The next week is going to be a tough one for Kansas City Chiefs players—and basically everyone in the NFL. Even those players who clear the hurdle to claim an active roster spot will still be sad watching more than 1,100 colleagues get the pink slip as teams pare down the rosters from 90 to 53 across the NFL.
For the Chiefs, some cuts will be tougher than others, which is why the roster bubble is such a hot topic at this time of year. That said, other decisions are easier calls—not that it's not difficult to tell a player he's done. Rather, it's just that the numbers don't play out in their favor and the way forward is obvious.
As Chiefs general manager Brett Veach considers the 30-plus players he has to let go, these seem like the first names off the list.
Mason Pline, TE
The Chiefs have stayed relatively healthy at tight end this summer, which keeps the depth chart stacked with familiar faces. Travis Kelce and Noah Gray are the obvious first two roster locks. From there, it's hard to tell how competitive the battle really is for TE3, but those names don't include Pline either. Jared Wiley and even last year's undrafted signings of Jake Briningstool and Tre Watson feel safer than Pline, who played sparingly in the preseason opener. It's possible a practice squad spot could open if they really like him, but the former tryout signing is likely out of runway.
Jeff Weimer, WR
Jeff Weimer first arrived as emergency help for the receiver position after watching fellow wideouts like Cyrus Allen and Xavier Worthy go down early in training camp. Given that, Weimer deserves credit for lasting this long as the ailing have returned. It's hard to see him sticking around much longer, although there's no way of knowing how the Chiefs view him versus other receivers in the same tier—from Xavier Loyd to Omari Evans.
Damon Payne, DT
Even if the Chiefs liked Payne more than they seem to, he'd have a nearly impossible time making the roster or even the practice squad. Payne played only four snaps in the team's preseason opener, which easily trailed the reps given to other tackles like Marcus Harris, Amari McNeill, and even Cole Brevard. Since the Chiefs are deeper than they've been in a decade at defensive tackle, it feels safe to say that the Michigan product is going to be one of the first players cut.
Chris Oladokun, QB
Nothing really needs to be said here. Oladokun might stick around as a scout team quarterback for yet another year, but the Chiefs finally have an interesting (even exciting) developmental arm behind Patrick Mahomes in Garrett Nussmeier with Justin Fields also in place as QB2. Oladokun never makes the active roster cuts in late summer, and he's not going to do so now.
Kaiir Elam, CB
The spring bluster about Kaiir Elam's addition to the roster stands in stark contrast to the summer silence related to his preseason performance. The former Bills first-round corner has yet to make his presence felt this offseason, whether in minicamp or training camp or the first two preseason games, and it's hard to imagine the Chiefs decide to keep Elam around on the active roster when so many other new faces have earned their keep.
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