2026 KC Chiefs Projected Depth Chart

2026 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, Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier (3)
RB: Kenneth Walker, Emari Demercado, Emmett Johnson, Brashard Smith (4)
LWR: Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Royals (2)

RWR: Xavier Worthy, Cyrus Allen (2)

SWR: Rashee Rice, Nikko Remigio (2)

TE: Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jared Wiley (3)

LT: Josh Simmons, Diego Pounds (2)
LG: Kingsley Suamataia, Mike Caliendo (2)
OC: Creed Humphrey, Hunter Nourzad (2)
RG: Trey Smith, Kahil Benson (2)

RT: Jaylon Moore, Joshua Ezeudu (2)

Defense (24):
LDE: George Karlaftis, R. Mason Thomas (2)
LDT: Chris Jones, Peter Woods (2)
RDT: Khyiris Tonga, Omarr Norman-Lott (2)
RDE: Ashton Gillotte, Felix Anudike-Uzomah (2)
MLB: Nick Bolton, Cooper McDonald, Jack Cochrane (3)
ROLB (WLB): Drue Tranquill, Jeffrey Baasa, Cole Christiansen (3)
LCB: Nohl Williams, L’Jarius Sneed (2)

RCB: Delane Mansoor, Kristian Fulton (2)

SS: Chamarri Conner, Jaden Hicks (2)
FS: Alohi Gilman, Xavier Nwankpa (2)
NB: Chris Roland-Wallace, Jadon Canady (2)

Special Teams (3):

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

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

2026 KC Chiefs Projected Special Teams Post-Draft

2026 KC Chiefs Projected Special Teams Post-Draft in my opinion:

K: Harrison Butker
P: Matt Araiza
LS: James Winchester
H: Matt Araiza
KR: Nikko Remigio  
PR: Nikko Remigio

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 KC Chiefs Projected Offensive Starters Post-Draft

2026 KC Chiefs Projected Offensive Starters Post-Draft in my opinion:

NFL West Coast passing scheme, and zone running scheme, mixed in with college option, misdirection plays, and spread offense. Every team has 11 players on the field at one time. How many at each position varies due to the situation.

QB: Patrick Mahomes
RB1: Kenneth Walker (goal line and short-yardage Running Back)
RB2: Brashard Smith (our pass receiving Running Back)
WR1: Xavier Worthy
WR2: Tyquan Thornton
WR3: Rashee Rice
WR4: Jalen Royals
WR5: Nikko Remigio
WR6: Cyrus Allen
TE1: Travis Kelce
TE2: Noah Gray
LT:  Josh Simmons
LG: Kingsley Suamataia
OC: Creed Humphrey
RG: Trey Smith
RT: Jaylon Moore

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 KC Chiefs Projected Special Teams Post-Draft

2025 KC Chiefs Projected Special Teams Post-Draft in my opinion:

K: Harrison Butker
P: Matt Araiza
LS: James Winchester
H: Matt Araiza
KR: Nikko Remigio  
PR: Nikko Remigio

 

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 KC Chiefs Projected Offensive Starters Post-Draft

2025 KC Chiefs Projected Offensive Starters Post-Draft in my opinion:

NFL West Coast passing scheme, and zone running scheme, mixed in with college option, misdirection plays, and spread offense. Every team has 11 players on the field at one time. How many at each position varies due to the situation.

QB: Patrick Mahomes
FB: Carson Steele
RB1: Isiah Pacheco (goal line and short-yardage Running Back)
RB2: Kareem Hunt (our pass receiving Running Back)
WR1: Marquise Brown
WR2: Xavier Worthy
WR3: Rashee Rice
WR4: Jalen Royals
WR5: Skyy Moore
WR6: Nikko Remigio
TE1: Travis Kelce (pass-catching Tight End)
TE2: Noah Gray (blocking Tight End)
LT: Josh Simmons
LG: Kingsley Suamataia
OC: Creed Humphrey
RG: Trey Smith
RT: Jawaan Taylor

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.