The Kansas City Chiefs fell to the Chicago Bears in preseason Week 3, marking their third loss of the preseason.
Despite the result, this game was all about the players fighting for a 53-man roster spot putting some good things on tape. The front office and coaching staff have already begun meetings to finalize their roster for Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season against the Baltimore Ravens. With that in mind, we’re going to take a crack at predicting the 53-man roster for the team.
Here’s a look at our final 53-man roster prediction (find the previous projection here).
Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2024 draft picks. Players with double asterisks (**) are 2024 undrafted free agents.
Quarterback (2)
On the 53-man roster: Patrick Mahomes and Carson Wentz
Practice squad: Chris Oladokun
Cut: Ian Book
How we got here: This group is pretty straightforward. Despite a solid performance in preseason Week 3, I think Oladokun will probably sneak through waivers and wind up on the practice squad in Kansas City again, but I wouldn’t be shocked if the Chiefs opted for Book. They’re probably closer than the preseason and training camp would make it appear, but you don’t want to have to rely on either.
Running back (3)
On the 53-man roster: Isiah Pacheco, Carson Steele** and Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Practice squad: Louis Rees-Zammit** and Deneric Prince
Cut: Keaontay Ingram and Emani Bailey**
How we got here: Steele has proven himself as a ball-carrier, blocker, and receiver during the preseason and training camp. Prince isn’t as far behind him as some might think, but he hasn’t proven to be quite as effective as a runner as you’d hope. The true wild card here is Edwards-Helaire, who has been unable to suit up multiple times during training camp and the preseason due to complications related to PTSD. If the Chiefs feel they can’t rely on him, that might open the possibility of adding to this unit via trade, waivers, or even a reunion with an old friend. Rees-Zammit and Prince are prime practice squad candidates.
Tight end (3)
On the 53-man roster: Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, and Jared Wiley*
Practice Squad: Baylor Cupp** and Geor’Quarius Spivey**
Trade candidate: Irv Smith Jr.
How we got here: In an ideal world, I think the Chiefs would like to carry four tight ends. Unfortunately, the wide receiver situation is likely to push out a solid role player in Smith Jr., but hopefully, he’s shown enough to where Kansas City can make a deal with a tight-end-needy team. If a fourth tight end does sneak onto the roster, I could see it being Cupp, who is quietly one of the team’s best blocking tight ends and a solid piece on special teams, too.
Wide receiver (6)
On the 53-man roster: Rashee Rice, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Xavier Worthy* Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, and Mecole Hardman
Practice Squad: Nikko Remigio and Cornell Powell
Trade candidates: Montrell Washington and Justyn Ross
Cut: Kadarius Toney, Phillip Brooks** and Kyle Sheets**
IR: Jaaron Hayek**
How we got here: I used to think the injury to Brown and the uncertainty surrounding Rice would force the Chiefs to be a little heavier at this position than normal, but I’m not so sure they carry seven receivers. Special teams have Moore and Hardman making the 53-man roster. Even with Dave Toub “pounding the table” for Remigio, I don’t think he’s done enough to make the initial 53. As for Justyn Ross, his lack of special teams value (nine snaps) combined with the fact that he still doesn’t know the playbook three years later isn’t a good sign. Washington and Powell have quietly put together good preseason and training camps, but is it enough and are they better than players at other positions? We’ll see.
Offensive line (10)
On the 53-man roster: Kingsley Suamataia*, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor, Mike Caliendo, Lucas Niang, Ethan Driskell**, C.J. Hanson*, and Hunter Nourzad*
Practice squad: Jason ‘Chu’ Godrick
Cut: Nick Torres** and Griffin McDowell**
IR: McKade Mettauer**
IR return candidate: Wanya Morris
How we got here: We’ve learned over the years that nothing is more important than protecting Patrick Mahomes. In previous projections, I had the team sticking with nine offensive linemen, but I think they go with ten players at the position. First off, with Wanya Morris re-injuring his knee in preseason Week 3, I think that makes him an IR-return candidate on cut-down day. Give him four weeks to get healthy and see where he’s at. That means keeping Niang and Driskell. Morris’ injury leaves Niang in that swing tackle role. Driskell will be scooped on waivers if you release him because the movement skills for his size can’t be taught. He needs some refinement, but this is a player that I think will be much better by Week 8 than he is right now. Hanson will probably be a gameday inactive in his first season, but he has a skill set worth developing.
Defensive line (10)
On the 53-man roster: George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Truman Jones, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Malik Herring, Chris Jones, Mike Pennel, Tershawn Wharton, Derrick Nnadi and Neil Farrell Jr.
Practice squad: Matt Dickerson and Fabien Lovett**
Cut: Alex Gubner**, and Owen Carney
Reserve/PUP: Charles Omenihu
Reserve/NFI: BJ Thompson
How we got here: One of the most telling things about Thursday’s game against the Bears was that the Chiefs kept Truman Jones out of the game. This could have been injury-related, but I suspect that he’s viewed as a “starter” on special teams. Even without playing in preseason Week 3, he led the entire defensive line group in special teams snaps this preseason with 24. There’s also a very real chance that he’s the team’s third-best edge rusher until Omenihu or Thompson return. Don’t be fooled by Derrick Nnadi playing in the third preseason game. He’s not had many snaps this preseason due to his injury. This was more about him getting his snap counts up and conditioning than his spot on the roster.
Linebacker (6)
On the 53-man roster: Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Leo Chenal, Jack Cochrane, Cam Jones, and Cole Christiansen
Practice squad: Swayze Bozeman** and Curtis Jacobs**
How we got here: I’ve been pretty consistent in keeping all the veterans on the 53-man roster and I’m sticking to my guns on that in the final projection. Bozeman and Jacobs simply haven’t shown enough this preseason. Meanwhile, Jones and Christiansen have flashed a ton on both defense and special teams.
Cornerback (6)
On the 53-man roster: Trent McDuffie, Nazeeh Johnson, Jaylen Watson, Joshua Williams, Kelvin Joseph, and Kamal Hadden*.
Practice Squad: Keith Taylor and Miles Battle**
Cut: Nic Jones, Ekow Boye-Doe, and DJ Miller**
How we got here: This is a tricky group to figure out, which makes me think they might be forced to keep a lot of players. I think Kelvin Joseph edged out Keith Taylor in preseason Week 3, and the fact that he provides some value on special teams will be big for Dave Toub. Jaylen Watson playing deep into Thursday’s game was more about him getting himself into football shape and getting his snap count up after not participating much at all during training camp due to injury.
Safety (4)
On the 53-man roster: Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, Chamarri Conner, and Jaden Hicks*
Practice squad: Christian Roland-Wallace** and Tyree Gillespie
Cut: Deon Bush
How we got here: As much as I’d like to see Roland-Wallace make the 53-man roster, I think the situation at cornerback and the depth at safety hurt his chances. Bush is a leader on special teams, but I think Hicks is probably going to push him out of a chance to make the 53-man roster. He’ll have to decide whether another year on the practice squad in Kansas City is worth it.
Special teams (3)
On the 53-man roster: K Harrison Butker, P Matt Araiza, and LS James Winchester
Practice squad: None
Cut: None
How we got here: No competition in this position group, so it remains pretty straightforward.
