An unofficial depth chart is just that: unofficial. Kansas City Chiefs fans will want to keep that in mind after surveying the first such edition ahead of the 2026 campaign.
The Chiefs released their first unofficial depth chart of the preseason, with the L.A. Rams slated to visit later this week to open the schedule. While anything can change—as we said, the emphasis here is on unofficial—it's hard not to come away with several intriguing talking points.
Whether encouraging, surprising, or disappointing, the Chiefs have us talking about a number of positions. Of course, it's all unofficial.
QUARTERBACKS
- Patrick Mahomes
- Justin Fields
- Garrett Nussmeier
- Chris Oladokun
Nothing new here, which is a good thing. Patrick Mahomes looks ahead of even the most optimistic projections in his recovery from torn knee ligaments. If there's anything to watch here, it's how Nussmeier, the team's seventh-round pick, performs in real preseason competition. While the Chiefs gave up trade compensation for Fields, it doesn't feel like the door is completely shut on the QB2 discussion, which could make things very interesting under center for three preseason games that are likely to see Mahomes on the sidelines.
RUNNING BACKS
- Kenneth Walker
- Emari Demercado
- Emmett Johnson
- Brashard Smith
- Jaydn Ott
- EJ Smith
More than anything here at running back, it's nice to see a completely rebuilt room after years of a limited ceiling. Demercado's spot on the roster wasn't a given back in April, since he signed an inexpensive one-year deal, but he seems to have a firm grasp at this point. Emmett Johnson might have a more limited role in his rookie year than some fans would have predicted. Interestingly, EJ Smith has been given time with reporters and yet seems to be behind everyone.
WIDE RECEIVERS
- Rashee Rice
- Xavier Worthy
- Tyquan Thornton
- Jalen Royals
- Cyrus Allen
- Andrew Armstrong
- Jimmy Holiday
- Nikko Remigio
- Jason Brownlee
- Xavier Loyd
- Jacob De Jesus
- Omari Evans
- Jeff Weimer
- Jeff Caldwell
We're pretty sure anyone working at Arrowhead could not care less about the Chiefs' order of things here in such a crowded group. That said, Andrew Armstrong has looked good in preseason reps, has been given media time, and is now here at No. 6 overall. If there's a way to show frontrunner status, perhaps this is it.
We'll note more about Nikko Remigio below in the returner section as well, but things look very crowded here for him. Jason Brownlee forced the Chiefs' hand a year ago with a strong preseason and could do so again. Jacob De Jesus has also garnered attention. Meanwhile, a fan favorite like Jeff Caldwell, whose 10.0 RAS had everyone raving about him as an undrafted gem, has been quite silent.
TIGHT ENDS
- Travis Kelce
- Noah Gray
- Jared Wiley
- Jake Briningstool
- Tre Watson
- Mason Pline
The most static position of all. No alarms and no surprises, as Thom Yorke might sing. But perhaps that consistency will allow Jared Wiley to blossom into a TE3 role one year further removed from injury. The Chiefs have also foregone any veteran challenger in the mix, so maybe they know they like what they have in Briningstool and Watson, who both signed as rookie FAs a year ago.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
- Josh Simmons, Kingsley Suamataia, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jaylon Moore
- Esa Pole, Mike Caliendo, Hunter Nourzad, Pete Nygra, Kahlil Benson
- Ethan Driskell, CJ Hanson, Josh Thompson, Matt Waletzko, Chu Godrick
The Chiefs' right tackle battle has been the most talked-about positional development in training camp. Kahlil Benson begins as RT2 here, even though he was getting the most first-team reps, proving just how useless an early preseason depth chart really is. The Chiefs have emphasized how they want to give Benson as much work as they can to see what he's capable of, knowing more of what Moore can do on the field.
What's notable here is how former seventh-round pick C.J. Hanson has fallen down the depth chart. Pete Nygra is in with the second-team unit as a rookie signing out of Louisville. Hanson, an athletic flyer from Holy Cross, has been around for two seasons and might be out of the picture if the coaches haven't seen him take the leap.
DEFENSIVE ENDS
- George Karlaftis
- Ashton Gillotte
- Felix Anudike-Uzomah
- R Mason Thomas
- VJ Anthony
- Tyreke Smith
- Ethan Hurkett
- Anthony Dunn
It should be noted here that Emmanuel Ogbah is on the way to shore up the depth chart here. That's good because, no matter what he has left, the drop here in experience is incredibly steep after Anudike-Uzomah. R Mason Thomas is an exciting rookie, but from there, it's nothing but undrafted free agents and Tyreke Smith, who played in a few games back in 2023. That's not to say that a young player couldn't surprise here, but the Chiefs needed someone else here to at least provide another barrier to entry on the 53-man roster.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
- Chris Jones
- Khyiris Tonga
- Peter Woods
- Marcus Harris
- Amari McNeill
- Cole Brevard
- Damon Payne
- Omarr Norman-Lott (PUP)
No one is quite sure when Norman-Lott will come off of the PUP list, but Andy Reid has been asked about it on two separate occasions this summer (at least), and both times, he's said that fans will see the former second-round pick in the preseason. If that's the case, this position looks healthier than it's been in years. To be honest, that's true even without Norman-Lott, although things get dicey after the top three. Interesting that Marcus Harris has perhaps separated himself from his peers inside. Will be fun to watch the interior players in the second half against the Rams to see if that's true.
LINEBACKERS
- Drue Tranquill
- Nick Bolton
- Cooper McDonald
- Jeffrey Bassa
- Jack Cochrane
- Cole Christensen
- Wesley Bissainthe
- Kam Arnold
Cooper McDonald was a roster surprise a year ago as a rookie free agent who made the final roster. That the Chiefs stashed him there all year kept him away from being poached by other teams on the practice squad. Their belief in him is now reflected in his placement as a first-team linebacker in the base defense. Jeffrey Bassa takes an (unofficial) back seat here, but the truth is the Chiefs will need both second-year LBs to play greater roles in the absence of Leo Chenal (and with Tranquill's ongoing back spasms).
CORNERBACKS
- L'Jarius Sneed
- Nohl Williams
- Kristian Fulton
- Mansoor Delane
- Kader Kohou
- Jadon Canady
- D'Arco Perkins-McAllister
- Kevin Knowles
- Melvin Smith
- Kaiir Elam
- Bryce Phillips
- Zelmar Vedder
Taking in the entirety of the cornerback depth chart is a bit startling when thinking about the seismic changes from year to year. That said, it's hard to take anything too seriously here until the games start playing. Delane is the lockdown corner, but he's behind Sneed, who has barely played and just signed in June. The important thing is seeing the top six listed as they are and knowing that's likely the core group that will carry over into August—unless those lower on the depth chart have anything to say about it.
SAFETIES
- Alohi Gilman
- Chamarri Conner
- Chris Roland-Wallace
- Jaden Hicks
- Tanner McCalister
- Xavier Nwankpa
- DeShon Singleton
This group feels very predictable overall, although both Xavier Nwankpa and DeShon Singleton have each convinced some corners of Chiefs Kingdom of their pro potential. Yet here, it's Tanner McCalister who has made things interesting. Either way, the Chiefs might end up keeping only four in the end, and the preseason might be about positioning for a practice squad spot (or two).
RETURNERS
- Nikko Remigio
- Brashard Smith
Remigio's place here as the primary returner bodes well for his roster spot. The Chiefs haven't placed any new faces in the mix here. Remigio and Smith as primary returners might mean their roster spots are also a given. Watch the preseason reps here to see if someone new enters the picture, because the lack of dynamism in the return game a year ago was just one disappointing wave in a sea of frustration.
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