Instant analysis of Kansas City’s initial 53-man roster.

The Kansas City Chiefs have made their cuts to get the team’s active roster down to 53 players before the NFL’s deadline.

It is important to remember that this may not be the exact Chiefs roster that begins the season against the Baltimore Ravens a week from Thursday. Some players will be removed during the coming days to make room for other Chiefs players who were previously removed or players from other teams who are now available. This is just the starting point for 2024.

Offense (26)

Quarterbacks (2): Patrick Mahomes, Carson Wentz

These two were hardly ever in doubt, though some thought head coach Andy Reid might keep Chris Oladokun after the emergency quarterback rule reverted back to the eligible player having to be a member of the 53-man roster. The Chiefs will take their chances, using that roster space elsewhere.

Running backs (2): Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Kansas City chose to keep Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, two experienced backs who have won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Chiefs. Just like last year, Deneric Prince had some buzz early in camp, but not to be. Carson Steele’s emergence kept him from cracking the roster.

Fullbacks (1): Carson Steele

The fullback is back for Reid in a big way — and I wouldn’t be stunned if Steele is the RB2 behind Pacheco over Edwards-Helaire.

Wide receivers (7): Hollywood Brown, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, Mecole Hardman, JuJu Smith-Schuster

The first four members of this room have always been obvious, with Skyy Moore and Mecole Hardman doing well enough in training camp and the preseason to stick on the roster. Both should be in the mix with Steele for kickoff returns, and Hardman should be expected to return punts. JuJu Smith-Schuster’s availability and return spoiled the roster hopes of Justyn Ross and Kadarius Toney, who were both waived.

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub’s affinity for wide receiver and kick returner Nikko Remigio should keep him on the practice squad, ready to go if another injury strikes.

Tight ends (4): Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, Peyton Hendershot

Rather than holding Irv Smith Jr. on the team, Kansas City opted to trade for a fourth tight end at the deadline. Peyton Hendershot comes to the Chiefs from the Cowboys, and we have more on him here.

Offensive line (10): LT Kingsley Suamataia, LG Joe Thuney, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, RT Jawaan Taylor, Wanya Morris, Mike Caliendo, Hunter Nourzad, Ethan Driskell, CJ Hanson

The standing of the offensive line room did not change much from the beginning of training camp to the reveal of the 53-man roster deadline. Rookie Kingsley Suamataia seemed to have the left tackle job wrapped up early on, and Wanya Morris won the swing tackle position over Lucas Niang. Mike Caliendo is likely to fill the swing interior role left with the departure of Nick Allegretti, and I could see the Chiefs trusting Hunter Nourzad as the backup center. Two late Day 3 additions — seventh-rounder CJ Hanson and undrafted free agent Ethan Driskell — round out the room as Kansas City moves on from Niang.

Defense (24)

Defensive tackles (4): Chris Jones, Turk Wharton, Derrick Nnadi, Mike Pennel

All camp, we figured that either Matt Dickerson or Neil Farrell would make the roster as the fifth defensive tackle. Instead, the Chiefs went with four — likely with hopes to retain one or both on the practice squad.

Defensive ends (5): George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Malik Herring, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Cam Thomas

The Chiefs were always keeping the top four members of the defensive end room, and the Monday night trade for Cam Thomas pushed Truman Jones off the 53-man roster and likely onto the practice squad. A former third-round pick, Thomas shows the inside-outside versatility defensive line coach Joe Cullen likes (more on the trade here).

Linebackers (5): Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Leo Chenal, Jack Cochrane, Cam Jones

The linebacker room is as expected, with Leo Chenal expected to take on a bigger role now that the Chiefs have moved on from Willie Gay Jr. Both Jack Cochrane and Cam Jones are good rotational pieces and hold importance in the third phase of the game: special teams.

Cornerbacks (6): Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Joshua Williams, Nahzeeh Johnson, Nic Jones, Chris Roland-Wallace

The Chiefs hold onto six cornerbacks, including Nic Jones and Chris Roland-Wallace. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is likely to use Trent McDuffie more as an outside cornerback in 2024, and Nic Jones and Chris Roland-Wallace offer upside in the slot behind Chamarri Conner, who is listed as a safety. Roland-Wallace may be the top surprise player to make the roster. He played 44 snaps in the slot for the Chiefs this preseason, according to Pro Football Focus.

Safeties (4): Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, Chamarri Conner, Jaden Hicks

There are no true stunners here — but as hinted above, Conner is likely to play more snaps as a slot cornerback than as a safety in 2024. I would expect Deon Bush to remain with Kansas City on the practice squad and for the Chiefs to make use of their call-ups to get him up for gameday.

Specialists (3)

Placekicker (1): Harrison Butker

Punter (1): Matt Araiza

Long snapper (1): James Winchester

None of the three Chiefs’ specialist positions faced any competition in training camp or the preseason.

Under contract, not counted on active roster (3)

Reserve/PUP: DE Charles Omenihu

Reserve/NFI: DL BJ Thompson

Removed from 90-man roster

• Waived: quarterback Ian Book, defensive lineman Alex Gubner, wide receiver Kyle Sheets, offensive lineman Nick Torres, wide receiver Phillip Brooks, cornerback Miles Battle, cornerback Kelvin Joseph, cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe, defensive end Owen Carney, guard Griffin McDowell, long snapper Randen Plattner, tight end Geor’quarius Spivey, wide receiver Kadarius Toney, wide receiver Justyn Ross, running back Louis Rees-Zammit, linebacker Swayze Bozeman, running back Deneric Prince, quarterback Chris Oladokun, wide receiver Nikko Remigio, running back Emani Bailey, safety Deon Bush, linebacker Cole Christiansen, tight end Baylor Cupp, defensive lineman Neil Farrell, safety Tyree Gillespie, tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick, defensive back Kamal Hadden, running back Keaontay Ingram, linebacker Curtis Jacobs, defensive end Truman Jones, defensive tackle Fabien Lovett, cornerback Derrick Miller, tackle Lucas Niang, wide receiver Cornell Powell, cornerback Keith Taylor, wide receiver Montrell Washington
• Released: tight end Irv Smith Jr., defensive tackle Matt Dickerson
• Released with injury settlement: offensive lineman McKade Mettauer
• Placed on Reserve/Non-Football Injury: defensive end BJ Thompson
• Placed on Reserve/Physically-Unable-to-Perform: defensive end Charles Omenihu

Practice Squad (up to 16)

The Chiefs will not be able to begin building most of their practice squad until 3 p.m. (Arrowhead Time) on Wednesday, which is the deadline for waived players to be claimed by other teams; most players who will fill the practice squad will have previously been waived from the Chiefs’ 90-man roster, so they must clear waivers first. Under the rules in place for the 2024 season, up to six of the 16 players each team can carry on its practice squad may have any amount of league experience. So it’s possible the Chiefs could sign some practice-squad players from the pool of veteran players just released by other teams — who will not have to go through waivers — before Wednesday’s deadline.