KC Chiefs round table: Which single player would you save from roster cuts?

The Kansas City Chiefs are having to make some very difficult decisions by the end of the business day on Tuesday, a time and date at which the NFL has decreed as the deadline for all active roster cuts after a long preseason. At the appointed hour of 4:00 p.m. E.T., well over one thousand athletes will find themselves unemployed.

For the Chiefs, they will themselves tell three dozen players that they were not quite good enough to muscle out a spot for themselves on the active roster to start the season. The good news is that up to 16 of those same players can be invited back to the team's practice squad.

Since we all have differing opinions about how we'd like to see the roster shake out for the coming season, we thought we'd form a round table of sorts of some of our esteemed contributors here at Arrowhead Addict. We asked them this: if you could save a single Chiefs player from getting cut, who would it be?

Shane Buechele, QB

Throughout the 2023 preseason, Shane Buechele has shown the skill set and the ability to be efficient and effective in the Andy Reid offense. The backup quarterback has been critical in the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl runs under Andy Reid, making this one of the most exciting positional battles. Shanes's ability to play after the play breaks down has led to explosive plays in the preseason for the Kansas City Chiefs. I also believe his youth can ensure he stays in Kansas City and becomes a reliable backup to Patrick Mahomes. Finally, he is a cheap option for the position with a high upside. Reid loves his veterans, and for good reasons, but I would love to see Gabbert on the outside looking in when the final cuts come in. [Greg Florkowski]

Jerrion Ealy, WR

It seems as if Pacheco is RB1, McKinnon is RB2, and CEH is RB3. If the team deploys Deneric Prince on kickoff as a rookie, the room would be pretty full. However, in five of Andy Reid’s nine previous seasons as the Chief’s head coach, the team has rostered at least five running backs. In a year where the depth and reliability of pass catchers is in question, keeping a fifth RB with proven hands and shifty speed on the roster sounds like a safe move to me.  [KC Proctor]

Kahlef Hailassie, DB

If there's one bubble player the Chiefs should strongly consider rostering in 2023, it's Kahlef Hailassie. Not only is the Western Kentucky product sticky in coverage, but he has plus ball skills and to take the ball away. With L'Jarius Sneed's future in Kansas City uncertain, it'd be wise for them to keep him in-house. I'm not convinced he'll clear waivers if he's cut and wouldn't feel comfortable that he'd be safe as a member of Kansas City's taxi squad. [Stacy Smith]

Deneric Prince, RB

I know that Ihmir Smith-Marsette has flashed brightly this preseason, but I still love what Prince could bring to Kansas City. His potential behind the Chiefs' first-team offensive line makes him a home run hitter in the backfield. Plus, he holds his own on special teams either as a returner or coverage member. He is not getting enough love for improving his pass protection this preseason either. [Jacob Milham]

Nikko Remigio, WR

I've been a fan of Nikko Remigio for several months now. I realize that the Chiefs have a logjam at wide receiver, but I'm a believer in Remigio's potential both as a receiving threat and returner. Similar to Justyn Ross last year, the team may opt to stash him on injured reserve this season in order to protect him from other teams, due to his injury from a couple of weeks ago. [Lucas Strozinsky]

Justyn Ross, WR

We’ve come this far with it, so why not see through the Justyn Ross experience? A lot of people have him in Sharpie already, but Andy Reid has never kept 7 wide receivers in his tenure in Kansas City so you never know. Andy has also always carried a fullback, and I’m assuming that extra slot goes to the receivers here. 

Ihmir Smith-Marsette probably impressed even more this preseason, but I think Ross fills a bigger need. Ross is a technical route runner and can go up and get it. The Chiefs need a red zone threat and other than Kelce, Ross is the best option. 

In limited snaps this preseason, Ross has two touchdowns after almost two years off from football. On his first touchdown, he showed the ability to get into his break on a slant route in front of the secondary to find that window for Shane Buechele to hit him right at the goal line. On his second touchdown, it was a simple fade and Buechele put it where only Ross could go up and get it. That’s just what the doctor ordered for this offense. [Tyler Brown]

Imhir Smith-Marsette, WR

I feel like it'd be criminal to go with anyone but wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette. He's done everything you could ask of a player trying to make the team and he's been arguably the best receiver throughout preseason. With uncertainty surrounding the reliability of this wide receiver corps, it'd be nice to protect IMS from being cut to prevent him from being a victim of the numbers game. [Josh Fann]

Daniel Wise, DL

If I could save one Chief from being cut, it would be Daniel Wise. Wise has been the biggest beneficiary of the Chris Jones holdout and has more than proven himself to be a rotation piece along this defensive line. Wise has been grinding to make it in the NFL as an undrafted free agent following a stellar career at KU. And let’s be honest: there could always be more Jayhawks in the league. [Ken Coltharp]