KC Chiefs preseason depth chart doesn’t mean that much

The first official Kansas City Chiefs depth chart is interesting to look over if completely pointless outside of speculation. 

The Kansas City Chiefs released their first depth chart of the 2022 preseason on Monday. Four days ahead of their first preseason game with the Chicago Bears, the Chiefs have officially listed and “ranked” all ninety players on their roster.

This means that finally, Chiefs Kingdom will be given a glimpse into the hierarchy of Kansas City’s crowded and very talented wide receiver room. There is finally a sense as to where the rookies drafted in the 2022 NFL draft fall amongst the long-time Chiefs’ mainstays. Finally, we can all rest easy knowing that Patrick Mahomes has been listed as QB1 for the fifth consecutive season.

Despite the abundance of analysis that fans and talking heads will squeeze out of this list, the reality is that the first official depth chart of the NFL season does not mean much at all.

For evidence of this chart’s flaws, look no further than Rashad Fenton, who is listed as the bottom-most cornerback on the depth chart. Or Isaiah Pacheco, who is clearly going to make the team thanks in no small part to the impression he has made on special teams coach Dave Toub, being listed as next to last in line at running back.

As a matter of fact, there are several players listed at the bottom of their respective positions that seem like certainties for the final 53-man roster. Jody Fortson is listed as TE4, which may be right given the current structure of the Chiefs’ tight end group, but the guy who caught two touchdowns on five targets last season, only to have his season cut short by a torn Achilles tendon, is definitely making the cut.

There are also several small question marks across the rest of the depth chart, like Leo Chenal being listed as LB2 behind Elijah Lee, who spent 2021 on the Cleveland Brown’s practice squad, or George Karlaftis, a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, being listed behind Mike Danna, who has had 23 pressures in 30 appearances for the red and yellow.

Is the chart completely useless? Of course not, since most versions floating around Twitter have a pronunciation guide at the bottom of them. However, outside of speculation and the proper pronunciation of Evin Ksiezarczyk, the first depth chart seems to only serve the purpose of getting all 90 players’ names on a piece of paper together.