There are a mere 18 days before all Chiefs players are set to report to training camp. During the next several months, veterans and rookies will be battling out for a spot on the 53-man roster.
The 90-man offseason roster is loaded with competition and it’s becoming clearer which players could find themselves on the roster bubble come Sept. 1. Here’s a look at five of those players and why they might not be with the Chiefs come Week 1:
OT Ryan Hunter
Hunter spent the entirety of the 2018 season on the Chiefs’ practice squad after failing to make the 53-man roster in 2018.
The Chiefs have done a good job of developing offensive linemen as of late, but they’ve also churned the bottom of the roster quite a bit. This offseason alone they’ve added Zack Golditch, Dino Boyd and Chidi Okeke. They also have Pace Murphy, who was on and off the practice squad last season.
This ultimately may come down to Hunter’s ability to play both tackle and guard. The more you can do, the more valuable you are, especially when it comes to offensive linemen. Hunter still has eligibility left for the practice squad and he might be better suited furthering his development there.
Continue …
TE Blake Bell
Bell is currently in position to compete for the No. 3 tight end job in Kansas City. What is working against Bell is that he has an ever-expanding pool of competition. Since the Chiefs signed Bell they’ve also added John Lovett, Jody Fortson, Nick Keizer and Neal Sterling.
Yes, they’ve had some minor injuries at the position group, including to Bell, who dealt with back spasms early in OTAs.
Bell has the benefit of experience, starting 12 games throughout his career. Of those mentioned above, only Sterling has started an NFL game during his career. Still, the door is open for anyone to emerge behind Travis Kelce.
Deon Yelder seems to have a stranglehold on the No. 2 position, even though he also dealt with injury during OTAs and minicamp. Right now, the favorite to win the No. 3 job appears to be former Princeton QB John Lovett, but that could obviously change once the pads come on at training camp.
Continue …
LB Jeremiah Attaochu
The Chiefs are in the midst of revamping their linebacker corps to better fit a 4-3 defensive scheme.
Attaochu looks the part of a Sam linebacker, but he can also put his hand in the dirt and play defensive end in some situations. That’s an intriguing skill set, but will it be enough to land Attaochu a roster spot?
Chiefs linebacker coach Matt House recently mentioned that he has a competitive group. Damien Wilson has a clear path to become the starter at Sam, but beyond that, the reserve linebacker spots are up for grabs.
Special teams could be something that plays a big part in several reserve linebacker positions. Ben Niemann has a huge edge in that area, after being one of the top special teamers for the Chiefs last season.
Continue …
WR Marcus Kemp
The Chiefs have a ton of competition among the wide receiver group, but one player who will be in for the biggest battle to make the roster is Kemp, who is in his third year.
Kemp has made a strong case for a roster spot in the past because of his ability as a special teams player, but I think it will come down to more than that in 2019. In two seasons with the Chiefs, Kemp has just two targets and one reception for seven yards.
In 2018, when the Chiefs dealt with injuries at the receiver position, the team opted to sign Kelvin Benjamin instead of relying on Kemp to contribute on offense. If any of the other receivers the Chiefs brought in as undrafted free agents can make a bigger impact on offense and at least match Kemp’s production on special teams, he could find himself cut on Sept. 1.
Continue …
DT Xavier Williams
Last offseason it was Rakeem Nunez-Roches who became expendable when the Chiefs added Williams in free agency and drafted Derrick Nnadi. Now the Chiefs have added another defensive tackle into the fold with Khalen Saunders.
Williams is from Grandview, Missouri. One thing that could hurt him is that he’s only played in a 3-4 scheme during the course of his NFL career. The Chiefs’ change to a base 4-3 could impact how the front office evaluates him.
The Chiefs can save $2.8 million by cutting Williams. The team is not exactly cash-strapped, but if they start handing out extensions to Chris Jones and Tyreek Hill, things could quickly change in that regard.
Continue …
Notable omission: S Daniel Sorensen
Dirty Dan made it to this list last year, but he’s been starting opposite Tyrann Mathieu throughout OTAs and minicamp. Next to Mathieu, he’s the most veteran safety on the roster, having started 18 games since he’s entered the league.
Sorensen signed a lucrative deal while former Chiefs GM John Dorsey was in charge, and his release could save the Chiefs $3.6 million against the cap. But as I mentioned earlier, the 2019 cap situation is currently looking good.
Look for the Chiefs to give Sorensen every opportunity to keep his job. That will allow them to ease in rookie Juan Thornhill and second-year player Armani Watts, who is coming off an injury in 2018.
Go back …
