The Kansas City Chiefs open training camp on July 28 at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri. Here is a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Alex Smith, Tyler Bray, Patrick Mahomes II
Smith gets one more year as the starting quarterback. Neither of the two backups has so much as taken a snap in a regular-season NFL game.
RUNNING BACK (3): Spencer Ware, Kareem Hunt, Charcandrick West
The intrigue at this position is not which players make the roster, but how playing time gets divided. Ware will start to begin with, but Hunt’s playing time may grow as the season progresses.
FULLBACK (1): Anthony Sherman
He won’t get the ball much, but Sherman does serve as an effective lead blocker and capable special-teams player.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Tyreek Hill, Chris Conley, Demarcus Robinson, Albert Wilson, De'Anthony Thomas, Jehu Chesson
This is a group short on experience and accomplishments after the Chiefs released Jeremy Maclin. That means another young receiver could claim a roster spot with a strong training camp.
TIGHT END (4): Travis Kelce, Demetrius Harris, Gavin Escobar, Ross Travis
The Chiefs may well keep four at this position given their affinity for extra-tight end personnel groupings.
OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Eric Fisher, Zach Fulton, Mitch Morse, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Mitchell Schwartz, Jah Reid, Bryan Witzmann, Andrew Tiller
This doesn’t account for guard Parker Ehinger, who the Chiefs don’t believe will be ready for full participation when training camp begins after having surgery for a torn ACL last year. But if he’s ready when the season begins, he’ll make the roster.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Allen Bailey, Bennie Logan, Chris Jones, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Jarvis Jenkins, Rakeem Nunez-Roches
With Dontari Poe having moved on to the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent, the line will have a different look this season.
LINEBACKER (9): Justin Houston, Derrick Johnson, Ramik Wilson, Dee Ford, Tamba Hali, Frank Zombo, D.J. Alexander, Justin March-Lillard, Ukeme Eligwe
The Chiefs also have a former starter in Josh Mauga and several interesting young linebackers, so the competition for the final roster spots could get interesting.
CORNERBACK (6): Marcus Peters, Steven Nelson, Phillip Gaines, Terrance Mitchell, Leon McQuay III, D.J White
The Chiefs have some other corners with NFL experience, and either De'Vante Bausby or Kenneth Acker could earn White’s roster spot.
SAFETY (4): Eric Berry, Ron Parker, Daniel Sorensen, Eric Murray
These four seem set. The question is whether the Chiefs will keep a fifth safety.
SPECIALISTS (3): Cairo Santos, Dustin Colquitt, James Winchester
The Chiefs will have the same kicker, punter and long-snapper for the third straight season.