:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/3538958/120184586.jpg)
The Kansas City Chiefs first (unofficial) depth chart of the year came out this week and we continue to break down every position group. Here's a link to the offensive depth chart talk.
We move onto the linebackers today. This is always a tough group to figure out because some of the reserve linebackers' value is on special teams and, frankly, that's a little harder to evaluate.
We think we know who will be starting at three of the four linebacker spots in the Chiefs 3-4 defense. Here's how the depth chart looks right now:
LOLB: Andy Studebaker, Cameron Sheffield, Justin Houston
LILB: Jovan Belcher, Brandon Siler, Justin Cole, Amara Kamara
RILB: Derrick Johnson, Demorrio Williams, Cory Greenwood, Micah Johnson
ROLB: Tamba Hali, Pierre Walters, Eric Bakhtiari, Gabe Miller
Hali isn't going anywhere. We know that. DJ will be there as well and I would predict Studebaker is the season's starter as well. The biggest battle comes between Belcher, the incumbent, and Siler, the new guy. Both can play special teams and both have their strengths at linebacker so I imagine both will make the roster. From there, we can predict the Chiefs drafted linebackers will make it -- Houston and Miller. I'd also predict Greenwood makes it.
That's eight spots that I've predicted and I feel near-100 percent certain on just a few of them. Sheffield probably makes it since he hasn't had much of an opportunity to show the coaching staff what he can do. Pierre Walters has looked decent in camp and probably has the edge over Bakhtiari there.
So here's how I see things shaking out right now with my surprise cut as Demorrio Williams:
LOLB: Andy Studebaker, Cameron Sheffield, Justin Houston
LILB: Jovan Belcher, Brandon Siler, Justin Cole
RILB: Derrick Johnson, Cory Greenwood
ROLB: Tamba Hali, Gabe Miller