KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs open the 2021 NFL regular season against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 12 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs finished 14-2 last season, winning the AFC West before losing Super Bowl LV against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Chiefs face their most interesting roster decisions on the offensive and defensive lines. They added eight strong roster candidates who weren't with the team last year on the offensive line and have enough depth on the defensive line that they already cut one of last season's top pass-rushers, Taco Charlton.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Here is a projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Patrick Mahomes, Chad Henne
This spot is clear cut and has been for some time. The only thing that was going to change this depth chart was an injury. The Chiefs have kept two quarterbacks for some time and that plan has worked out for them. I expect rookie Shane Buechele to make the practice squad.
RUNNING BACK (4): Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Darrel Williams, Jerick McKinnon, Michael Burton
The Chiefs have had to dig deep into their running back depth chart many times in recent seasons because of injuries, so keeping just three featured backs (Burton is a fullback and special teams player) is a risk. For that reason, it wouldn't be surprising for Darwin Thompson to make the roster. But the need for that roster spot is greater at other positions, right now at least.
WIDE RECEIVER (5): Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle, Demarcus Robinson, Marcus Kemp
Five receivers isn't a lot and it may not be enough. Daurice Fountain played well in camp and the preseason but the Chiefs don't have the roster space to carry a sixth receiver. Rookie Cornell Powell, a fifth-round draft pick, also gets released under this scenario. The Chiefs might want to bring both players back to the practice squad.
TIGHT END (4): Travis Kelce, Blake Bell, Noah Gray, Jody Fortson
I have the Chiefs going heavy here. Gray and Fortson may be the best receiving tight ends the Chiefs have combined with Kelce in several years. Along with Bell, the Chiefs can use more of the three-tight end formations they ran with success a few years back. Fortson gets the nod here instead of wide receiver Daurice Fountain because of his special teams play.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Orlando Brown Jr., Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Lucas Niang, Nick Allegretti, Andrew Wylie, Mike Remmers, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Austin Blythe
The Chiefs will need extra bodies here for the start of the regular season because of training camp injuries to Duvernay-Tardif and Blythe. Because each will have missed significant practice time, it's unwise to count on either to be ready when the season begins. One player or both could go on injured reserve, but in that case a short stay on the 53-man roster is necessary if they are to return this season. Kyle Long, who missed all of training camp and the preseason after having offseason knee surgery, will start the season on the physically unable to perform list.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10): Chris Jones, Frank Clark, Derrick Nnadi, Jarran Reed, Tershawn Wharton, Khalen Saunders, Mike Danna, Alex Okafor, Josh Kaindoh, Demone Harris
Ten is a lot at this position but they have too many good players or developmental prospects to let any more go. Tim Ward is cut under this scenario but he could make the team. That would mean someone else, probably Harris, would have to go.
LINEBACKER (5): Anthony Hitchens, Willie Gay, Ben Niemann, Nick Bolton, Dorian O'Daniel
The Chiefs invested in these positions the past couple of years by drafting Gay in the second round in 2020 and Bolton in the second round this year. Now it's time for them to get the payout on those investments.
CORNERBACK (6): L'Jarius Sneed, Charvarius Ward, Mike Hughes, Rashad Fenton, DeAndre Baker, BoPete Keyes
Hughes, a former Vikings' first-round draft pick acquired by the Chiefs in the offseason, has carved a role as the third cornerback. He could return kickoffs or punts as well. Otherwise, these positions will be occupied by players familiar to the Chiefs.
SAFETY (4): Tyrann Mathieu, Dan Sorensen, Juan Thornhill, Armani Watts
There's a lot of continuity at these positions for the Chiefs. Mathieu, Sorensen, Thornhill and Watts have been the top four safeties in playing time in each of the past two seasons and should be again.
SPECIALISTS (3): Harrison Butker, Tommy Townsend, James Winchester
The Chiefs will have the same kicker, punter and long snapper for the second straight season.