Kansas City Chiefs: Predicting the 53-Man Roster

(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Todd Haley has said all along that players will have to "earn the Arrowhead stickers" on the sides of their helmets, and they will get them when they make the team. Up until this point, nobody has an Arrowhead on their helmet.

Does that mean that nobody is guaranteed a spot on the team? Well, that's what Haley wants everyone to think.

As of today, all teams were required to trim five players from their squads. Being released from the Chiefs includes former starters Alphonso Boone and Amani Toomer, which is surprising, but also a class act by Haley and Pioli. If they believed they weren't going to make the team anyway, cutting them today will give them a better chance to make another team.

Quarterback: 3

1. Matt Cassel

2. Brodie Croyle

3. Matt Guiterrez

Quick Hit - Thigpen may be the better playmaker than both Croyle and Guiterrez, but he doesn't fit the system. He looks awful in practice, and only looks good in games when he's running. With Chan Gailey out as Offensive Coordinator, Thigpen's chances of making this team dwindles, as the offense that let him thrive is now gone.

Running Back: 4

4. Larry Johnson

5. Jackie Battle

6. Jamaal Charles

7. Mike Cox

Quick Hit - Kolby Smith was placed on injured reserve today, and Javarris Williams will more than likely be released along with Dantrell Savage, as neither can help that much on special teams. Jackie Battle lost weight this year and has impressed Haley enough to earn a spot on the depth chart behind LJ.

Wide Receiver: 6

8.  Dwayne Bowe

9.  Mark Bradley

10. Bobby Engram

11. Quinten Lawrence

12. Ashley Lelie

13. Terrance Copper

Quick Hit - This is probably the hardest position to predict. Devard Darling would have been on this list as a starter opposite Bowe most likely, but with his injury, he was placed in Injured Reserve for the year with his torn ACL.

Terrence Copper is starting Thursday night along side Mark Bradley, and that is the only reason I have him making the team. Most likely the starters will be Bowe and Bradley. Copper, in my opinion, has had too many drops in preseason to make this squad. But, for some reason, Haley seems to like him.

Ashley Lelie probably only makes the roster as a replacement for Darling, both of whom are considered speed guys. Lelie, in his limited playing time during the third preseason game looked good, and most importantly, didn't drop a pass. He was in sync with the offense and deserves a spot.

If Haley and Pioli happens to find a return man who is cut from another team, look for the Chiefs to cut a player from this group. In order of likely hood: Copper, Lelie, and Lawrence

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