The Kansas City Chiefs released their first depth chart of the year. I remember asking Andy Reid about the depth chart a year or two ago and he joked (joked?) that the PR staff made it. So I’m not sure how much we should put into this but here we go...
OFFENSE
QB: Alex Smith, Tyler Bray, Aaron Murray, Nick Foles, Kevin Hogan
The top three tend to be Alex Smith, Tyler Bray and Nick Foles, with Bray and Foles sharing second team reps. Murray sees some snaps as the No. 3 while Hogan, a rookie, sees very few. Are Bray and Foles competing for one spot? What happens with Hogan? What scenario does Murray make the team?
WR: Jeremy Maclin, Frankie Hammond, Tyreek Hill, De’Anthony Thomas, Kashif Moore, DaRon Brown, Seantavius Jones
Tyreek is already listed ahead of DAT. Also, if it comes down to Tyreek or Frankie Hammond, training camp has made that decision easier (it’s Tyreek). Check out some Tyreek highlights here.
LT: Eric Fisher, Zach Sterup, Reid Fragel
Sterup is in a position battle for the third tackle spot. He has lined up at left AND right tackle so swing tackle is a possibility.
LG: Parker Ehinger, Jarrod Pughsley, Daniel Munyer
Ehinger has been pretty consistently the top left guard while sharing some snaps with Zach Fulton. Pughsley is hoping to make it as a reserve who can play guard and tackle.
C: Mitch Morse, Zach Fulton, Drew Nowak
Fulton’s not guaranteed a spot but he’s helping himself with the ability to play guard and back up the center.
RG: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Jordan Devey, Garrick Mayweather
LDT said it’s been “night and day” for him compared to last year when he was briefly benched. He hasn’t seen any competition for this spot.
RT: Mitchell Schwartz, Jah Reid, Curtis Feigt
Jah Reid got a three-year contract extension last year, which makes me think he’s the leader for the swing tackle job. Reid can also play guard, which he was good at in his brief shot last year.
TE: Travis Kelce, Demetrius Harris, Ross Travis, James O’Shaughnessy, Brian Parker
So the Ross Travis hype, huh? After attending a few practices I can tell you he flashes on the field, more so than Shag and Parker. I can’t speak to his blocking but his athleticism and pass catching puts him above the other two. I still wonder if they could carry four tight ends.
WR: Albert Wilson, Chris Conley, Rod Streater, Mike Williams, Demarcus Robinson, Mitch Mathews
I feel pretty good about the top three making it. Then there’s probably one more spot with rookie Demarcus Robinson seemingly likely as a fourth round pick. Mike Williams and Mitch Mathews need to do more.
RB: Jamaal Charles, Charcandrick West, Spencer Ware, Knile Davis, Darrin Reaves
Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub said recently that Knile remains their No. 1 kick returner. He’s been seeing reps with Jamaal Charles still out. I don’t have a good feel for the rotation here because Jamaal has been out.
FB: Anthony Sherman, Trey Millard
The Chiefs once traded Javier Arenas for Anthony Sherman. Don’t tell me Big Red can’t work a trade market.
DEFENSE
LDE: Jaye Howard, Chris Jones, Jimmy Staten
How did Howard only get two years, $10 million in free agency? He’s good. Chris Jones is not cracking the starting lineup in the base. Probably won’t this year unless it’s a rotational role or someone is hurt.
NT: Dontari Poe, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Niko Davis
Nunez-Roches has had a good camp. His foot injury the other day wasn’t serious.
RDE: Allen Bailey, Nick Williams, David King
Williams saw some snaps last year. Competition is getting tighter though.
LOLB: Justin Houston, Dee Ford, Andy Mulumba, Dadi Nicolas
This is Dee Ford’s position with Houston out. Nicolas probably needs to put on some weight so maybe he gets a redshirt year.
LILB: Derrick Johnson, DJ Alexander, Justin March, Terrance Smith
My gosh, this position is stacked. The top three make it.
RILB: Josh Mauga, Ramik Wilson, Tyreell Adams
Are the Chiefs going to have to keep five inside linebackers? If the Chiefs aren’t keeping five, Mauga is the one to watch. He’s a vet but he can also offer cap savings.
ROLB: Tamba Hali, Frank Zombo, Dezman Moses, Jonathan Massaquoi
Zombo has been lining up here with Tamba not practicing. Massaquoi hasn’t been mentioned much after signing in the offseason.
LCB: Marcus Peters, Marcus Cooper, KeiVarae Russell, Bryce Cheek, Malcolm Jackson
I could see the Chiefs keeping the top three. Cooper saw some time at safety but it’s mostly been cornerback.
RCB: Steven Nelson, Phillip Gaines, DJ White, Deveron Carr
Yup, Steven Nelson. He was lining up there the other day but not every day. It’s been Gaines, too. In nickel, Gaines goes to the outside and Nelson comes inside. This could be tight for rookie DJ White. I like him but how many corners will the Chiefs keep? Especially with some safeties they like...
SS: Eric Berry, Daniel Sorensen, Eric Murray, Shak Randolph, Jeron Johnson
Sorensen has been the man with Berry out. Murray saw second team reps. Looks like a good player. Meanwhile, Johnson is new. He could factor in.
FS: Ron Parker, Stevie Brown, Jamell Fleming, Akeem Davis
Stevie Brown, the next great Chiefs safety? Fleming moved from corner to safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS
P: Dustin Colquitt, Cairo Santos
K: Cairo Santos, Dustin Colquitt
KO: Cairo Santos, Dustin Colquitt
LS: James Winchester
H: Dustin Colquitt
PR: Tyreek Hill, De’Anthony Thomas, Frankie Hammond
Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub called him Devin Hester-ish when they drafted him. That shows you what they think of him. And we go back to the receiver battle again -- if Tyreek is over Frankie Hammond here...
KR: Knile Davis, Tyreek Hill, Frankie Hammond, Demarcus Robinson
Knile Davis could make the team as the top kick returner and reserve running back. I’m beginning to believe it’s possible. Here’s some video of Toub talking about the competition.