An argument can be made that sustaining a dynasty in the NFL is more difficult than creating one. The Kansas City Chiefs, the league’s back-to-back champions, are likely to experience that daunting task this year.
Whether at the start of a dynasty or in the middle of one, most executives and coaches will tell you that the best way to sustain success is to have one strong draft class after another. The Chiefs appeared to have that in mind when they made seven selections last week — even trading up in the first two rounds to address major roster needs.
With the team’s rookie minicamp starting Saturday, the Chiefs have 81 players on their roster. The first OTA practices are later this month, too. General manager Brett Veach and coach Andy Reid could add a couple of veterans before training camp begins in July. But much of the 2024 roster is already in place.
After the draft, it’s a good time to look at the full Chiefs roster, with analysis on projected starters, key depth contributors and a few dark-horse candidates who could potentially make the initial 53-man roster.
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(Note: Rookies in italics.)
Offense (41)
Quarterback (4)
Starter: Patrick Mahomes
Reserves: Carson Wentz, Chris Oladokun, Ian Book
Let’s remember that Mahomes, unlike at the start of last offseason, is fully healthy and could be even better in 2024 after a full training regimen this spring and summer. Mahomes has a new backup in Wentz, too. Wentz, a 10-year veteran, will be the most athletic backup quarterback Reid has had since he was hired by the Chiefs in 2013. Perhaps the Chiefs will practice the quarterback sneak with Wentz, too. As for the third quarterback role, Oladokun should have a clear advantage over Book because he is entering his third season in Reid’s system. Book joined the Chiefs in January.
Running back (7)
Starter: Isiah Pacheco
Reserves: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, La’Mical Perine, Louis Rees-ZammitDeneric Prince, Keaontay Ingram, Hassan Hall
Running back depth is one of the few roster needs the Chiefs likely will address after the draft. Without 10-year veteran Jerick McKinnon, Edwards-Helaire could be the new third-down back. Pacheco is expected to handle most of the workload. Perine earned a few snaps last season, but he didn’t do much after a successful preseason. One of the most fascinating players to observe this offseason will be Rees-Zammit, the former illustrious winger in world rugby. The Chiefs are likely to have a few running backs in their undrafted free agent rookie class, such as Emani Bailey (TCU) and Carson Steele (UCLA).
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Wide receiver (13)
Starters: Marquise Brown, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy
Reserves: Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, Justyn Ross, Montrell Washington, Nikko Remigio, Cornell Powell, Anthony Miller, Jacob Copeland, Shi Smith
The Chiefs could add another veteran here, in part because Rice, a second-year player, is expected to be suspended for violating the league’s personal conduct policy after he was involved in a multi-vehicle crash in northeast Dallas in March. Worthy is the lone rookie projected to be a starter, as his rare speed should help Brown’s production. Mahomes’ ability to build connections with Brown and Worthy will be something to watch in the offseason. If the Chiefs don’t add a veteran, Toney and Moore could battle for snaps in the regular season.
.@XavierWorthy‘s got his sights set. pic.twitter.com/P0nyMuewdH
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 2, 2024
Tight end (6)
Starter: Travis Kelce
Reserves: Noah Gray, Jared WileyIrv Smith Jr., Izaiah Gathings, Gerrit Prince
Kelce, the league’s highest-paid tight end, will attempt to produce another season of more than 1,000 receiving yards. He will turn 35 in October, so the Chiefs could start the season with four players at the position to help ease his snap count. Wiley can get on the field quickly if he can be a consistent blocker. The Chiefs are intrigued by his receiving skills. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Gray is back as a steady secondary option in the passing game.
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How BYU bond with Andy Reid helped Kingsley Suamataia land with the Chiefs
Offensive line (11)
Starters (from left to right): Wanya Morris, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor
Reserves: Kingsley SuamatiaLucas Niang, Mike Caliendo, Hunter Nourzad, C.J. HansonChukwuebuka Godrick
The Chiefs addressed their biggest roster hole by acquiring Suamataia. Which young player will earn the starting left tackle job will be one of the biggest subplots of the summer. Suamataia is expected to compete with Morris, the 2023 third-rounder who started four games toward the end of his rookie season. Morris’ experience gives him the advantage initially, but Suamataia could be the more athletic option. The Chiefs are optimistic that Thuney, who is recovering from a pectoral injury, will be healthy during training camp.
Rookie digits 👀 pic.twitter.com/94ojZnT8w4
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 29, 2024
Defense (37)
Defensive end (8)
Starters: George Karlaftis, Charles Omenihu
Reserves: Mike Danna, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Malik Herring, BJ Thompson, Truman Jones, Jordan Smith
If the Chiefs plan to add a veteran to coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, it would likely be a pass rusher. A Super Bowl contender could always use another player who can pressure the quarterback. Omenihu suffered a torn ACL during the AFC Championship Game, so he likely won’t be ready to return before the start of the season. Danna will continue to be the valuable, versatile pass rusher, while Karlaftis will try to improve on his production — 10 1/2 sacks, 17 quarterback hits and three pass breakups — from his sophomore season. Anudike-Uzomah, a second-year player who is just 22 years old, could take a step forward this year.
Defensive tackle (7)
Starters: Chris Jones, Derrick Nnadi
Reserves: Tershawn Wharton, Mike Pennel, Neil Farrell, Isaiah Buggs, Matt Dickerson
Everyone from last season is back. The biggest win this offseason for the Chiefs was their ability to retain Jones, their best defender, on a five-year contract. Nnadi gets the starting nod, but Wharton or Pennel could have a breakout year after they each finished last season with impressive performances. The Chiefs acquired Farrell via a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders after training camp last season. He should get a bigger opportunity this season.
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Chiefs excited to see what Xavier Worthy can do with Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid
Linebacker (6)
Starters: Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill
Reserves: Leo Chenal, Jack Cochrane, Cam Jones, Cole Christiansen
The Chiefs lost Willie Gay, who joined the New Orleans Saints in free agency. But everyone else from last season returns. Bolton is entering the final year of his rookie contract, so the Chiefs could sign him to an extension before the season. Tranquill was perhaps the Chiefs’ best rotational player last season, so he has earned a starting role for this season. Chenal had one of the most underrated performances in Super Bowl LVIII — six tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and one quarterback hit. Cochrane, Jones and Christiansen are all capable players on special teams.
Cornerback (9)
Starters: Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson
Reserves: Kamal HaddenNazeeh Johnson, Nic Jones, Ekow Boye-Doe, Kelvin Joseph, Keith Taylor
If Hadden transitions well to the league and Johnson regains his athleticism after recovering from the torn ACL in his right knee, the Chiefs would have perhaps the best five-man lineup of cornerbacks in the league — even after trading L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans. McDuffie is the top dog, whether from the slot or the perimeter. Williams and Watson have the ideal length and speed to be strong press-man cornerbacks.
Our pick had some picks of his own 😎 pic.twitter.com/L7S2qnFwB3
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 28, 2024
Safety (7)
Starters: Justin Reid, Bryan Cook
Reserves: Chamarri Conner, Jaden HicksDeon Bush, Tyree Gillespie, Trey Dean
For the first time under Spagnuolo, the Chiefs could have five safeties who are locks to make the team’s initial 53-man roster. Cook, who is recovering from a significant left ankle injury, could return to the practice fields during training camp. Conner made the biggest improvements of any Chiefs rookie last season. If they want to play McDuffie on the perimeter, Conner could be the starting nickel defender. Bush offers plenty of versatility and solid play on defense and special teams.
Specialists (3)
Starters: Harrison Butker (kicker), Matt Araiza (punter), James Winchester (long snapper)
Similar to Mahomes, Butker is in the middle of the prime years. Butker made 44 of his 46 field goal attempts last season. Winchester rejoined the team on a one-year deal.
The newest member of the trio is Araiza, who entered the NFL in 2022 as a sixth-round pick from the Buffalo Bills. He never played for the Bills, who released him after he was named in a lawsuit that alleged he and two former San Diego State teammates gang-raped a teenager at an off-campus party in October 2021. After a police investigation involving more than 35 witness interviews and evidence from 10 search warrants, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office in December 2022 decided not to charge Araiza or his teammates.
At San Diego State, Araiza won the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the nation’s top punter. In his final season with the Aztecs, he set NCAA single-season records in punt average (51.19), 60-yard punts (18) and 50-yard punts (39).
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Returners
Starters: Worthy (punt), Rees-Zammit (kickoff)
Reserves: Toney (punt), Moore (punt), Watson (punt), Washington (kickoff), Pacheco (kickoff)
Last season with Texas, Worthy earned second-team All-America honors as a return specialist after leading the FBS in punt return yards (371), including a 74-yard touchdown. His speed could be a special weapon if he makes the first defender miss often while returning punts. The easiest way for Rees-Zammit to make the roster is to be dynamic as a kickoff returner, a role that resembles what he did as a rugby star.
(Photo of Xavier Worthy: Tim Warner / Getty Images)
2024-05-03 21:23:02
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