Chiefs Depth Chart: 5 Surprises On Defense

The KC Chiefs depth chart was released last night, the first depth chart of training camp. There weren't any total stunners on the depth chart but there were a few interesting tidbits.

We went over four surprises on the offensive side of the ball earlier. Now, we hit five surprises on the defensive side of the ball.

The surprise is the lack of surprises. Just three first teamers weren't on the first team last year. Anthony Toribio at nose tackle and Stanford Routt at cornerback are two new players while Justin Houston, who didn't overtake the starting job until midseason, is also on the first team. Lots of continuity in this group.

Dontari Poe is on the second team. OK, this isn't really a surprise. It's the way they've lined up in camp for the most part and it's pretty much what we expected. Anthony Toribio is on the first team and it looks like he has a good shot to line up as the starter in Week 1. We know Poe is the future at this position at some point. Also of note here is that Jerrell Powe, last year's sixth round pick, is on the third team. I can't see the Chiefs keeping three nose tackles on the active roster.

Ropati Pitoitua is ahead of Allen Bailey at defensive end. Tyson Jackson is the starter, as expected, but it's behind him and in what order that leaves me a little surprised. I didn't expect a whole lot of out Pitoitua when KC signed him but he's had a solid camp so far and establishing himself as someone who could make the 53-man roster. I don't think anything's wrong with Bailey; I think it says more about Pitoitua's play.

Safeties have new backups. Again, not a surprise considering where he lined up in OTAs and training camp but Travis Daniels is now the second team safety behind Kendrick Lewis and Abe Elam, signed this offseason, is backing up Eric Berry. That's two new backup safeties to the group and, including Berry's absence last year, three of the top four safeties are different from last season.

Jalil Brown moves on up. There hasn't been an unknown player that has totally wowed me at training camp but Jalil Brown is close. The second year player has had a solid camp and he's making it hard on the Chiefs in the secondary, at least when it comes to the depth chart. Brown is now backing up Brandon Flowers at cornerback after sitting on the third team last year.

The complete Chiefs depth chart is posted below.

OFFENSE

WR Steve Breaston, Dexter McCluster, Josh Bellamy, Devon Wylie, Aaron Weaver, Zeke Markshausen

LT Branden Albert, Donald Stephenson

LG Ryan Lilja, Jeff Allen, Rich Ranglin

C Rodney Hudson, Lucas Patterson, Rob Bruggeman, Cam Holland

RG Jon Asamoah, Darryl Harris, Justin Cheadle

RT Eric Winston, David Mims, Ray Willis

TE Kevin Boss, Tony Moeaki, Steve Maneri, Jake O'Connell, Tim Biere

WR Jon Baldwin, Terrance Copper, Jamar Newsome, Jeremy Horne, Brandon Kinnie, Junior Hemingway,Dwayne Bowe

QB Matt Cassel, Brady Quinn, Ricky Stanzi, Alex Tanney

FB Shane Bannon, Patrick DiMarco

RB Jamaal Charles, Peyton Hillis, Shaun Draughn, Cyrus Gray, Nate Eachus

DEFENSE

RDE Glenn Dorsey, Amon Gordon, Brandon Bair, Ethan Johnson

NT Anthony Toribio, Dontari Poe, Jerrell Powe

LDE Tyson Jackson, Ropati Pitoitua, Allen Bailey, Jerome Long

ROLB Tamba Hali, Cameron Sheffield, Edgar Jones

RILB Derrick Johnson, Cory Greenwood, Leon Williams

LILB Jovan Belcher, Brandon Siler, Caleb Campbell, Dexter Heyman

LOLB Justin Houston, Andy Studebaker, Gabe Miller

RCB Stanford Routt, Javier Arenas, De'Quan Menzie, Neiko Thorpe, Mikail Baker

LCB Brandon Flowers, Jalil Brown, Jacques Reeves, Chandler Fenner

FS Kendrick Lewis, Travis Daniels, Donald Washington, Tysyn Hartman,Dominique Ellis

SS Eric Berry, Abram Elam, Jean Fanor, Terrance Parks

SPECIALISTS

P Dustin Colquitt, Matt Szymanski

K Ryan Succop, Matt Szymanski

KO Ryan Succop, Matt Szymanski

PC Thomas Gafford, Cory Greenwood, Andy Studebaker

KC Thomas Gafford, Cory Greenwood, Andy Studebaker

H Dustin Colquitt, Brady Quinn, Ricky Stanzi

PR Javier Arenas, Dexter McCluster, Devon Wylie

KR Javier Arenas, Dexter McCluster, Devon Wylie