Predicting potential roster cuts for the Kansas City Chiefs (pre-training camp edition)

With training camp (theoretically) set to kick off this week, it’s time to look ahead to see who may miss the final cut for the Chiefs regular season roster

Some general caveats are in order before we start to discuss the details of the Kansas City Chiefs initial 55-man roster for the upcoming season

First, we can acknowledge that we have no idea what rosters may look like this season. It is possible that the Chiefs start and end their training camp with the same number of people on the roster. It is also possible that the numbers which they’re required to meet at different deadlines are either modified or eliminated.

Despite that reality, it is a valuable exercise to see who may be on the outs with the coaching staff, and who may ultimately win battles during the ramp-up period for the 2020 season.

Second, it’s also possible that the COVID-19 pandemic affects the length of training camp, which could lead to an unforeseen stoppage or alteration of dates. We have no real idea of what the training camp period—or regular season—might look like until it actually happens.

Nonetheless, we’re here to try to make sense of what players may find themselves out of a job in Kansas City by the opening kickoff against the Houston Texans on September 10.

There are a few specific positions that have a surplus of players. The Chiefs currently have five running backs who could be in the mix for three, maybe four spots. They have three viable candidates at the center position, and they have at least five defensive ends who could ultimately take up three or four spots on the team.

There are definitely more players than what we’ve listed who could end up not being on the Chiefs’ final roster. However, some of them would surprise and they’re likely more viable trade candidates for the defending Super Bowl Champions. That’s another story for another day, but among those players who may be viable trade candidates, we’d list running back Damien Williams, defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon, and safety Daniel Sorensen.

There are also a lot more players on the roster that we haven’t talked about here, as we tried to focus in on some of the more notable players who may not make it on the team in 2020. Some we’ve excluded who could be prime cut candidates include linebacker Ben Neiman, a different running back like Darrel Williams or DeAndre Washington, and safety Armani Watts.

Here are five potential cut candidates for the defending Super Bowl Champions as we head into training camp.