KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs open the 2024 NFL regular season against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 5 at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs return a large share of their roster from last season as they attempt to be the first team to win three straight Super Bowls. They re-signed their biggest defensive star, tackle Chris Jones, and gave a fresh contract to their leading pass catcher, tight end Travis Kelce.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is coming off the worst statistical season of his career but should benefit from efforts to improve at wide receiver that included signing free agent Marquise Brown and drafting Xavier Worthy in the first round.
Here is a 53-man roster projection as the Chiefs open training camp:
QUARTERBACKS (2): Patrick Mahomes, Carson Wentz
Mahomes has a new backup, this one the well-traveled Wentz, as the 2016 No. 2 pick is on his fifth team in as many seasons. The Chiefs will bring four quarterbacks to training camp, but as durable as Mahomes has been, they haven't needed to carry more than two. It would be an upset if they do so this season.
RUNNING BACKS (4): Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Keaontay Ingram, Louis Rees-Zammit
After Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire, the Chiefs face some intriguing choices. Ingram is the only other one with NFL experience -- he spent two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals -- plus he would give the Chiefs a bigger back to join the group. Rees-Zammit is a former rugby star who brings some possibilities for the Chiefs on special teams, particularly as a kickoff returner.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Rashee Rice, Marquise Brown, Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore
This scenario leaves no roster room for Mecole Hardman, who caught the winning touchdown in overtime in last season's Super Bowl. But the Chiefs have too many wideouts with greater upside than Hardman at this point of his career.
TIGHT ENDS (4): Travis Kelce, Jared Wiley, Noah Gray, Irv Smith Jr.
Kelce will turn 35 in October, but the Chiefs have resisted cutting into his playing time in previous seasons, so there's no reason to believe they will alter it drastically this year. In Wiley, Gray and Smith, the Chiefs will be able to use the multiple-tight-end formation that coach Andy Reid favors.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Kingsley Suamataia, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor, Wanya Morris, Lucas Niang, Hunter Nourzad, C.J. Hanson
Thuney tore a pec muscle during last year's playoffs, and it will impact the Chiefs' decisions here if he isn't ready when the regular season begins. The Chiefs will have a new starter at left tackle, whether it's rookie Suamataia or Morris.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Chris Jones, Derrick Nnadi, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Malik Herring, Mike Pennel Jr., Tershawn Wharton, Fabien Lovett
The Chiefs will be thin on the edge until Charles Omenihu, who tore an ACL in last season's AFC Championship Game, can return.
LINEBACKERS (6): Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Leo Chenal, Jack Cochrane, Cam Jones, Curtis Jacobs
The Chiefs were comfortable with Willie Gay leaving as a free agent because of the way Tranquill played last season after coming from the Los Angeles Chargers.
CORNERBACKS (6): Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson, Nazeeh Johnson, Nic Jones, Kamal Hadden
The Chiefs have drafted heavily at corner in recent years, and the results are showing. All six of these players were selected by the Chiefs over the past three drafts, with McDuffie, Williams, Watson and Johnson being picked in 2022.
SAFETIES (4): Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, Chamarri Conner, Jaden Hicks
Reid leads an otherwise young group. Cook was drafted by the Chiefs in 2022, Conner was selected the following season and Hicks was a fourth-round pick this year. Conner has played some in slot coverage, so he can help at cornerback, as well.
SPECIALISTS (3): Harrison Butker (K), Matt Araiza (P), James Winchester (LS)
The Chiefs will have a new punter for the first time since 2019 after Tommy Townsend departed in free agency. Araiza will have serious training camp competition in rookie Ryan Rehkow, who could wind up winning the job.