Chiefs post-NFL Draft depth chart: One looming question for each position

The NFL Draft is behind us, so it’s time to take a fresh look at the Kansas City Chiefs’ roster.

Let’s go over the team’s current depth chart, with one question that looms for each position (rookies listed in italics).

Quarterbacks

Starter: Patrick Mahomes

Backups: Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier

Looming question: What’s the plan with Nussmeier?

OK, sure, “How is Mahomes’ knee doing?” is the No. 1 question with this group, but after I said a few weeks ago that it’d be a shock if the Chiefs took a quarterback in the draft, it’s worth wondering how they plan to bring Nussmeier along. Fields should be the team’s backup this year, but will the Chiefs still let Nussmeier compete for that No. 2 job? Or, after injuries marred Nussmeier’s final college season, will the team play it more cautiously to make sure he’s fully healthy for 2027 and beyond? Chiefs vice president of player personnel Ryne Nutt said Monday the team had been looking for a while to take a late-round developmental quarterback. Given the Chiefs’ healthy situation at the position, they have some options for how to play this thing out.

Running backs

Starter: Kenneth Walker III

Backups: Emmett Johnson, Emari Demercado, Brashard Smith

Looming question: Who is the short-yardage back?

Though the Chiefs stunk with explosive runs a year ago (their running backs combined for one 20-plus-yard rush all season), they were excellent in short-yardage situations, thanks mostly to Kareem Hunt. Per TruMedia, on third- and fourth-down plays with 1-2 yards to go, the Chiefs converted 82 percent of their runs into first downs last season — the best mark in the NFL. Johnson was my favorite Chiefs value pick in the draft, but he’s similar to Walker, Demercado and Smith in being more shifty than powerful. Hunt remains unsigned, so will the Chiefs give him another look? If not, they’ll need to figure out some way to approach third-and-1-type runs, especially with coach Andy Reid continuing to opt out of quarterback sneaks because of a previous Mahomes injury with that setup.

Tight ends

Starter: Travis Kelce

Backups: Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, Jake Briningstool

Looming question: Do the Chiefs need a true blocking tight end?

That specialty was noticeably absent last season when the Chiefs struggled to produce the way they wanted on early-down runs. At this point, Gray is the most reliable blocker the Chiefs have at the position, though he’d be better described as serviceable rather than a standout.

Wide receivers

Starters: Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton

Backups: Jalen Royals, Cyrus Allen, Nikko Remigio, Jason Brownlee

Looming question: Are the Chiefs still a body or two short?

It was surprising that the team didn’t use a top-three-round draft pick on a receiver, which could become a glaring need in 2027 if the team doesn’t re-sign Rice. Even as it stands, the Chiefs’ depth chart looks awfully thin at a position that tends to see a high number of injuries. Expect Jeff Caldwell — an undrafted free-agent signing out of Cincinnati — to get plenty of attention over the next few weeks for this reason.

Offensive line

Starters: Josh Simmons, Kingsley Suamataia, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jaylon Moore

Backups: Esa Pole, Hunter Nourzad, Mike Caliendo, Wanya Morris, Ethan Driskell, C.J. Hanson

Looming question: Can the Chiefs rely on Simmons and Moore to be available?

Both tackles rotated in and out of the lineup last season — Simmons because of a personal matter and injuries and Moore with knee ailments — and the offense tanked when the team had to move down the depth chart late in the year. The Chiefs have to feel good about a potential Simmons-Suamataia-Humphrey-Smith-Moore grouping of starters across the front, but seeing Simmons and Moore out there at full strength for a larger sample certainly would be a welcome sign.

Defensive line

Starters: George Karlaftis, Chris Jones, Khyiris Tonga, Ashton Gillotte

Backups: Peter Woods, R Mason Thomas, Omarr Norman-Lott, Felix Anudike-Uzomah

Looming question: Will an un-Spagsian draft pick work out?

I wrote about this over the weekend, but the Chiefs’ selection of Thomas was an eyebrow-raiser, given the team’s history. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo loves his long pass rushers, and Thomas is anything but that, winning on passing reps with quick-twitch and bend around the outside. In theory, Thomas should help the Chiefs after a disastrous season on third downs, but that’s only if he earns trust from the guy calling the defensive shots. Thomas will be one of the rookies to watch closest in training camp to see how this unlikely team fit turns out.

Linebackers

Starters: Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill

Backups: Cooper McDonald, Jack Cochrane, Jeffrey Bassa, Cole Christiansen, Brandon George

Looming question: Is McDonald ready for a bigger role?

The Chiefs showed their commitment to the 2025 undrafted free-agent linebacker when they kept McDonald on the 53-man roster last year out of training camp. And now? It sure seems like he’s being primed for a quasi-starter role, as McDonald seems most likely to step into departed free agent Leo Chenal’s spot on the defense. McDonald played respectably while filling in for Chenal at the end of last season, earning 72 and 67 defensive grades at Pro Football Focus in Weeks 17 and 18. When Bolton was asked last week about losing Chenal, the first name he mentioned was McDonald. The second-year player seems on pace, at this point, to be on the verge of a major jump in playing time.

Secondary

Starters: Mansoor Delane, Nohl Williams, Chamarri Conner, Alohi Gilman, Kader Kohou

Backups: Kristian Fulton, Jadon Canady, Chris Roland-Wallace, Jaden Hicks, Kaiir Elam, Kevin Knowles

Looming question: Who will be the odd men out?

Suddenly, after the Chiefs selected Delane and Canady, they appear to have a back-of-the-roster logjam in their secondary. Spagnuolo has always been high on undrafted free agents Roland-Wallace and Knowles, but it’s difficult to see both of them making the team’s initial 53 unless injuries pop up. Elam also seemed like a good buy-low opportunity as a toolsy player and former first-round pick, but I’m not sure he’s a roster lock either, given the team’s low-dollar investment and how quickly the room has crowded up. This position group will likely be among the most competitive in training camp.

Specialists

Starters: K Harrison Butker, P Matt Araiza, LS James Winchester

Backups: None

Looming question: Is this it for Winchester?

Yes, NFL teams have more pressing concerns than the future status of a long snapper. It’s still worth wondering if this will be the final go-round for Winchester, who will turn 37 before the season begins.