2026 Projected KC Chiefs Defensive Starters Post-Draft

Our defensive scheme is a 4 - 3 (4 Down Linemen, and 3 Linebackers) base 7 man front with a 1 gap Under Front alignment (Defensive Line shifts to the weakside, and the Strong Side Outside Linebacker moves up on the line of scrimmage. That makes the defense look like a 5-2 with 43 personnel. Sometimes, the Strong or Free Safety will drop down close to the line of scrimmage, and the defense becomes an eight-man front, or what’s known as the 46 (Brian Dawkins in Philadelphia, and now Alohi Gilman in KC). Now everybody in the NFL does a little bit of everything because it’s the pros and a copycat league. But our defensive coordinator comes from the Jim Johnson tree (‘99 – ‘08 with the Philadelphia Eagles) and prefers a 2 High Safety alignment with Press Man Coverage, mixed in with Man Blitzes, Double-A Gap Blitzes, and Zone Blitzes depending on the situation also.

2026 Projected KC Chiefs Defensive Starters in my opinion after the draft:

LDE: George Karlaftis
LDT: Chris Jones
RDT:  Khyiris Tonga
RDE: Ashton Gillotte
LOLB (SLB): Cooper McDonald
MLB: Nick Bolton
ROLB (WLB): Drue Tranquill
LCB (CB1): Nohl Williams
RCB (CB2): Delane Mansoor 
CB3: Kader Kohou
SS: Chamarri Connor
FS: Alohi Gilman

In the Nickel (5 DBs) against a spread offense, take out Cooper McDonald, and replace with a Slot Corner. Kader Kohou.

In Dime (6 DBs), take out Cooper McDonald, and Drue Tranquill. Add another Safety, Chris Roland-Wallace, along with Kader Kohou.

2026 Projected KC Chiefs Defensive Starters Pre-Draft

Our defensive scheme is a 4 - 3 (4 Down Linemen, and 3 Linebackers) base 7 man front with a 1 gap Under Front alignment (Defensive Line shifts to the weakside, and the Strong Side Outside Linebacker moves up on the line of scrimmage. That makes the defense look like a 5-2 with 43 personnel. Sometimes, the Strong or Free Safety will drop down close to the line of scrimmage, and the defense becomes an eight-man front, or what’s known as the 46 (Brian Dawkins in Philadelphia, and now Alohi Gilman in KC). Now everybody in the NFL does a little bit of everything because it’s the pros and a copycat league. But our defensive coordinator comes from the Jim Johnson tree (‘99 – ‘08 with the Philadelphia Eagles) and prefers a 2 High Safety alignment with Press Man Coverage, mixed in with Man Blitzes, Double-A Gap Blitzes, and Zone Blitzes depending on the situation also.

2026 Projected KC Chiefs Defensive Starters in my opinion before the draft:

LDE: George Karlaftis
LDT: Chris Jones
RDT:  Khyiris Tonga
RDE: Ashton Gillotte
LOLB (SLB): Cooper McDonald
MLB: Nick Bolton
ROLB (WLB): Drue Tranquill
LCB (CB1): Nohl Williams
RCB (CB2): Kristian Fulton
CB3: Kader Kohou
SS: Chamarri Connor
FS: Alohi Gilman

In the Nickel (5 DBs) against a spread offense, take out Cooper McDonald, and replace with a Slot Corner. Kader Kohou.

In Dime (6 DBs), take out Cooper McDonald, and Drue Tranquill. Add another Safety, Chris Roland-Wallace, along with Kader Kohou.

Much like the offense, the defense was average at best. It became incredibly predictable. We lost so many people in free agency that we need bodies to fill up the other 23 through 53 people on the roster.

We really need to hit on this draft to stay competitive not only across the league, but 1^st in the division. Which I haven’t said in quite some time. For the 1^st time since Andy Reid’s been in Kansas City. We are looking up at the Chargers and Broncos in the AFC West.

2025 KC Chiefs Projected Depth Chart

2025 KC Chiefs Projected 53 Man Depth Chart:

With that being said, there are 11 players on the field for each team at a time. So, here’s how I think the roster will break down. The 1^st name is the starter, and the other names at each position, are his chronological backups. By the end, I wonder how close I get to who makes the roster.

There are 53 men on the football roster. At the beginning of training camp (July), and Pre-Season (August), the team starts out with 90, plus 1 international player. And by the beginning of the 1^st week of the Regular Season (which is usually the 1^st week of September), they cut the Pre-Season roster to 53.

Offense (26):
QB: Patrick Mahomes, Gardner Minshew (2)
RB: Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Brashard Smith, Elijah Mitchell (4)
LWR: Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster (2)
RWR: Marquise Brown, Jalen Royals, Tyquan Thornton (3)
SWR: Rashee Rice, Nikko Remigio (2)
TE: Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, Robert Tonyan (4)
LT: Josh Simmons, Wanya Morris (2)
LG: Kingsley Suamataia, Mike Caliendo (2)
OC: Creed Humphrey, Hunter Nourzad (2)
RG: Trey Smith (1)
RT: Jawaan Taylor, Jaylon Moore (2) 

Defense (24):
LDE: George Karlaftis, Charles Omenihu, Maalik Herring (3)
LDT: Chris Jones, Jerry Tillery (2)
RDT: Mike Pennel, Derrick Nnadi (2)
RDE: Mike Danna, Ashton Gillotte (2)
LOLB (SLB): Leo Chenal, Cooper McDonald (2)
MLB: Nick Bolton, Jack Cochrane (2)
ROLB (WLB): Drue Tranquill, Jeffrey Baasa (2)
LCB: Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Nohl Williams (3)

RCB: Kristian Fulton, Joshua Williams (2)
SS: Jaden Hicks, Chamarri Conner (2)
FS: Bryan Cook, Christian Roland-Wallace (2)

Special Teams (3):
K: Harrison Butker (1)
P: Matt Araiza (1)
LS: James Winchester (1)
H: Matt Araiza (1)
KR: Nikko Remigio (1)
PR: Nikko Remigio (1)

The Punter Matt Araiza is the Holder. Nikko Remigio is the Kick Returner, and the Punt Returner to save roster spots. 

2025 Projected KC Chiefs Defensive Starters Post Draft

 

Our defensive scheme is a 4 - 3 (4 Down Linemen, and 3 Linebackers) base 7 man front with a 1 gap Under Front alignment (Defensive Line shifts to the weakside, and the Strong Side Outside Linebacker moves up on the line of scrimmage. That makes the defense look like a 5-2 with 43 personnel. Sometimes, the Strong or Free Safety will drop down close to the line of scrimmage, and the defense becomes an eight-man front, or what’s known as the 46 (Brian Dawkins in Philadelphia, and Justin Reid in KC). Now everybody in the NFL does a little bit of everything because it’s the pros and a copycat league. But our defensive coordinator comes from the Jim Johnson tree (‘99 – ‘08 with the Philadelphia Eagles) and prefers a 2 High Safety alignment with Press Man Coverage, mixed in with Man Blitzes, Double-A Gap Blitzes, and Zone Blitzes depending on the situation also.

2025 Projected KC Chiefs Defensive Starters in my opinion after the draft:

LDE: George Karlaftis
LDT: Chris Jones
RDT: Mike Pennel 
RDE: Mike Danna
LOLB (SLB): Leo Chenal
MLB: Nick Bolton
ROLB (WLB): Drue Tranquill
LCB (CB1): Trent McDuffie
RCB (CB2): Kristian Fulton
CB3: Chamarri Connor
FS: Bryan Cook
SS: Jaden Hicks

In the Nickel (5 DBs) against a spread offense, take out Drue Tranquill, and replace with a Slot Corner. Chamarri Connor.

In Dime (6 DBs), take out Leo Chenal, and Drue Tranquill. Add another Safety, Mike Edwards, along with Chamarri Connor.

2025 Projected KC Chiefs Defensive Starters Pre-Draft

Our defensive scheme is a 4 - 3 (4 Down Linemen, and 3 Linebackers) base 7 man front with a 1 gap Under Front alignment (Defensive Line shifts to the weakside, and the Strong Side Outside Linebacker moves up on the line of scrimmage. That makes the defense look like a 5-2 with 43 personnel. Sometimes, the Strong or Free Safety will drop down close to the line of scrimmage, and the defense becomes an eight-man front, or what’s known as the 46 (Brian Dawkins in Philadelphia, and Justin Reid in KC). Now everybody in the NFL does a little bit of everything because it’s the pros and a copycat league. But our defensive coordinator comes from the Jim Johnson tree (‘99 – ‘08 with the Philadelphia Eagles) and prefers a 2 High Safety alignment with Press Man Coverage, mixed in with Man Blitzes, Double-A Gap Blitzes, and Zone Blitzes depending on the situation also.

2025 Projected KC Chiefs Defensive Starters in my opinion before the draft:

LDE: George Karlaftis
LDT: Chris Jones
RDT: Mike Pennel 
RDE: Mike Danna
LOLB (SLB): Leo Chenal
MLB: Nick Bolton
ROLB (WLB): Drue Tranquill
LCB (CB1): Trent McDuffie
RCB (CB2): Kristian Fulton
CB3: Chamarri Connor
FS: Bryan Cook
SS: Jaden Hicks

In the Nickel (5 DBs) against a spread offense, take out Drue Tranquill, and replace with a Slot Corner. Chamarri Connor.

In Dime (6 DBs), take out Leo Chenal, and Drue Tranquill. Add another Safety, Mike Edwards, along with Chamarri Connor.

2024 KC Chiefs Projected Depth Chart

 

 

2024 KC Chiefs Projected Depth Chart:

 

With that being said, there are 11 players on the field for each team at a time. So, here’s how I think the roster will break down. The 1^st name is the starter, and the other names at each position, are his chronological backups. By the end, I wonder how close I get to who makes the roster.

 

There are 53 men on the football roster. At the beginning of training camp (July), and Pre-Season (August), the team starts out with 90. And by the beginning of the 1^st week of the Regular Season (which is usually the 1^st week of September), they cut the Pre-Season roster to 53.

 

Offense (25):

QB: Patrick Mahomes, Carson Wentz (2)

RB: Isiah Pacheco, Carson Steele, Clyde Edwards-Helaire (3)

LWR: Marquise Brown, Juju Smith-Schuster,  Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, MeCole Hardman (5)

RWR: Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy (2)

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

LT: Kingsley Suamataia, Wanya Morris (2)

LG: Joe Thuney, Mike Caliendo (2)

OC: Creed Humphrey, Hunter Nourzad (2)

RG: Trey Smith (1)

RT: Jawaan Taylor, Lucas Niang (2)

 

Defense (25):

LDE: George Karlaftis, Maalik Herring (2)

LDT: Chris Jones, Neil Farrell (2)

RDT: Derrick Nnadi, Tershawn Wharton, Mike Pennel (3)

RDE: Mike Danna, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Cameron Thomas (3)

LOLB (SLB): Leo Chenal, Cam Jones (2)

MLB: Nick Bolton, Jack Cochrane, Drue Tranquill (2)

ROLB: (WLB): Drue Tranquill (1)

LCB: Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Nic Jones (3)

RCB: Joshua Williams, Nazeeh Johnson, Chamarri Conner (3)

SS: Justin Reid, Jaden Hicks (2)

FS: Bryan Cook, Deon Bush (2)

 

Special Teams (3):

K: Harrison Butker (1)

P: Matt Araiza (1)

LS: James Winchester, Noah Gray (2)

H: Matt Araiza (1) 

KR: MeCole Hardman, Carson Steele (2)

PR: MeCole Hardman (1) 

 

The new Punter Matt Araiza is the Holder. MeCole Hardman and Carson Steele are the Kick Returners, and MeCole Hardman is the Punt Returner to save roster spots.

2024 Projected KC Chiefs Defensive Starters Post Draft

Our defensive scheme is a 4 - 3 (4 Down Linemen, and 3 Linebackers) base 7 man front with a 1 gap Under Front alignment (Defensive Line shifts to the weakside, and the Strong Side Outside Linebacker moves up on the line of scrimmage. That makes the defense look like a 5-2 with 43 personnel. Sometimes, the Strong or Free Safety will drop down close to the line of scrimmage, and the defense becomes an eight-man front, or what’s known as the 46 (Brian Dawkins in Philadelphia, and Justin Reid in KC). Now everybody in the NFL does a little bit of everything because it’s the pros and a copycat league. But our defensive coordinator comes from the Jim Johnson tree (‘99 – ‘08 with the Philadelphia Eagles) and prefers a 2 High Safety alignment with Press Man Coverage, mixed in with Man Blitzes, Double-A Gap Blitzes, and Zone Blitzes depending on the situation also.

2024 Projected KC Chiefs Defensive Starters in my opinion after the draft:

LDE: George Karlaftis
LDT: Derrick Nnadi
RDT: Chris Jones
RDE: Felix Anudike-Uzomah
LOLB (SLB): Leo Chenal
MLB: Nick Bolton
ROLB (WLB): Drue Tranquill
LCB (CB1): Trent McDuffie
RCB (CB2): Joshua Williams
CB3: Jaylen Watson
SS: Justin Reid
FS: Bryan Cook

In the Nickel (5 DBs) against a spread offense, take out Drue Tranquill, and replace with a Slot Corner. Jaylen Watson.

In Dime (6 DBs), take out Leo Chenal, and Drue Tranquill. Add another Safety, Deon Bush, along with Jaylen Watson.