Chiefs 53-man roster projection after 2024 NFL draft: Picks, UDFAs kick competition up a notch

The Kansas City Chiefs added seven players through the 2024 draft and are filling out the 90-man offseason roster with undrafted free agents.

Brett Veach is tasked with reloading the roster with the requisite talent to compete for a third consecutive Super Bowl title. His focus this offseason? Keep the defense together as much as possible and add firepower to an offense that saw its struggles in a championship season a year ago.

What will the final iteration of the team look like come September following roster cuts? Below we're taking our first stab at a 53-man roster projection.

Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2024 draft picks. Players with double asterisks (**) are reported 2024 undrafted free agents (some might be minicamp invites that were misreported, it happens every year).

Quarterback (2)

On the 53-man roster: Patrick Mahomes and Carson Wentz
Practice squad: Chris Oladokun
Cut: Ian Book

How we got here: The writing is on the wall for this group. Oladokun's athletic ability will earn him a spot on the practice squad over Book. The only thing that could throw a curveball at this projection is if Spencer Sanders is signed following his minicamp tryout this weekend .

Running back (4)

On the 53-man roster: Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Louis Rees-Zammit, and Emani Bailey**
Practice squad: Carson Steele**
Cut: Deneric Prince, La'Mical Perine, Keaontay Ingram, and Hassan Hall

How we got here: I tend to think guys who have been playing football their whole life will have an advantage over Louis Rees-Zammit, but with the new kickoff return rules, I'm not ready to rule out his chances of making the team. Emani Bailey fits the prototype change-of-pace, pass-catching back the team currently lacks. He's surprisingly effective in pass protection, too.

Tight end (3)

On the 53-man roster: Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, and Jared Wiley*
Practice Squad: Irv Smith Jr.
Cut: Gerrit Prince, Izaiah Gathings and Baylor Cupp**

How we got here: I went back and forth on carrying four tight ends, but Irv Smith Jr.'s lack of special teams experience could force him out. Another potential surprise? Noah Gray's performance bonuses have the Chiefs paying him over $3 million this year. If they're unlikely to re-sign him in 2025, they could look to trade him ahead of 53-man roster cuts. I'd be surprised if they did it because he has a good relationship with Patrick Mahomes, but it'd be a savvy financial move.

Wide receiver (6)

On the 53-man roster: Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy*, Justin Watson, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore
Practice Squad: Nikko Remigio, Justyn Ross, and Phillip Brooks**
Cut: Cornell Powell, Anthony Miller, Shi Smith, Reggie Brown**, Montrell Washington, and Jacob Copeland

How we got here: I'd love it if someone were good enough to push Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore off the roster, but they're going to have to prove it to me first. If I had to make a bet on one player, it'd be Nikko Remigio. I'd be thrilled if they give some of these UDFAs or even a guy like Cornell Powell a chance, but they've been mostly unwilling to do so to this point. What makes you think that's going to change now?

Offensive line (9)

On the 53-man roster: Wanya Morris, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor, Kingsley Suamataia*, Lucas Niang, Hunter Nourzad*, and Mike Caliendo
Practice squad: Jason 'Chu' Godrick, C.J. Hanson*, and McKade Mettauer**
Cut: Nick Torres** and Ethan Driskell**

How we got here: This group feels pretty self-explanatory. Right now I'm slotting in Wanya Morris as a starter, at least until I get some eyes on Suamataia. Nourzad feels like the perfect Nick Allegretti replacement and I suspect a battle between C.J. Hanson and Mike Caliendo. Right now, the vet edges out the rookie.

Defensive line (10)

On the 53-man roster: George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Malik Herring, BJ Thompson, Chris Jones, Derrick Nnadi, Neil Farrell Jr., Fabien Lovett**, Tershawn Wharton.
Practice squad: Truman Jones, Eyabi Okie-Anoma**, and Mike Pennel
Cut: Isaiah Buggs, Jordan Smith, and Matt Dickerson
PUP List: Charles Omenihu

How we got here: Edge rushers are fairly self-explanatory for this group, but the interior defensive line is kind of a mess. I cut Isaiah Buggs because he feels like the likeliest player to be supplanted by a UDFA like Lovett. He got dropped midseason by his former team. I went with Derrick Nnadi over Mike Pennel on the 53-man roster because that's been the way the cookie crumbles lately. I kept Neil Ferrell Jr. as well because he's the only player under contract beyond 2024 outside of Chris Jones.

Linebacker (6)

On the 53-man roster: Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Leo Chenal, Jack Cochrane, Cam Jones, and Curtis Jacobs**
Practice squad: Cole Christiansen
Cut: Swayze Bozeman**

How we got here: I would be shocked if the Chiefs carried fewer than six linebackers, especially with the new kick return rules. Guys like Cochrane, Jones, and Jacobs will be super valuable. I expect Jones to push for some playing time on the defense this year in addition to a special teams role. I'd love to find a spot for Bozeman, but I think they go with the trust factor in Christiansen on special teams.

Cornerback (6)

On the 90-man roster: Trent McDuffie, Nazeeh Johnson, Jaylen Watson, Joshua Williams, Kamal Hadden*, and Ekow Boye-Doe
Practice Squad: Nic Jones and Miles Battle**
Cut: Christian Roland-Wallace**, Keith Taylor, and Kelvin Joseph

How we got here: Trading away L'Jarius Sneed obviously hurts, but there is no shortage of competition in this room. Johnson gets first dibs on the spot opposite McDuffie, which he was trending to earn before his injury last year, with either Watson or Williams as the boundary corner on nickel looks. Hadden shows enough to earn a spot over Nic Jones, who lost some playing time on special teams to Ekow Boye-Doe late last season. Jones and Battle wind up on the practice squad, with some potential for Battle to get the call-up.

Safety (4)

On the 53-man roster: Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, Chamarri Conner, and Jaden Hicks*
Practice squad: Deon Bush and Trey Dean
Cut: Tyree Gillespie

How we got here: This position group absolutely slaps, and that was true before the Chiefs drafted Jaden Hicks. I could see Trey Dean pushing for a spot as well, but this might just come down to a numbers game. Also, there is just a question of Bryan Cook's health that could play a role. Is he a candidate to start the season on the PUP list? We'll see.

Special teams (3)

On the 53-man roster: K Harrison Butker, P Ryan Rehkow**, and LS James Winchester.
Practice squad: None
Cut: P Matt Araiza

How we got here: I know, I know. I cut "The Punt God." I don't know how much of a competition this will actually be, but the Chiefs added a very good undrafted free agent punter. He might fit the room a bit more, and he has experience holding in college, whereas Araiza was a punter/kicker and not a holder. That minor detail could be what matters most here.

Related: Grading the Chiefs' 2024 NFL draft class: Brett Veach reloads for the three-peat