It has been less than a week since we released our first way-too-early 53-man roster projections. So much has already happened with the roster in that short period of time, I felt the need to provide an updated version. While a few position groups will remain unchanged from the first version, things like Dustin Colquitt’s release, Bashaud Breeland’s arrest, and Taco Charlton’s signing have called for some updates.
Quarterback (2):
| Depth | Player |
| 1 | Patrick Mahomes |
| 2 | Chad Henne |
This group isn’t getting any changes, though I still would love to find a roster spot for Jordan Ta’amu somehow. If you cut Henne you’re basically throwing away $2 million over the next two seasons. Ta’amu no longer has to outperform Kyle Shurmur for a spot on the Kansas City practice squad, so that is good news for his chances of sticking with the Chiefs in some capacity.
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DT | DE | LB | CB | S | ST
Running back (5):
| Depth | Player |
| 1 | Damien Williams |
| 2 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire |
| 3 | Darwin Thompson |
| 4 | Darrel Williams |
| 5 | FB Anthony Sherman |
I keep coming back to this group and as much as I want to change it in order to include DeAndre Washington, I can’t find a way to do it.
I don’t want to cut Darrel Williams, because Clyde Edwards-Helaire considers him a mentor and credits him for helping him learn the playbook at LSU. That’s someone you want around for Edwards-Helaire’s rookie season.
I don’t want to cut Darwin Thompson, because he and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are the only running backs under contract beyond 2021. Unless Thompson is vastly outperformed, you have to find a way to keep him on that rookie contract.
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DT | DE | LB | CB | S | ST
Wide receiver (6):
| Depth | Player |
| 1 | Tyreek Hill |
| 2 | Sammy Watkins |
| 3 | Mecole Hardman |
| 4 | Demarcus Robinson |
| 5 | Byron Pringle |
| 6 | Maurice Ffrench |
Before I gave players who had already been in the Chiefs’ system a big advantage with potential for an abbreviated offseason. I still think that will be the case, but until we know more I’m not going to let it alter my decision. After reviewing some tape and thinking about the potential needs in Kansas City, I think at least one of these UDFA receivers will make the roster.
Ffrench is guy who fits what the Chiefs like to do on offense. He can stretch the field deep. He was utilized on jet sweeps. He also has versatility as a kick and punt return specialist, with two kick return touchdowns during his career at Pittsburgh.
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DT | DE | LB | CB | S | ST
Tight end (3):
| Depth | Player |
| 1 | Travis Kelce |
| 2 | Ricky Seals-Jones |
| 3 | Deon Yelder |
I went back and reviewed some tape and I actually like Deon Yelder’s chances to make the roster as a blocker. At the end of the day, whoever is the better blocker and can play special teams is going to win that No. 3 spot. I still think that H-Back John Lovett, who was injured ahead of the 2019 season, is a sneaky option to win this spot.
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DT | DE | LB | CB | S | ST
Offensive line (10):
| Depth | Player |
| 1 | Eric Fisher |
| 2 | Martinas Rankin |
| 3 | Austin Reiter |
| 4 | Laurent Duvernay-Tardif |
| 5 | Mitchell Schwartz |
| 6 | Andrew Wylie |
| 7 | Nick Allegretti |
| 8 | Mike Remmers |
| 9 | Lucas Niang |
| 10 | Darryl Williams |
I’m leaving this group alone, but I’m going to acknowledge that guys like Austin Reiter, Andrew Wylie and Nick Allegretti are not locks to make this team. If there’s enough of a normal offseason to get some of these new guys repetitions, I could see those interior spots being extremely competitive, even the backup spots. I’m still going with 10 players here as I think that is the magic number for the offensive line in Kansas City.
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DT | DE | LB | CB | S | ST
Defensive tackle (4):
| Depth | Player |
| 1 | Chris Jones |
| 2 | Derrick Nnadi |
| 3 | Mike Pennel |
| 4 | Khalen Saunders |
This group is staying the same for Kansas City. Here is what I had to say the last time around:
“I’m only going with four players at defensive tackle because both Tanoh Kpassagnon and Breeland Speaks should see time playing on the interior too. The Chiefs ran with four players on the depth chart at this spot for the majority of the 2020 NFL season.”
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DT | DE | LB | CB | S | ST
Defensive end (5):
| Depth | Player |
| 1 | Frank Clark |
| 2 | Alex Okafor |
| 3 | Tanoh Kpassagnon |
| 4 | Taco Charlton |
| 5 | Mike Danna |
The addition of Taco Charlton puts a player like Breeland Speaks on notice. If he wants to keep his job, he’ll have to impress in a big way. I could see the Chiefs trying to trade him ahead of 53-man roster cuts if he doesn’t turn it around. I still have new Chiefs draft pick, Michigan DE Mike Danna, edging out Demone Harris for the No. 5 spot on the defensive end group. I could see Kansas City rolling with six defensive ends and cutting from somewhere else to keep Speaks or Harris, but the Charlton signing definitely makes things a lot more competitive with this group.
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DT | DE | LB | CB | S | ST
Linebacker (5):
| Depth | Player |
| 1 | Anthony Hitchens |
| 2 | Damien Wilson |
| 3 | Willie Gay Jr. |
| 4 | Ben Niemann |
| 5 | Darius Harris |
This group will also remain unchanged from our last version. Here is what I had to say:
“The addition of Willie Gay Jr. is the final nail in the coffin for Doran O’Daniel. He hasn’t been able to get on the field, despite a clear need for speed at the WILL position. I suspect the Chiefs might try to trade him for future draft capital or a player at a position of need ahead of the 2020 NFL season. I have Darius Harris grabbing that final roster spot. He spent 2019 on the PUP list, but Brett Veach was very high on him, tabbing him as a future starter.”
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DT | DE | LB | CB | S | ST
Cornerback (6):
| Depth | Player |
| 1 | Charvarius Ward |
| 2 | Bashaud Breeland |
| 3 | Rashad Fenton |
| 4 | L’Jarius Sneed |
| 5 | Antonio Hamilton |
| 6 | BoPete Keyes |
I still think the Chiefs go with six players at the cornerback position. At the end of the day, I think Bashaud Breeland will be with Kansas City in 2019 despite his arrest. Typically, these things take a while to play out before the NFL will make a disciplinary ruling. While he’s already facing a four-game suspension for another infraction, it could get reduced.
That experience that Rashad Fenton had in 2019 is going to pay dividends if Breeland does miss time. If Breeland misses time it will also allow players like Hamilton, Sneed, and Keyes to get valuable practice repetitions.
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DT | DE | LB | CB | S | ST
Safety (4):
| Depth | Player |
| 1 | Tyrann Mathieu |
| 2 | Juan Thornhill |
| 3 | Daniel Sorensen |
| 4 | Armani Watts |
Nothing new about this group from our last version of this article. I think the versatility that L’Jarius Sneed offers will allow them to roster just four players at this position. UDFA DB Rodney Clemons has an outside chance of making the roster, but I think his lack of top-end speed limits his role significantly.
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DT | DE | LB | CB | S | ST
Special Teams (3):
| Depth | Player |
| 1 | Harrison Butker |
| 2 | Tommy Townsend |
| 3 | James Winchester |
This was perhaps the biggest change to the entire group. The Chiefs released their longest-tenured player, Dustin Colquitt, after 15 years with the team. It’s bittersweet, but Colquitt’s play was in clear statistical decline at 37 years old. With Colquitt’s departure, apart from needing to find a new punter, Kansas City also has the task of finding a new holder for Butker.
Townsend was one of the most coveted specialists in undrafted free agency. He has the most likely path to the 53-man roster of any Chiefs undrafted free agent, because not only is he a good punter, but he was also the holder for the Florida Gators’ kicker too. He’ll have some competition from Tyler Newsome, who was signed in free agency. So Townsend won’t be the undisputed guy in Kansas City right away. Make no mistakes, though. Townsend is the clear favorite to win the job in Kansas City and I’d expect that to be the case unless the Chiefs can somehow bring back Jack Fox, who was on the 90-man roster in 2019.
