Chiefs roster: 53-player roster for 2024 NFL season announced after budget cuts

Chiefs roster: 53-player roster for 2024 NFL season announced after budget cuts

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The Kansas City Chiefs have trimmed their roster to 53 players ahead of the NFL trade deadline.

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

Attack (26)

Quarterbacks (2): Patrick Mahomes, Carson Wentz

These two were hardly in doubt, although some thought head coach Andy Reid would hold on to Chris Oladokun after the emergency quarterback rule reverted to the eligible player having to be on the 53-man roster. The Chiefs will take their chances and use that roster space elsewhere.

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

Kansas City opted to retain Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, two veteran backs who have won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Chiefs. Like last year, Deneric Prince had some buzz early in camp, but that wasn’t to be. Carson Steele’s emergence kept him from making the roster.

Fullbacks (1): Carson Steele

The full-back is back in a big way for Reid – and I wouldn’t be surprised if Steele RB2 behind Pacheco above 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 were always clear, with Skyy Moore and Mecole Hardman performing well enough in training camp and the preseason to remain on the roster. Both should be in the mix, with Steele on kickoff returns, and Hardman expected to return punts. The availability and return of JuJu Smith-Schuster dashed the roster spot hopes of Justyn Ross and Kadarius Toney, both of whom were cut.

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

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

Instead of keeping Irv Smith Jr. on the team, Kansas City opted to trade for a fourth tight end at the deadline. Peyton Hendershot is coming 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 status of the offensive line room didn’t change much from the start of training camp to the unveiling of the 53-man roster deadline. Rookie Kingsley Suamataia appeared to have the left tackle job locked down early, and Wanya Morris won the swing tackle position from Lucas Niang. Mike Caliendo will likely fill the swing interior role left behind by Nick Allegretti’s departure, and I imagine the Chiefs will lean on Hunter Nourzad as the backup center. Two late Day 3 additions — seventh-round pick C.J. Hanson and undrafted free agent Ethan Driskell — round out the room with Kansas City moving on from Niang.

Defense (24)

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

We thought either Matt Dickerson or Neil Farrell would make the cut at fifth defensive tackle. Instead, the Chiefs went with four — likely hoping to keep one or both on the practice squad.

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

The Chiefs have always kept the top four members of their defensive end room, and Monday night’s trade for Cam Thomas bumped Truman Jones off the 53-man roster and likely to the practice squad. Thomas, a former third-round pick, displays the inside-outside versatility that 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 larger role now that the Chiefs are moving on from Willie Gay Jr. Both Jack Cochrane and Cam Jones are solid rotation players and are important 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 are sticking with six cornerbacks, including Nic Jones and Chris Roland-Wallace. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will likely use Trent McDuffie more often at 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 biggest surprise player to make the roster. He played 44 snaps in the slot for the Chiefs this preseason, according to Focus on professional football.

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

There are no real standouts here, but as noted above, Conner will likely play more snaps as a slot cornerback than a safety in 2024. I expect Deon Bush to remain on the practice squad with Kansas City and the Chiefs to use their call-ups to get him ready for game day.

Specialists (3)

Substitute (1): Harrison Butker

Punter (1): Matt Araiza

Long snapper (1): James Winchester

None of the Chiefs’ three specialist positions faced competition during training camp or pre-season.

Under contract, not included in the active selection (3)

Reserve/PUP: DE Charles Omenihu

Reserve/NFI: DL BJ Thompson

Removed from 90-man roster

  • Apart from: quarterback Ian Boek, defensive lineman Alex Gubner, wide receiver Kyle sheets, offensive lineman Nick Torres, wide receiver Filip Brooks, corner defender Miles battlecorner defender Kelvin Joseph, corner defender Ekow Boye-Doedefensive end Owen Carneyguard Griffin McDowelllong snapper Edges Plattner, tight end Geor’quarius Spivey, wide receiver Kadarius Toney, wide receiver Justyn Ross, run back Louis Rees-Zammit, defender Swayze Bozeman, run back Denerian Prince, quarterback Chris Oladokun, wide receiver Nikko Remigio, run back Emani Bailey, safety Deon Bush, defender Cole Christiansen, tight end Baylor Cup, defensive lineman Neil Farrell, safety Tyree Gillespie, tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick, defensive back Kamal Hadden, run back Keaton Ingram, defender Curtis Jacobs, defensive end Truman Jones, defensive tackle Fabien Lovett, corner defender Derrick Miller, tackle Lucas Niang, wide receiver Cornell Powell, corner defender Keith Taylor, wide receiver Montrell Washington
  • Published: tight end Irv Smith Jr., defensive tackle Matt Dickerson
  • Released with compensation: 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 team (up to 16)

The Chiefs can’t begin assembling the bulk of their practice squad until 3 p.m. (Arrowhead Time) on Wednesday, the deadline for claiming players released by other teams. Most of the players who will fill the practice squad have already been released from the Chiefs’ 90-man roster, so they must first clear waivers. Under the rules going into the 2024 season, a maximum of six of the 16 players each team is allowed on its practice squad must have some prior league experience. So it’s possible the Chiefs could sign some practice squad players from the pool of veteran players recently released by other teams — who don’t have to clear waivers — before Wednesday’s deadline.