****Official opening day 2025-6 roster****

[BigRedChief]

What say you? Post that roster/guess. The First person’s roster thats posted in this thread and gets it right, will recieve $20 from me via Venmo/Paypal/Cash. Your preference.

[Why Not?]

With all summer yet to come and injuries, other teams cuts who could sign, a training camp stud who steals a sport, etc, the move would be to wait until the first week of September and then enter a guess. Doing it now and nailing it would be akin to getting a perfect NCAA bracket (maybe not quite as hard but pretty damn hard). I think you should up the prize to $100,000 if someone gets it right with an entry this week!

[BWillie]

Skyy Moore WR1.

Believe!

[jjchieffan]

I found this one done by A to Z Sports and I pretty much agree with it.

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

Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2025 draft picks. Players with double asterisks (**) are reported 2025 undrafted free agents (some might be minicamp invites that were misreported; it happens every year). Players in italics are practice squad candidates.


Quarterback (2)
On the 53-man roster: Patrick Mahomes & Gardner Minshew
Cut: Chris Oladokun & Bailey Zappe

This group shouldn't surprise anyone. Minshew is viewed as the clear backup to Mahomes. I think the Chiefs would prefer Zappe on the practice squad to Oladokun. However, Zappe did get poached on the practice squad last season.

Running back (4)
On the 53-man roster: Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Elijah Mitchell, & Brashard Smith*
Cut: Keaontay Ingram, Carson Steele, Elijah Young**, Qualan Jones**


It will be harder for Carson Steele to make the 53-man roster than last season, given the hopes for Elijah Mitchell and the investment in Brashard Smith. The competition extends beyond the running back room, too. The kick and punt return roles could be the deciding factor here.

Tight end (3)
On the 53-man roster: Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jake Briningstool**
Cut: Baylor Cupp, Anthony Firkser, Robert Tonyan, Tre Watson**
PUP: Jared Wiley


If Wiley starts on the PUP, which he might, it opens an opportunity for a player like Bringstool or Watson to make an impression and make the team. I wouldn't rule out any one of Cupp, Firkser, or Tonyan taking a step forward in Year 2.

Wide receiver (6)
On the 53-man roster: Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals*, Nikko Remigio, JuJu Smith-Schuster
Cut: Skyy Moore, Elijhah Badger**, Tyquan Thornton, Justyn Ross, Mac Dalena**, Jason Brownlee


Based on what I've seen and heard, I expect Rice to start the 2025 NFL season healthy and not suspended. This is going to be a tough wide receiver room to crack. I think return ability keeps Remigio on the roster. Smith-Schuster earns the last spot over Skyy Moore as a veteran, but I won't be shocked if Badger and Dalena make it a tough decision.

Offensive line (10)
On the 53-man roster: Jaylon Moore, Kingsley Suamataia, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor, Josh Simmons*, Hunter Nourzad, Wanya Morris, Esa Pole**, and Mike Caliendo
Cut: Ethan Driskell, McKade Mettauer, C.J. Hanson, Chu Godrick, Dalton Cooper**


The Chiefs exhausted all options to improve the tackle position, and I won't be shocked to see some changes. They'll ease in Simmons, which probably means no starting role initially. I expect Pole and Cooper to push guys like Driskell and Morris. Ultimately, Morris sticks around because he'll show he can be a solid right tackle and play inside. Speaking of inside, I worry K.C. didn't do enough at this group to offset the loss of Thuney.

Defensive line (10)
On the 53-man roster: George Karlaftis, Charles Omenihu, Mike Danna, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Ashton Gillotte*, Omarr Norman-Lott*, Chris Jones, Jerry Tillery, Mike Pennel, Fabien Lovett
Cut: Siaki Ika, Malik Herring, Marlon Tuipulotu, Janarius Robinson, Coziah Izzard**
NFI: BJ Thompson

This group is going to be competitive. The wild-card here is BJ Thompson, who I'm leaving on the NFI list because I have no idea if he'll play in 2025. If he's at rookie minicamp as an "injured player," that'll be a good sign. I have Lovett making the 53 in Year 2 after a glowing endorsement from Mike Pennel, but I wouldn't be shocked to see Ika or Izzard push for that spot. Robinson has virtually no shot to make it outside of something unexpected, like an injury.

Linebacker (5)
On the 53-man roster: Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Leo Chenal, Jeffrey Bassa*, & Cam Jones
Cut: Shaun Bradley, Blake Lynch, Cole Christiansen, Brandon George**
PUP: Jack Cochrane

The Chiefs typically like keeping six linebackers, but I think this will be a year where they just can't afford that luxury. Maybe an injury allows them to activate Cochrane from the PUP at some point, but I expect Bassa and Jones to be the primary backups to start the season.

Cornerback (6)
On the 53-man roster: Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Kristian Fulton, Nohl Williams*, Joshua Williams, & Chris Roland-Wallace
Cut: Nazeeh Johnson, Darius Rush, Eric Scott Jr., Jacobe Covington**, Melvin Smith**, & Kevin Knowles**

I ultimately think they keep six cornerbacks this year because even with Trent McDuffie moving back to the slot, they just have too many boundary corners. Watson, both Williamses, and even Fulton are best suited on the perimeter. That gives a guy like Roland-Wallace an advantage (and any other cornerback who can play in the slot).

Safety (4)
On the 53-man roster: Bryan Cook, Mike Edwards, Chamarri Conner, & Jaden Hicks
Cut: Deon Bush, Glendon Miller**, Will Brooks**, & Jason Taylor II

This group feels pretty straightforward, but I wouldn't be shocked if Brooks pushed for a roster spot. I just don't exactly know how you find room for a fifth safety without an injury in this room.

Special teams (3)
On the 53-man roster: K Harrison Butker, P Eddie Czeplicki, LS James Winchester
Cut: P Matt Araiza

Last season, I predicted that Ryan Rehkow would beat out Araiza. I think they'll give Czeplicki every chance to win this year because Araiza wasn't very good in his first season in 2024. He's got a cannon for a leg, but he lacks the touch and precision that the team had with Tommy Townsend.

[BWillie]

I don't think we drafted one player who will start on opening day. I do expect Simmons to be starting by the end of the season though. Our team is just too good for guys drafted to get starting level run even if we did knock it out of the park in the draft.

[kozzman555]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I don't think we drafted one player who will start on opening day. I do expect Simmons to be starting by the end of the season though. Our team is just too good for guys drafted to get starting level run even if we did knock it out of the park in the draft.

Unless Moore shits the bed, I don't see Reid playing Simmons much. I think we will stick with what works, until it's proven it doesn't work. We don't gain anything this season by messing with the O-line's chemistry, unless it's a blowout and we are getting 2nd stringers in for reps.

[Chief Roundup]

QB: Mahomes, Minshew
RB: Pacheco, Hunt, Mitchell, Steele
WR: Rice, Brown, Worthy, Smith-Schuster, Royals, Nikko Remigio
TE: Kelce, Gray, Wiley, Jake Briningstool
OL: Moore, Suamataia, Humphrey, Smith, Taylor, Simmons, Morris, Caliendo, Norzad, Pole
DT: Jones, Pennel, Tillery, Norman-Lott
DE: Karlaftis, Omenihu, Danna, Anudike-Uzomah, Gillotte
LB: Bolton, Tranquill, Chenal, Bassa, Cochrane, George
CB: McDuffie, Fulton, Watson, N. Williams, N. Johnson, Roland-Wallace
S: Cook, Hicks, Edwards, Conner
LS: Winchester
K: Butker
P: Araiza

[kozzman555]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

QB: Mahomes, Minshew
RB: Pacheco, Hunt, Mitchell, Steele
WR: Rice, Brown, Worthy, Smith-Schuster, Royals, Nikko Remigio
TE: Kelce, Gray, Wiley, Jake Briningstool
OL: Moore, Suamataia, Humphrey, Smith, Taylor, Simmons, Morris, Caliendo, Norzad, Pole
DT: Jones, Pennel, Tillery, Norman-Lott
DE: Karlaftis, Omenihu, Danna, Anudike-Uzomah, Gillotte
LB: Bolton, Tranquill, Chenal, Bassa, Cochrane, George
CB: McDuffie, Fulton, Watson, N. Williams, N. Johnson, Roland-Wallace
S: Cook, Hicks, Edwards, Conner
LS: Winchester
K: Butker
P: Araiza

You really think Steele over Brashard Smith?

[Wisconsin_Chief]

People who aren’t listing a FB and automatically assuming Steele will be gone just because we drafted Smith and signed Mitchell are going to be disappointed. That dude is a 4-phase special teamer, can return kicks, plays FB and HB, and they even lined him up out wide and at TE a few times. I think Reid really wants to develop him into a true h-back type like Kyle Juszczyk.

They also seem to be have deemed him the next great white hope that they always insist on having on the roster who becomes untouchable and somehow makes 1-2 game changing plays per year. That dude is going nowhere. They’ll keep him instead of doing 4 TEs like they usually do.

QB: Pat, Minchew
HB: Pacecho, Hunt, Mitchell, Smith
FB: Steele
WR: Rice, Worthy, Brown, Juju, Remigio, Royals
TE: Kelce, Gray, Tonyan (PUP Wiley)
OT: Simmons, Moore, Taylor, Morris
OG: Smith, Kingsley, Caliendo, Hanson
C: Creed, Nourzad

DE:George, Chuck, Danna, Gillotte, FAU
DT: CJ, Norman-Lott, Tillery, Pennel
LB: Bolton, Tranquill, Chenal, Bassa, Cam Jones
CB: Trent, Fulton, Watson, both Williams boys and Roland-Wallace
S: Hicks, Cook, Conner, Edwards
ST: Butker, Araiza, Winchester

Not going to be many surprises, IMO. This roster is stacked as hell.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by kozzman555

You really think Steele over Brashard Smith?

At this point, I am not sold on a 7th rounder that just changed positions, making the roster over a player that they had on the roster for most of the season.

[Rainbarrel]

I see that Minshew is a bench booger eater like Daniel. Legendary status is looking up

[Wisconsin_Chief]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

At this point, I am not sold on a 7th rounder that just changed positions, making the roster over a player that they had on the roster for most of the season.

Steele will be on the roster for sure, but I think Smith will be as well. I doubt he’ll get much PT as an actual halfback, but they’ll have some of those Hardman gadget plays in there for him early on.

[Palangi]

(25)

QB- Mahomes, Minshew
RB- Pacheco, Hunt, Mitchell, Smith
WR- Rice, Worthy, Brown, Royals, Remigio, Thornton
TE- Kelce, Gray, Watson, Riley(PUP)
LT- Moore, Pole, Simmons(PUP)
LG-Kingsley, Caliendo
C- Humphrey, Nourvad
RG- Smith, Morris
RT- Taylor, Driscoll

(25)
DE- Karlaftis, Danna, FAU
DT- Jones, Tilley, ONL
DT- Pennel, Lovett
DE- Omenihu, Gillotte, Thompson (PUP)
MLB- Bolton, George
WLB- Tranquill, Bassa
SLB- Chenal
CB- McDuffie, Williams, Roland-Wallace
CB- Watson, Fulton
S- Hicks, Connor
S- Cook, Edwards, Miller

(3)
LS- Winchester
K- Butker
P- Ariza

Practice Squad

QB- Zappe
RB- Ingram, Young
FB- Steele
WR- Badger, Ross, Delano
TE- Brinningstool
OL- Cooper, Hanson, Keim, Godrick(international bonus)
DL- Robinson, Ika, Izzard, Hester, Oben
LB- jones, Cochrane
CB- Covington, Smith, Knowles
S- Brooks, Carter