Arrowhead Addict
FanSided

Kansas City Chiefs: The seven biggest roster battles to watch in training camp

By Lyle Graversen

SAINT JOSEPH, MO - JULY 31: Fans watch from the bleachers during Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp on July 31, 2011 in Saint Joseph, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
SAINT JOSEPH, MO - JULY 31: Fans watch from the bleachers during Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp on July 31, 2011 in Saint Joseph, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 8
Next
KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 26: Tight end Demetrius Harris
KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 26: Tight end Demetrius Harris /

The Second and Third Tight Ends

The Contenders:
Demetrius Harris, Tim Wright, Jace Amaro, Alex Ellis and Blake Mack

Travis Kelce is a Rob Gronkowski retirement away from being the unquestioned best tight end in football. He’s an amazing weapon and will once again be a foundational part of the Chiefs offense. However, the Chiefs have frequently utilized two (and sometimes three) tight end sets and as of this moment we have no idea who will fill those rolls in 2018. Demetrius Harris is by far the most experienced and is the most likely to see playing time again this season. However, his inconsistent play and off field issues have many fans ready to move on. The problem with that idea is that there just is nothing reliable to fall back on.

Other than Kelce and Harris the Chiefs don’t have a tight end on the roster that caught an NFL pass in 2017. Both Tim Wright and Jace Amaro once looked like promising NFL talents but neither has been able to deliver on that promise. Wright did have a 54 reception season but that was way back in 2013. Amaro was able to total 38 receptions in his rookie year (2014) but has been a non factor since. The Chiefs (and their fans) are hoping one or both of these guys can rejuvenate their careers in KC this season.

The other options for KC are 25 year old Alex Ellis who has had brief stints with Tennessee, Jacksonville, and New Orleans. He has three career receptions for eleven yards. Perhaps Ellis will have a break through training camp but I think he has an uphill battle to beat out a much more proven Harris at this point. The final option is undrafted rookie Blake Mack. Mack has some exciting highlights as a pass catcher, but word out of OTAs was that he practiced with the wide receivers and not the tight ends. If that is the case then this already thin group becomes even thinner.

Even if the sometimes unpopular Harris makes the roster as the second tight end the Chiefs have a WIDE OPEN competition for the last tight end spot and with Harris suspended for the opener they’ll need two of these guys to start the season. It will be interesting to see how this battle plays out in camp.

Next up, the extremely crowded and extremely competitive back up running back spots.

Home/Kansas City Chiefs News