Every year, NFL teams open training camp with 90 players on the roster. By the time the regular season kicks off, all 32 teams are required to cut 37 of those players to get to the league maximum of 53 players on the active roster. Today, we take a look who might make up the defensive portion of the final 53 man roster.
Predicting the 53: Kansas City Chiefs Defense
Defensive Line
The Chiefs may potentially have the best 3-4 defensive line in all of football. Nose tackle Dontari Poe is in the final year of his contract and looks to have a strong season as he plays his way towards a new contract. Last year Poe started off slowly, but really progressed as the season went on as he recovered from a back injury. Expect Poe to anchor a young and talented defensive line.
Beside Poe, the starters at defensive end will be Jaye Howard and Allen Bailey. Howard had a breakthrough year in 2015, racking up 5.5 sacks while also becoming a force at stopping the run. Howard’s counterpart is Allen Bailey. Bailey is a sixth year pro who became a brick wall against running games last year and looks to continue to grow his game. Behind the three starters, the Chiefs will have some options.
Rotation
In the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Chiefs took former Mississippi State star Chris Jones. Jones has been stellar in the preseason and has shown flashes of greatness in training camp. He is a lock to make the roster and will serve as a solid rotational player to help give the starters rest. Towards the end of the season, Jones may even log some time as a starter. The Chiefs like to have solid depth along the defensive front to help give their starters rest. Look for Nick Williams and Rakeem Nunez-Roches to fill out the depth at this position
Make the roster: Allen Bailey, Dontari Poe, Jaye Howard, Chris Jones, Nick Williams and Rakeen Nunez-Roches
Cut: David King, Jimmy Staten, Niko Davis
Potential Practice Squad: Niko Davis
Linebacker
Questions are swirling around what was once considered the strength of the Chiefs defense. The Chiefs best pass rusher, Justin Houston, has been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and will not be able to play for the first six weeks of the season. During this time, he will not count against the Chiefs 53-man roster.
Veteran Tamba Hali signed a new contract this offseason to finish up his career in Kansas City and is a lock to make the roster and be the player that the team relies on to create some havoc in the opposing teams backfield.
The Chiefs will rely on third year player Dee Ford to start across from Hali and hope that he can make the big jump this year to be a complete outside linebacker. This might be the last year for Ford to make his mark, otherwise he may be looking for a new team after the 2016 season.
Rookie Dadi Nicolas has shown above average pass rushing skills in the preseason. He could be used in obvious passing situations for Bob Sutton’s crew. Behind these three players, expect veterans Frank Zombo and Dezman Moses to fill out the roster for depth and special teams purposes.
Inside Linebacker
At inside linebacker, Derrick Johnson is the unquestioned starter as well as the leader of the defense. But questions still remain on who will start next to DJ in the middle. Presumptive starter Josh Mauga was recently put on injured reserve with a labrum tear. It will cause him to miss the entire 2016 season. With this loss, the attention turns to second year pros Justin March and Ramik Wilson to compete for the starting position. Both players have started games next to Johnson this preseason. They are locks to make the roster.
D.J. Alexander has performed very well on special teams and provides good depth if needed in a pinch. Tyrell Adams has played cleanup in the preseason games, but due to the Mauga injury, he may find himself on the teams 53 man roster.
Make the roster: Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, Justin March, Ramik Wilson, D.J. Alexander, Dee Ford, Frank Zombo, Dezman Moses, Dadi Nicolas, Tyrell Adams
Physically Unable to Perform: Justin Houston
Cut: Terrance Smith
Potential Practice Squad: Terrance Smith
Cornerback
The secondary on the Chiefs will likely be one of the youngest positions on the roster, particularly on the corners. Reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Marcus Peters will start at one corner position. It’s the other side of the field that remains unanswered. Phillip Gaines and Steven Nelson have both seen time as the starting corner opposite of Peters and both will be key players in the secondary this year. Rookie D.J. White has played extended time with the first team defense and will be relied on to come off the bench in sub packages this year.
Nickles and Dimes and Depth
Beyond those four players, the Chiefs will have to make a few decisions. After the Chiefs third preseason game, head coach Andy Reid announced that the team had acquired Kenneth Acker from the San Francisco 49ers. While the team did not give up much for Acker, the fact that they traded for a player who would potentially be cut over the next couple of weeks, is somewhat telling. Expect Acker to make the team and see time with the special teams and potentially in sub packages.
Marcus Cooper has seen time with the starters and is the most seasoned corner on the roster. On top of that, Cooper has seen some time at the safety position. He could provide depth if needed in a pinch on the back end. Rookie KeiVarae Russell has shown promise in training camp and the preseason and has done well on special teams. The Chiefs may go with seven corners this year to keep their options open due to having such an abundance of youth at this position. Once (if?) Justin Houston returns mid-season, one of these players may be cut to make room for the returning outside linebacker.
Make the roster: Marcus Peters, Phillip Gaines, Steven Nelson, Marcus Cooper, KeiVarae Russell, D.J. White
Cut: Bryce Cheek, Deveron Carr, Shak Randolph, Malcolm Jackson
Potential Practice Squad: Deveron Carr
Safety
All pro Eric Berry is the teams franchise player and vocal leader on the defense. He is one of the most respected players on the roster and in the league and will once again be a key piece in Bob Sutton’s defense. Ron Parker will start next to Berry and continue to provide exceptional coverage skills on the back end of the defense. For depth, the Chiefs will be limited on the number of “true” safeties on their roster, in part to having such a young group at corner. Daniel Sorensen filled in nicely for the defense during Berry’s training camp holdout and will contribute to the defense in sub packages. Rookie Eric Murray saw extensive playing time during the preseason and will contribute on special teams this year. If there are multiple injuries during a game, the Chiefs can call on Marcus Cooper to play safety if needed.
Make the cut: Eric Berry, Ron Parker, Daniel Sorensen, Eric Murray
Cut: Jamell Fleming, Brock Vereen, Jeron Johnson
Specialists
There is zero debate here, as the Chiefs did not bring in any competition for these three positions. Cairo Santos, Dustin Colquitt and James Winchester will be the specialists for the 2016 season.
Make the roster: Cairo Santos, Dustin Colquitt, James Winchester
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