Kansas City Chiefs Roster 2013: Latest Cuts, Depth Charts, Analysis

The Kansas City Chiefs have to get their roster down to 53 in the coming days after carrying 90 all summer. The team will be finalizing its depth chart and practice squad shortly after determining its final 53. 

While the depth chart might not change much for some teams, the Chiefs are in the first year of a new regime, and surprises should be expected. A few roster spots are up still up for grabs, and the team is likely to turn over the end of the roster and practice squad when compared to a year ago.

Here you will find the latest updates and changes the Chiefs have made to their roster and depth chart leading up to the Week 1 game. Check back often for the latest analysis. 

List of 53-Man Roster Cuts

The Chiefs announced the following roster moves to get down to 53 players. Addition moves could be made over the next few days as the team adds players that were released by other teams today.

The following players have been released by the Chiefs:

• Josh Bellamy, WR  
• Malcolm Bronson, S  
• Greg Castillo, S 
• Kennard Cox, CB
• Marcus Dixon, DL      
• Tommie Draheim, OL     
• Darin Drakeford, LB    
• Shaun Draughn, RB   
• Frankie Hammond Jr., WR 
• Demetrius Harris, TE     
• Tysyn Hartman, DB     
• Austin Lane, DE     
• Orie Lemon, LB      
• Semaj Moody, CB    
• Toben Opurum, FB    
• Matt Reynolds, T     
• Rico Richardson, WR   
• Rokevious Watkins, OL     
• Ridge Wilson, LB/DE  
• Steven Baker, T 
• Ricky Henry, G - Waived Injured
• Tony Moeaki, TE - Waived Injured

The following players were released Sunday:

• Zac Diles, ILB
• Kevin Brock, TE
• Jalil Brown, CB
• Devon Wylie, WR
• Jerrell Powe, DT
• Bradley McDougald, S (Re-signed Tuesday)

Moeaki was on the roster bubble before his injury. The Chiefs acquired two tight ends this offseason and bumped Moeaki down the depth chart. Now, he is gone. Harris was also cut, so the Chiefs are down to two tight ends. 

Tysyn Hartman was more of a special teams player, but the safety position was massively crowded. Rookie safety Bradley McDougald was released Sunday. 

Releasing Shaun Draughn comes as a mild surprise, but Cyrus Gray had a nice preseason and is the likely beneficiary of that roster spot. 

Jerrell Powe, Devon Wylier, Jalil Brown, Kevin Brock and Zac Diles were simply replaced by players the Chiefs liked better on the waiver wire. They all could get picked up by another teams that had a lower waiver priority than the Chiefs. 

Final Depth Chart

Here is how the depth chart looks after getting down to 53 players.

QB: Alex Smith, Chase Daniel, Tyler Bray

RB: Jamaal Charles, Knile Davis, Cyrus Gray

FB: Anthony Sherman

WR: Dwayne Bowe, Dexter McCluster, Junior Hemingway

WR: Donnie Avery, Chad Hall, A.J. Jenkins

TE: Anthony Fasano, Travis Kelce, Sean McGrath

LT: Branden Albert, Donald Stephenson 

LG: Jeff Allen 

C: Rodney Hudson, Eric Kush

RG: Jon Asamoah

RT: Eric Fisher, Geoff Schwartz

LDE: Tyson Jackson, Allen Bailey, Mike Catapano

NT: Dontari Poe, Jaye Howard

RDE: Mike DeVito, Anthony Toribio

LOLB: Justin Houston, Frank Zombo, Josh Martin

LILB: Akeem Jordan, Nico Johnson

RILB: Derrick Johnson, James-Michael Johnson

ROLB: Tamba Hali, Dezman Moses

LCB: Brandon Flowers, Ron Parker, Marcus Cooper

RCB: Sean Smith, Dunta Robinson

SS: Eric Berry, Quintin Demps, Bradley McDougald

FS: Kendrick Lewis, Husain Abdullah

P: Dustin Colquitt, Ryan Succop

K: Ryan Succop, Dustin Colquitt

LS: Thomas Gafford

KR/PR: Dexter McCluster

H: Dustin Colquitt

The Chiefs go with eight offensive lineman. The versatility of Geoff Schwartz certainly factored into that decision, but the Chiefs could still look for depth.

Josh Martin making the roster at lienbacker is a mild surprise and special teams play was probably a factor. The Chiefs are probably not done making moves, so don't be surprised if things continue to change over the next few days.

The Chiefs are going thin at cornerback, but probably feel like several of the safeties can play cornerback should the need arise. In fact, the Chiefs kept six safeties. 

Mike Catapano beat our Austen Lane for a backup job at defensive end. Carapano was a seventh-round draft pick.

Previewing & Analyzing the Practice Squad

The Chiefs announced the following eight-man practice squad:

• Malcom Bronson, S 
• Rokevious Watkins, OL 
• Darin Drakeford, LB
• Toben Opurum, FB
• Frankie Hammond Jr., WR 
• Demetrius Harris, TE    
• Matt Reynolds, OL
• Tommie Draheim, OL 
• Rishaw Johnson, OG

Chiefs had too many safeties to keep all of them. Malcom Bronson found his way to the practice squad, which is a sign they might like him as a guy to develop over time.

Watkins, Draheim or Reynolds could be elevated to the 53-man roster if the Chiefs have injury issues on the offensive line. Reynolds was pretty impressive this preseason.

Demetrius Harris is a good practice squad player because he merits further development. Harris' blocking likely wasn't good enough for him to stick on the 53-man roster, but he could get elevated if there is an injury.

Recently Cut Free Agents Signed or Rumored to Be Pursued

The Chiefs took advantage of being atop the NFL's waiver order by making seven waiver claims on Sunday. 

The team announced the following free agents were claimed by the Chiefs and placed on the 53-man roster:

• Jaye Howard, DT
• James-Michael Johnson, LB
• Chad Hall, WR
• Dezman Moses, LB
• Ron Parker, CB
• Sean McGrath, TE
• Marcus Cooper, CB

Jaye Howard was one of the more coveted players on the waiver wire and the Chiefs didn't waste any time bringing him in for defensive line depth. Howard replaced Jerrell Powe, who was waived on Sunday.

James-Michael Johnson is an athletic linebacker and should be a sizable upgrade over Zac Diles, who was waived on Sunday. Johnson should also be a good addition for his ability on special teams.

Dezman Moses was waived by the Green Bay Packers and general manager John Dorsey undoubtedly scouted him during his time in Green Bay. Moses is a good reserve pass-rusher and can play special teams.

Marcus Cooper and Ron Parker add depth at cornerback that the Chiefs desperately needed. One of Cooper and Parker will replace waived cornerback Jalil Brown and the other rookie safety Bradley McDougald.

Chad Hall replaces Devon Wylie at wide reciever. Both Hall and Wylie are small, slot-type receivers. It's not surprising the Chiefs decided on change at wide receiver even if this is a move strictly for the sake of change. 

Sean McGrath will be the third tight end for the Chiefs. McGrath spent last season with the Seattle Seahawks and got action in two games due to injuries. McGrath was scouted out of college by Dorsey's former colleague and current general manager of the Seahawks, John Schneider. 

Starters and Injury Notes

Training camp was a good time for players to earn their spot on the roster, but also an opportunity for some players to specifically earn a starting job. The Chiefs had a few players take advantage of their opportunity to earn larger roles in 2013.

Starters

QB: Alex Smith

RB: Jamaal Charles

FB: Anthony Sherman

WR: Dwayne Bowe

WR: Donnie Avery

TE: Anthony Fasano

LT: Branden Albert

LG: Jeff Allen

C: Rodney Hudson

RG: Jon Asamoah

RT: Eric Fisher

DE: Tyson Jackson

DE: Mike DeVito

NT: Dontari Poe

ROLB: Tamba Hali

LOLB: Justin Houston

RILB: Derrick Johnson

LILB: Akeem Jordan/Nico Johnson

RCB: Sean Smith

LCB: Brandon Flowers

FS: Kendrick Lewis

SS: Eric Berry

KR/PR: Dexter McCluster

K: Ryan Succop

P: Dustin Colquitt

LS: Thomas Gafford

H: Dustin Colquitt

Injury Notes

Jamaal Charles, Foot, Day-to-Day: Played in third preseason game and should be ready to go Week 1.

Tony Moeaki, Shoulder, Out Indefinitely: Moeaki may have been on the roster bubble before the injury.

Jon Asamoah, Calf, Day-to-Day: Geoff Schwartz would probably start if Asamoah isn't ready Week 1, but the injury appears to be minor.

Nico Johnson, Ankle, Day-to-Day: Will have a hard time earning the starting job if he's out of commission too long.

Sanders Commings, Collarbone, Out Indefinitely: He is still recovering from a broken collarbone.

List of First Round of Cuts

Teams have until Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET to cut their rosters from 90 to 75, but the Chiefs got a jump on the process by cutting 14 players on Sunday. The Chiefs cut Jamar Newsome to get down to 75 on Tuesday.

• Vince Agnew, DB
• Miguel Chavis, DE
• Terrance Copper, WR
• Ryan Durand, OL
• Hutch Eckerson, OL
• Otha Foster III, DB
• A.J. Hawkins, OL
• Rob Lohr, DE
• Kamaal McIlwain, CB
• Jordan Roberts, RB
• Tyler Shoemaker, WR
• Ricky Stanzi, QB
• Neiko Thorpe, DB
• Braden Wilson, FB
• Jamar Newsome, WR

Copper was a veteran receiver, but his release shouldn't come as a surprise. Thorpe was a favorite of some, but his early release means he's probably not even practice-squad material. Braden Wilson was a sixth-round draft pick, but fullbacks often have a hard time making rosters.

Depth Chart Post-75-Man Roster Cuts and Previewing 53-Man Roster Cuts

QB: Alex Smith, Chase Daniel, Tyler Bray

RB: Jamaal Charles, Knile Davis, Shaun Draughn, Cyrus Gray

FB: Anthony Sherman, Toben Opurum

WR: Dwayne Bowe, Dexter McCluster, Junior Hemingway, Rico Richardson

WR: Donnie Avery, Devon Wylie, A.J. Jenkins, Josh Bellamy, Frankie Hammond

TE: Anthony Fasano, Travis Kelce, Tony Moeaki, Kevin Brock, Demetrius Harris

LT: Branden Albert, Donald Stephenson 

LG: Jeff Allen, Matt Reynolds 

C: Rodney Hudson, Eric Kush 

RG: Jon Asamoah, Rokevious Watkins, Tommie Draheim, Ricky Henry

RT: Eric Fisher, Geoff Schwartz, Steven Baker

LDE: Tyson Jackson, Allen Bailey, Austen Lane, Mike Catapano

NT: Dontari Poe, Jerrell Powe,

RDE: Mike DeVito, Anthony Toribio, Marcus Dixon

LOLB: Justin Houston, Frank Zombo, Josh Martin

LILB: Akeem Jordan, Nico Johnson, Orie Lemon

RILB: Derrick Johnson, Zac Diles, Darin Drakeford

ROLB: Tamba Hali, Edgar Jones, Ridge Wilson

LCB: Brandon Flowers, Jalil Brown, Greg Castillo, Semaj Moody

RCB: Sean Smith, Dunta Robinson

SS: Eric Berry, Quintin Demps, Bradley McDougald, Kennard Cox

FS: Kendrick Lewis, Husain Abdullah, Tysyn Hartman, Malcolm Bronson, Sanders Commings

P: Dustin Colquitt, Ryan Succop

K: Ryan Succop, Dustin Colquitt

LS: Thomas Gafford

KR/PR: Dexter McCluster, Devon Wylie

H: Dustin Colquitt

The Chiefs are still trying to figure out what pieces fit their new offensive and defensive schemes, so there will be plenty of changes to come on the depth chart. The Chiefs are a little thin at cornerback and on the offensive line.

Projected Cuts

• Cyrus Gray
• Toben Opurum
• Rico Richardson
• Josh Bellamy
• Frankie Hammond
• Kevin Brock
• Rokevious Watkins
• Tommie Draheim
  
• Ricky Henry
• Steven Baker
• Mike Catapano
• Josh Martin
• Orie Lemon
  
• Darin Drakeford
  
• Ridge Wilson
  
• Greg Castillo
• Semaj Moody
  
• Kennard Cox
• Bradley McDougald
• Malcolm Bronson

The team will likely place Tony Moeaki on injured reserve if they can't reach an injury settlement. Sanders Commings status remains in the air and he could find himself on injured reserve with the eligible to return designation. 

Some really tough decisions to make at safety so practice squad eligibility and special teams play will be the deciding factors. Hartman barely edges out McDougald with the hope that the Chiefs can slip him to the practice squad.