Kansas City Chiefs 53-Man Roster Predictions 1.0

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Jul 26, 2014; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali (91) signs autographs after practice during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

LINEBACKERS

Inside: Derrick Johnson, Joe Mays, Josh Mauga, James-Michael Johnson

Outside: Tamba Hali, Justin Houston, Dee Ford, Frank Zombo, Josh Martin

Cut: Nico Johnson, Dezman Moses, Alonzo Highsmith

Nico Johnson hasn’t shown enough to me to have earned a spot on this team. James-Michael jumped him on the depth chart last season and was quality on special teams so the Chiefs wouldn’t be losing anything with him over Johnson on the depth chart. Nico is going to need a strong preseason if he’s going to justify being on the roster.

Zombo, not Martin or Mauga or James-Michael, is the last guy to make the team for me. His experience and ability to stop the run has some value, but I think the Chiefs would rather Nico prove his worth to the team or for a guy like Moses to step up as another pass rushing threat.

Last season sort of proved Zombo isn’t a guy you can plug in to start if there is an injury and expect the defense to keep moving along. One could go as far as to argue Zombo is the reason why Dee Ford was drafted in the first round in May. But at this point Zombo makes the team because he’s proven more on the field than either Moses or Nico.