Things have been pretty great for fans of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023. The team won their second Super Bowl in the past four years and then got to host the 2023 NFL Draft. It’s hard to imagine a better couple of months for an NFL franchise, but now with the Super Bowl and the draft in the rearview mirror, it’s time to fully turn the page to the 2023 season. The Chiefs have made most of their offseason moves at this point. There could be a few more moves here and there, but we have to assume that the vast majority of the 2023 team is now on the roster.
So let’s take a look at what the likely 2023 53-man roster might look like. We’ll go position by position and look at who is most likely to make it, who might be fighting to break onto it, who are just camp bodies hoping to claw their way onto the practice squad, and what positions might still need a body or two. Let’s kick things off with the quarterbacks.
Quarterbacks
On The Roster: (2)
Patrick Mahomes
Blaine Gabbert
Fighting To Get A Spot:
Shane Buechele
Camp Body:
Chris Oladokun
The Chiefs obviously have their starter locked up for the rest of the decade with Patrick Mahomes, but the backup quarterback position is slightly more interesting. When I looked at the numbers the Chiefs may want to carry at other offensive positions I had a hard time justifying keeping more than two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. With a Super Bowl-caliber team, it makes sense that K.C. would pick the veteran with starting experience over the younger project. That’s why I have Gabbert making the roster over Buechele. That having been said, if Buechele can show he’s up for the job in camp and the preseason it’s not impossible he could unseat Gabbert.
Now let’s look at the running back position.
Running Backs
Making The Roster: (3)
Isiah Pacheco
Jerick McKinnon
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Fighting To Get A Spot:
Deneric Prince
La’Mical Perine
The running back position is one I’ve gone back and forth on a few times. Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon are locks to make it, but will they keep 3 or 4 backs? Will they look to add a true fullback at some point? Clyde Edwards-Helaire should make the roster if the Chiefs don’t part ways with him, but that feels like it could still happen. I ended up going with just three backs to make room for more wide receivers and tight ends.
I also still have CEH on the team at this point. I really like Deneric Prince and think he has a shot to make the 53-man roster if Clyde is let go. However, I don’t think Prince would be able to contribute early in the passing game like CEH could. With McKinnon’s age and injury history, it might make sense to keep CEH around one more year and try to keep Prince on the practice squad.
Next up, let’s look at the wide receivers.
Wide Receivers
Making The Roster: (7)
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Kadarius Toney
Skyy Moore
Rashee Rice
Richie James
Justin Watson
Justyn Ross
Camp Bodies:
John Ross
Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Cornell Powell
Jerrion Ealy
Ty Fryfogle
Nikko Remigio
Tyrone Scott
I’ve got all seven of the Chiefs’ main contenders at wide receiver making the roster. I really don’t see anyone else currently on the roster making it besides those seven. It’s certainly possible that the Chiefs only keep six, but in the end, I think with fewer proven options on the roster this year, they may go with more of a committee approach and see who steps up. MVS, Toney, Moore, and Rice seem like locks.
I like James as Toney insurance if he battles injuries again. Justyn Ross has great upside, but did they just draft Rice to fill the role as a bigger possession receiver? Watson might be the least exciting option, but he can backup multiple spots, plays special teams, and just signed a two-year deal.
At this point it feels unlikely that the Chiefs are going to make a big addition like DeAndre Hopkins. That leaves the Chiefs with a lot of potential at wide receiver, but very little proven production. This definitely feels like the top position to watch in camp this year.
Next up, the tight ends.
Tight Ends
Making The Roster: (4)
Travis Kelce
Noah Gray
Jody Fortson
Blake Bell
Camp Bodies:
Matt Bushman
Kendall Blanton
Much like wide receiver, I’ve got all K.C.’s top contenders making the roster. I’ll be honest, I was a little confused when the Chiefs re-signed Blake Bell this offseason after he only played 32 snaps last season (because of injury). I thought Gray and Fortson did enough to show they could fill out the backup tight end spots. However, with no fullback currently on the roster it could be that KC plans to use Bell as more of a hybrid TE/H-back/FB this season. Seven wide receivers and four tight ends would be a lot, but a lot of the bottom of the roster guys will also contribute on special teams. For what it’s worth, I actually really like Matt Bushman too. I just don’t know that I see a path to him making the roster that doesn’t involve an injury to the guys ahead of him.
Now let’s look at the offensive line.
Offensive Line
Making The Roster: (9)
Jawaan Taylor
Joe Thuney
Trey Smith
Creed Humphrey
Donovan Smith
Lucas Niang
Wanya Morris
Nick Allegretti
Darian Kinnard
Fighting To Get A Spot:
Prince Tega Wanogho
Austin Reiter
Camp Bodies:
Mike Caliendo
Jerome Carvin
Blake Haynes
Chukwuebuka Jason Godrick
I feel pretty safe about the nine offensive linemen I’m predicting to make the 53-man roster. I could see Prince Tega Wanogho possibly beating out Darian Kinnard and Austin Reiter has starting experience, but other than that I think the interesting thing about the offensive line isn’t who will make the team. The real question is how the tackle position works out. The addition last week of Donovan Smith caught a lot of us off guard. Does this mean Jawaan Taylor won’t be trying to play left tackle? Will Lucas Niang and/or rookie Wanya Morris have a shot to compete to start at right tackle? The good news is that the Chiefs now have enough quality depth and competition to fill out the roster, we just don’t know who to slot where just yet.
Now it’s time to move over to the defensive side of the ball, starting with defensive tackle.
Defensive Tackles
Making The Roster: (5)
Chris Jones
Derrick Nnadi
Tershawn Wharton
Keondre Coburn
Byron Cowart
Fighting To Get A Spot:
Danny Shelton
Camp Bodies:
Daniel Wise
Phil Hoskins
The defensive tackle position doesn’t seem to be a place the Chiefs want to commit many resources outside of Chris Jones. The rest of the depth chart after him is full of role players. I’ve got Derrick Nnadi and rookie Keondre Coburn making it as run-stopping options and Tershawn Wharton making it as a sub-package interior rusher. I also have Byron Cowart making it too. He has experience getting rotational reps with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts so don’t be surprised if he earns a spot. I feel like Coburn’s arrival may make Danny Shelton expendable.
Next up let’s take a look at the defensive ends.
Defensive Ends
Making The Roster: (5)
George Karlaftis
Charles Omenihu
Felix Anudike-Uzomah
Mike Danna
BJ Thompson
Fighting To Get A Spot:
Malik Herring
Joshua Kaindoh
Truman Jones
The Chiefs invested pretty significantly at defensive end this offseason. Charles Omenihu was one of their biggest free agent investments and they spent their first-round draft pick on Felix Anudike-Uzomah and a 5th-round pick on BJ Thompson. If they think both rookies can contribute early on this could be the unit they role with. I also wouldn’t rule out them signing a veteran like Carlos Dunlap or Frank Clark back and trying to get BJ Thompson on the practice squad (or he could come down with a convenient “injury” before roster cuts). I like Truman Jones’s potential too, but I think he’s a long shot to make the roster. It feels like the clock may have run out on Herring and Kaindoh.
Now let’s look at the linebacker position.
Linebackers
Making The Roster: (5)
Nick Bolton
Willie Gay Jr.
Drue Tranquill
Leo Chenal
Cam Jones
Fighting To Get A Spot:
Jack Cochrane
Isaiah Moore
Camp Body:
Cole Christiansen
I think you can count on Nick Bolton, Willie Gay Jr., Drue Tranquill, and Leo Chenal making the roster and getting the bulk of the linebacker snaps this season. I think they’ll keep one more guy on the active roster to play special teams. I’ve got that spot going to UDFA Cam Jones, but Jack Cochrane has a great chance to keep that spot from last season and another UDFA Isaiah Moore has an outside shot at that role too. The main story here is that the addition of Tranquill gives the Chiefs as good of top four linebackers as they’ve had since the Marty Schottenheimer days.
Finally, let’s take a look at the defensive backs.
Defensive Backs
Making The Roster: (10)
Trent McDuffie
L’Jarius Sneed
Jaylen Watson
Joshua Williams
Justin Reid
Bryan Cook
Mike Edwards
Chamarri Conner
Deon Bush
Nic Jones
Fighting To Get A Spot:
Nazeeh Johnson
Dicaprio Bootle
Camp Bodies:
Montae Braswell
Reese Taylor
Anthony Witherstone
Anthony Cook
Martez Manuel
Isaiah Norman
I thought about breaking this group into corners and safeties, but there’s a little overlap with a couple of these guys so I thought it would make more sense to look at the group as a whole. I think McDuffie, Sneed, Watson, Williams, Reid, B. Cook, Edwards, and Conner are locks to make the roster. I’ve got Deon Bush and Nic Jones taking the last two spots, but I think Nazeeh Johnson and Decaprio Bootle both have a shot to claim one of those spots as well. The other young players could also surprise and fight their way on, but I think the practice squad is a lot more realistic for the rest of those players.
Special Teams
Making The Roster: (3)
Harrison Butker
Tommy Townsend
James Winchester
No need to really discuss this group. I think they’re all set for another year in KC.
So there you have it Chiefs fans, that’s my early prediction of K.C.’s 53-man roster. I think the most likely addition that could still happen would be a veteran defensive end. I wouldn’t rule out another running back if they decide to part ways with CEH. They could still add a proven wide receiver, but that seems less likely to me now. So what do you think Chiefs fans? Are there any positions you think I got wrong? Is it crazy to predict them keeping 7 wide receivers and 4 tight ends? I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments below.