From the FanPosts. Good read. -Joel
Thank dear, sweet baby Chiefus that football is back.
I've been slowly losing my mind over the last few months, what with my going back to school after two years away from college, my job slowly sucking out my soul, and the Royals slow collapse into mediocrity. Football's imminent return has given me something to look forward to, and now that it is mere days from the season opener I find that I can barely contain my joy.
I was at training camp on August 8th, and it was a blast. My brother and I awoke early-ish, made the hour-and-change drive from Blue Springs up to Saint Joseph, and enjoyed the nicest day Kansas City had enjoyed in weeks. If you haven't been to camp, I would recommend making a pilgrimage out there, and watch the titans (not those Titans) clash. Watching Jaye Howard and Allen Bailey destroy tackling dummies is a thing of beauty.
This inspired me, in part, to actually get around to writing this. While a lot can change in the nest few days, I think that it's rational that we can pick about 40-ish of the guys who will make the final 53 without too much controversy. And the other 13? Nothing but pure #HotTakes.
So without too much waxing poetic, I'll hop into the actual article, starting with the offense.
Bold indicates a player making the roster, italicized the starter.
Offense
QuarterbacksAlex Smith
Nick Foles
Kevin Hogan
Tyler Bray
Aaron Murray
Obviously, Alex is the clear-cut starter. Unless the Chiefs decide to pull a wild and insane move and cut Smith to roll with the Foles, he's going to enter the season as our defined QB1. Kevin Hogan, as the rookie they just drafted in the 5th, is fairly safe unless he decides to rob convenience stores or something, and Nick Foles, the recipient of a new deal with a nice team option for next year, as the only non-Smith QB to have taken a snap in a real game, seems like he is safe too. That brings us to Tyler Bray and Aaron Murray.
Can the Chiefs afford to carry four QBs? I doubt it. Every roster spot is precious, and both of these QBs are talented enough that it's doubtful they'd last on the practice squad, if they're even eligible. Barring a mystery IR designation for one or the other, I think that Chiefs GM John Dorsey either tries to trade them (I hear Dallas is looking for a backup and Minnesota is looking for anyone not named Shaun Hill) or they're both released. As of now, release seems most likely.
Running BacksJamaal Charles
Spencer Ware
Charcandrick West
Darrin Reaves
Anthony Sherman
Knile Davis
Trey Millard (IR)
Kick-return ability is the only thing that's kept Arkansas alum Knile Davis on the Chiefs roster, and with the acquisition of returner phenom Tyreek Hill, suddenly Davis seems vulnerable. He's the fourth-best RB on the team at best, and I can't see him sticking. Darrin Reaves, however, has had a very strong preseason and looks to fit well in the Chiefs offense.
JC25, West / Ware, and Sherman all seem to be locks, with Reaves leaning towards a roster spot. Unless Sherm is cut for cap space, it doesn't make sense to cut him.
Wide ReceiversJeremy Maclin
Albert Wilson
Chris Conley
Rod Streater
DeMarcus Robinson
Tyreek Hill
De'Anthony Thomas
Da'Ron Brown
Frankie Hammond Jr
Boy howdy, do we have a lot of WRs on the roster now.
There's a lot of guys I'm fairly sure aren't making the team. Seantavius Jones, Mike Williams, Kashif Moore, Da'Ron Brown, and Mitch Mathews were nice camp bodies and might make the PS in everyone's case except Williams but they're just that. I've wanted Frankie Hammond Jr gone for two seasons now, and I think I'm finally going to get my wish; no longer will our KRs be called back due to dumb block-in-the-back penalties. No more!
Maclin is far and away our WR1, Chris Conley and Albert Wilson seem to have held on to their 2 and 3 spots, and Rod Streater seems like the type of vet presence that could help make our depth not so frightening. I gave the final 2 spots to Hill due to his dynamic returner ability and speed and to DeMarcus Robinson, 4th round pick and talented young guy from Florida. Sorry, DAT, but Hill has taken your spot on the team.
Tight EndTravis Kelce
Demetrius Harris
Ross Travis
Brian Parker
James O'Shaughnessy
An actual quote, by me to my brother, while watching Chiefs TC:
The TE room seems fairly straightforward. Kelce is a top-10 guy in the league, Harris is good enough to stick, and O'Shaughnessy showed a lot of promise before his injury last year. That about takes care of-
Wait, who's the guy wearing 88?
...
Holy crap.
Ross Travis looked amazing out there. Big, strong, caught the ball naturally, had good speed, everything you want from a TE. He's another converted basketball player, so he's bound to be rough around the edges, but he has all the tools to become a nice player for us, if only brought in to be another move TE in a 3TE formation. Brian Parker takes the fourth spot due to his proficiency as a blocker, allowing the Chiefs to set up a seriously scary Jumbo package. As much as I liked O'Shaughnessy coming out of college and into last season, it looks like he's lost some of his athleticism with his injury. A real shame.
Offensive LineEric Fisher
Parker Ehinger
Mitch Morse
Laurent Duvarney-Tardif
Mitchell Schwartz
Jarrod Pughsley
Zach Fulton
Jah Reid
Zach Sterup
Reid Fragel
Jordan Devey
Daniel Munyer
So by now, the starters seem to be in line. Rookie Parker Ehinger seems to have taken the LG spot, for better or for worse, Big Fish just got paid, Dorsey brought in FA(O) Mitch Schwartz to solidify the RT spot, and LDT seems to not suck as bad, according to camp reports. However, I also think the backup spots should be easy to figure out.
Zach Fulton is experienced at both G and C, so it seems like he'll stay. Jah Reid, who I had thought would beat out LDT for the RG spot, has experience at both G and T, and although he's not great at T, he can hold up. For now, I have Jarrod Pughsley making the 8th spot on OL, but as Zach Sterup is suspended until Week 4, look for him to possibly join the team in Week 5 as our primary backup T.
Defense
Defensive LineAllen Bailey
Dontari Poe
Jaye Howard
Chris Jones
Rakeem Nunez-Roches
Nick Williams
David King
Jimmy Staten
This year, our defensive line is the strongest position group of the defense, thanks to some masterful drafting and player acquisitions. Bailey-Poe-Howard will be the starters, with second round rookie Chris Jones rotating in. After them, I have RNR and Nick Williams as the rotational guys in the back to pick up a few snaps here and there. Staten and King are decent players, and should catch onto at least a practice squad somewhere.
Outside LinebackersJustin Houston (PUP)
Tamba Hali
Dee Ford
Dezman Moses
Dadi Nicolas
Frank Zombo
Andy Mulumba
With Houston on the PUP and not counting towards the roster, the Chiefs carry four OLBs into the season; Tamba Hali and Dee Ford are set to start, with veteran Frank Zombo and rookie Dadi Nicolas possibly seeing some snaps should everything go to hell. With such a strong defensive line, the OLBs might see more one-on-one scenarios than usual, and allow them to get to the QB more easily. If not, the Chiefs might be in trouble.
Inside LinebackersDerrick Johnson
Justin March
Ramik Wilson
DJ Alexander
Tyrell Adams
Terrence Smith
Josh Mauga (IR)
With vet Josh Mauga hitting the IR, Justin March seems poised to step up to the plate for the Chiefs this year and build on the hype train by starting next to All-Time Chief Derrick Johnson. Second year player Ramik Wilson appears to be the first of the bench, and special teams ace DJ Alexander is a competent backup.
CornerbacksMarcus Peters
Philip Gaines
Steven Nelson
Kenneth Acker
KeiVarae Russell
DJ White
Deveron Carr
Marcus Cooper
The CB room is looking to be very thin this year. Behind stud second-year player Marcus Peters, it seems Phil Gaines and Steven Nelson are to be the CB2 and CB3, although which one is which can be decided by someone smarter than me. The Chiefs recently traded a future pick to the Niners for CB Ken Acker, so it can safely be assumed that he will make the roster for depth purposes alongside rookies KeiVarae Russell and DJ White. Look for Marcus Cooper to be a possibility if one of the rookies is shunned to the PS.
SafetiesEric Berry
Ron Parker
Daniel Sorenson
Eric Murray
Jeron Johnson
Shak Randolph
Jamell Fleming
At S, the Chiefs have an embarrassment of riches. All-Pro Eric Berry and solid starter Ron Parker headline the lineup, with Daniel Sorenson being a nice contributor and rookie Eric Murray showing some promise. Fleming has spit in my eye too many times, and Johnson / Randolph are both guys who could make the PS.
SpecialistsDustin Colquitt
Cairo Santos
James Winchester
Enough said.