4 undrafted free agents with the best chances at making the Kansas City Chiefs roster

With Chiefs minicamp getting underway, let's look at some undrafted free agents with the best chance to make this roster.

The Kansas City Chiefs have already welcomed back their youngest players and quarterbacks with the start of training camp and the rest of the roster is around the corner. For a back-to-back Super Bowl champion, there are not many holes or major position battles worth monitoring. Improvement on offense and maintaining their stout defensive performance are main items to watch when entering 2024.

Yet even without many roster question marks, there will be opportunities for young players to stake their claim for the Chiefs this summer. This includes rookies who were undrafted free agents this past April, of course.

Year after year, there are a number of undrafted free agents who make an impact in training camps and make 53-man rosters. Could there be some UDFAs who make the Chiefs roster in 2024? Here are four undrafted free agents with the best chance to make the team in Kansas City.

RB Emani Bailey

Coming out of TCU, a few traits stood out from running back Emani Bailey. His violent running style brought up immediate comparisons to Chiefs lead back Isiah Pacheco, but some scouting reports found him to be a well-rounded backup, as displayed by Bailey's smooth body control which enables him to make defenders miss and whiff aimlessly.

Bailey's change of direction skills are also swift. It seems like his cuts, jukes, and footwork are always so syndicated and not sloppy. Based on a few pass-catching reps, Bailey has the potential to grow as a well-rounded piece in that area, too. Given the lack of competitors around him compared to tougher roles on the team, Bailey stands a good chance of making this roster.

RB Carson Steele

The running back depth is truly questionable enough that another undrafted free agent running back is worth keeping in mind.

Carson Steele wrapped up his college career at UCLA. There is no denying how he wins against run defenders. Steele is a physical, tough runner who is not afraid to move through you or over you as the defender. His pad level and ball security are also minor pluses that Steele has shown.

Elsewhere, the burst is not necessarily nonexistent. It is something that will rarely win him foot races at the NFL level, nonetheless. Steele is going to be able to find NFL reps through effort, determination and pure hard work. You have to think that Andy Reid could get creative with his running play calls if using Steele in between the tackles.

DT Fabien Lovett

The defensive tackle room is a fascinating one for the Kansas City Chiefs. You have all-world Chris Jones, who has been one of the best NFL defenders in the last few years. On the other hand, many defensive tackles re-signed with Kansas City on one-year deals this offseason. This includes Derrick Nnadi, Tershawn Wharton, and Mike Pennel. But in the long-term, Fabien Lovett is a name that I believe could stick within this Chiefs defense.

Built similarly to another former Florida State Seminole in Nnadi, Lovett will not wow you on the highlight reel or in the box score. His strength and length (35.5" at the NFL Scouting Combine) are going to be the items that help him win inside and plug gaps. When watching him at Florida State, the run defense is where Lovett could eventually land a role for someone like the Chiefs.

LB Curtis Jacobs

The depth at linebacker is much more stout than at running back or defensive tackle. And typically, the Chiefs largely do not keep as many players at linebacker on the initial 53-man roster. There are a few reasons as to why Curtis Jacobs could crack a spot at linebacker, though. The Penn State product brings a strong mix of size and quickness to the table. Most of all, Jacobs could be a fit in Kansas City due to the versatility that he offers.

For the Nittany Lions defense, Jacobs was able to produce as a run-stopper by working downhill. He is also savvy when attacking laterally and can eat up space in an instant. There were some encouraging reps of Jacobs when he was blitzing the quarterback to boot. It will be intriguing to see how he can fare in pass coverage throughout training camp and the preseason. But with all of his attributes, do not rule out Jacobs' chances of landing a spot right away with the Chiefs.