
- 33. Bashaud Breeland
- 34. Charvarius Ward
- 35. Morris Claiborne
- 36. Herb Miller
- 37. Mark Fields
The top four are obvious. It gets less clear from there. Herb Miller gets the first nod. He started as a tryout player and has improved consistently throughout camp. The fact that he’s battling with D’Montre Wade, who’s already been in the league, for a year, tells you he’s basically won that fight. Mark Fields seems to have some attitude problems, but the Chiefs’ can’t afford to turn their back on that level of talent at that price tag. With so many free agents CBs, next offseason, finding a couple young guys, who aren’t terrible, is a must.
Defensive Ends (5)
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- 38. Frank Clark
- 39. Alex Okafor
- 40. Breeland Speaks
- 41. Emmanuel Ogbah
- 42. Tanoh Kpassagnon
Speaks is a little up in the air, since we don’t know the severity of his injury. Still, Chiefs like him, and they can afford to keep him on the roster, while he heals. Maintaining quality depth, at DE, will be a priority for this defense year in and year out. They’re certainly looking good, this year.
Linebackers (6)
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- 43. Anthony Hitchens
- 44. Reggie Ragland
- 45. Damien Wilson
- 46. Darron Lee
- 47. Ben Niemann
- 48. Dorian O’Daniel
The top five have been clear for a while now. Chiefs could opt to cut O’Daniel, and keep more, at another position, but his special teams ability, makes him worth keeping around. I’m still nervous about how this group can function, in coverage, and keeping a faster, lighter, guy around makes a lot of sense, even if he still doesn’t quite have his bearings, in the defense.
Defensive Tackles (5)
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- 49. Derrick Nnadi
- 50. Chris Jones
- 51. Khalen Saunders
- 52. Joey Ivey
- 53. Xavier Williams
Justin Hamilton got washed in a play, on the goaline, against a double team. That happens sometimes, but its not the kind of play that earns you a roster spot. Ivey has impressed, in limited reps, showing some ability both as a run defender and a pass rusher. Xavier Williams is a solid veteran, but Chiefs may let him go, if they find a young DT, on cut down day, that they like better. This group doesn’t feel as settled as I thought it might.
As deep as Chiefs roster is, it’s a bit of a surprise that four UDFAs have real shots to make the roster. Three of those, however, come at spots where Chiefs are relatively thin. Lovett will operate, in some ways, like a TE, while Miller and Fields fill much needed depth at CB. Cody Thompson has had an uphill battle to make this roster, but he’s shown, in my opinion, more then enough, to do so. With suspensions coming for Claiborne, and (possibly) DAT, it’ll be interesting to see how Chiefs fill those spots, in the meantime. Remember though, both players have to be on the opening roster, before their suspensions take place, so Chiefs will have to expose some guys to waivers and hope they make it through. Veach has done an excellent job overhauling this year’s roster. Let’s hope it pays off. Go Chiefs.
Ransom Hawthorne — ArrowheadOne
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