The Kansas City Chiefs have gone through eight practices at training camp so far. The Arrowhead Pride staff has been on hand for each session and has listened to each press conference, building the knowledge that went into my personal 53-man roster prediction as things currently stand.
Quarterbacks (3): Patrick Mahomes, Justin Fields and Garrett Nussmeier
Fields is signed to a one-year contract as the backup quarterback, but seventh-round pick Garrett Nussmeier has put together an impressive enough camp to warrant a spot on an NFL team’s 53-man roster come September. It feels like he could put together some notable film against third-team defenses in the preseason.
If the Chiefs are serious about him being the immediate understudy to Mahomes next season and beyond, he will likely need to be on the active roster.
Running backs (4): Kenneth Walker, Brashard Smith, Emari Demercado and Emmett Johnson
This group feels pretty set in stone as the team’s backfield for this season. Walker’s the lead back, Smith is the change-of-pace, versatile weapon, Demercado will settle in as the pass-down back, and Johnson is the hungry rookie who is ready to make a splash if given the opportunity.
Wide receivers (6): Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, Cyrus Allen, Jalen Royals and Andrew Armstrong
CLOSE CALL: Armstrong over Nikko Remigio
The competition at the receiver position, in terms of who will make the active roster, begins at No. 5.
With the uncertainty at the top of the depth chart, it seems like the team needs to keep more than five receivers. There’s more to find out about Royals and Armstrong, but that’s more than can be said about Remigio. He has maximized his role in Kansas City, and the return job should be handed off to Brashard Smith. Allen has lined up and caught punts and kicks as well.
Special teams coordinator Dave Toub noted Armstrong as someone he is excited about “as a cover guy” on Monday. He has also stepped up in the place of injured starting receivers this camp and has seen plenty of throws from Mahomes at practice. He appears to be more than the big-bodied, jumpball player that can fool Chiefs Kingdom at training camp.
Tight ends (3): Travis Kelce, Noah Gray and Jared Wiley
CLOSE CALL: Jake Briningstool left off
There is an urge to find room for second-year tight end Jake Briningstool on the roster, but at this point, the trio of starters has taken care of business for the first-team offense, and it feels as if Briningstool — or another potential practice-squad member — could be called up midseason if the team happens to suffer an injury.
If Briningstool, who racked up 1,380 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in his college career at Clemson, has an impressive preseason, he could force the team to make room for his skill set.
Offensive linemen (9): LT Joshua Simmons, LG Kingsley Suamataia, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, RT Kahlil Benson, Jaylon Moore, Esa Pole, Hunter Nourzad and Mike Caliendo
CLOSE CALL: Caliendo over Ethan Driskell
We don’t know who will start at right tackle in Week 1, but it feels like we know Benson and Moore will be on the roster. To me, Pole and Nourzad appear to be the highest on the depth chart among the rest.
Nourzad has played backup center in camp, but has played guard in his career and has also lined up as an eligible-reporting sixth offensive lineman with the starting offense in camp and towards the end of last season. He is more athletic than strong, and is obviously battling to stave off veteran Mike Caliendo as the first backup to the interior positions.
If Benson, Moore, Pole or third-year tackle Ethan Driskell show any guard versatility during the preseason, one of Nourzad or Caliendo could be outed to maintain two reserves on the inside. Give me Nourzad as of now.
Defensive tackles (4): Chris Jones, Khyiris Tonga, Peter Woods and Omarr Norman-Lott
There’s not a lot of debate here, although second-year player Marcus Harris from Auburn has shown off at times in camp. With the starting defense in a goal-to-go period, he tipped up a pass that led to an interception by safety Chamarri Conner. He will push with the fifth defensive end below to round out the defensive line room as a whole.
Defensive ends (5): George Karlaftis, Ashton Gillotte, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, R Mason Thomas and Tyreke Smith
With an injury to Gillotte and so much unknown between Anudike-Uzomah and the rookie Thomas, there should be a fifth player in the room. Smith would likely be a game-day inactive.
Linebackers (5): Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Jeffrey Bassa, Cole McDonald and Jack Cochrane
It’s good to see more of Bassa with the starting defense in camp, solidifying his roster spot, but the veteran Cochrane has reminded spectators of his value as reliable depth in case of injury. It’s hard to imagine the coaching staff signing off on cutting the fifth-year linebacker as things stand.
Cornerbacks (6): Mansoor Delane, Nohl Williams, L’Jarius Sneed, Kristian Fulton, Kader Kohou and Jadon Canady
CLOSE CALL: Kohou over Kevin Knowles
Kohou’s fully-guaranteed $1.8 million salary, along with his veteran experience in a young secondary, will likely keep him on the roster. He has worked with the starters plenty, but there has been quite the rotation in the slot at camp. Kevin Knowles flashed last year on defense and special teams; he feels hard to cut, but he could still sneak onto the team’s practice squad.
Now, Fulton has worked nearly exclusively with the second-team defense in camp. He got some time with the starters this week before injuring his hip flexor. He has an $8 million dead cap hit. If he recovers quickly and shows enough to garner interest from a cornerback-desperate team, the team might feel as if it’s in position to move forward without him in the picture if it was unwilling to sacrifice a younger player.
Safeties (5): Alohi Gilman, Chamarri Conner, Christian Roland-Wallace, Jaden Hicks and Xavier Nwankpa
Hicks has not seen any work with the starting defense, seemingly needing to do more work to impress defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. He’ll get that opportunity, and so will former Iowa safety and special-teams ace Xavier Nwankpa. He is comfortably on the roster right now and looks the part on defense and all four phases of special teams.
Placekicker Harrison Butker, punter Matt Araiza and long snapper James Winchester
