The Kansas City Chiefs have their first depth chart of the year out. The Chiefs always say this doesn’t mean anything and one year Andy Reid joked that the Chiefs head of PR actually made the depth chart. I’m not sure if he was actually joking ...
Anyway, there are things to know on the first depth chart:
I count only two new starters on offense: Tyreek Hill at receiver and Bryan Witzmann at left guard.
Let’s start with the quarterbacks. As expected, Tyler Bray is listed as the No. 2 ahead of Patrick Mahomes who is No. 3. Bray and Mahomes are in a camp battle though.
Demarcus Robinson was believed to have a shot at the No. 3 receiver job and he still could but Albert Wilson is listed ahead of him. This is a good reminder that Reid often defers to the veteran in these depth charts.
Bryan Witzmann is the first teamer at left guard with Zach Fulton behind him. Parker Ehinger remains out as he comes back from a torn ACL. This camp battle could go to the wire.
Demetrius Harris remains the No. 2 tight end on the depth chart ahead of Gavin Escobar and Ross Travis. This could be a position group where the Chiefs keep four instead of three.
Seantavius Jones is ahead of Jehu Chesson which is interesting. Jones could make the team.
Kareem Hunt is listed behind Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West at running back but many believe Hunt will be in the running for the most touches there. West has been hurt for a few days in camp.
Defensively, Chris Jones is atop the defensive end depth chart but is currently hurt. Rookie Tanoh Kpassagnon is on the second team.
Newly traded for Kevin Pierre-Louis is second team inside linebacker ahead of Justin March and Terrane Smith, who each have a year in this system (two in March’s case). KPL looks to be here to stay.
The depth chart indicates Ramik Wilson is winning the battle for that spot next to Derrick Johnson. He’s on the first team ahead of Josh Mauga. The Chiefs had a ton of injuries there last year so maybe they want to stack up bodies there this year just in case.
Steven Nelson is the top corner next to Marcus Peters. That’s the only notable thing from the secondary.
OFFENSE
WR: Tyreek Hill, Albert Wilson, Demarcus Robinson, Tony Stevens, Marcus Kemp, Tevin Jones, Robert Wheelwright
LT: Eric Fisher, Isaiah Battle, Joseph Cheek
LG: Bryan Witzmann, Zach Fulton, Damian Mama, Parker Ehinger
C: Mitch Morse: Jordan Devey, Mike Person
RG: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Andrew Tiller, Josh James
RT: Mitchell Schwartz, Jah Reid, Donald Hawkins
TE: Travis Kelce, Demetrius Harris, Gavin Escobar, Ross Travis, Orson Charles
WR: Chris Conley, De’Anthony Thomas, Seantavius Jones, Jehu Chesson, Gehrig Dieter, Corey Washington
QB: Alex Smith: Tyler Bray, Patrick Mahomes, Joel Stave
RB: Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West, Kareem Hunt, CJ Spiller, Devine Redding
FB: Anthony Sherman, Orson Charles
DEFENSE
LDE: Chris Jones, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Jarvis Jenkins, Ricky Ali’ifua
NT: Bennie Logan, Cam Thomas, Roy Miller
RDE: Allen Bailey, Tanoh Kpassagnon, David King
LOLB: Justin Houston, Frank Zombo, Dadi Nicolas, Earl Okine
LILB: Derrick Johnson, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Justin March, Terrance Smith
RILB: Ramik Wilson, Josh Mauga, Ukeme Eligwe, Reshard Cliett*
ROLB: Dee Ford, Tamba Hali, Marcus Rush
LCB: Marcus Peters, Phillip Gaines, DJ White, De’Vante Bausby, Ashton Lampkin, Jacoby Glenn
RCB: Steven Nelson, Terrance Mitchell, Kenneth Acker, JR Nelson, Larry Scott, Trevon Hartfield
S: Ron Parker, Eric Murray, Leon McQuay
S: Eric Berry, Daniel Sorensen, Steven Terrell
Special Teams
P: Dustin Colquitt, Cairo Santos
K: Cairo Santos, Dustin Colquitt
PR: Tyreek Hill, De’Anthony Thomas, Albert Wilson, Demarcus Robinson
KR: De’Anthony Thomas, Tyreek Hill, Chris Conley, Kareem Hunt
*The Chiefs cut Reshard Cliett and signed DT Maurice Swain when this depth chart came out.