KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The cornerback position remains one of the few possible starting spots in flux for the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Trent McDuffie has secured a spot, but Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson and Nazeeh Johnson are in the running to fill the void left by the trade of L’Jarius Sneed.
There has been a lot of talk about who will get the job, but Johnson said after Saturday’s preseason game against Detroit that it doesn’t really matter.
“At the end of the day, we’re all brothers,” he said. “I don’t think we’re competing with each other. I think we’re competing with ourselves. Being consistent day in and day out, that’s what they’re looking for. So we’re just competing with ourselves and whoever wins the spot wins the spot. We all cheer each other on because when we win, we all win.”
With that in mind, here are five things to watch for as the Chiefs wrap up their preseason game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium:
1. CB depth
The four cornerbacks mentioned above – McDuffie, Williams, Watson and Johnson – are sure to make the roster, and Chamarri Conner will get plenty of time in the hybrid nickelback/safety corner position.
But who else fills out the back parts of the list?
Former Kansas State player Ekow Boye-Doe and veteran Kelvin Joseph are also in the mix, and will likely differentiate themselves with their value on special teams.
The Chiefs also invested a draft pick each in Nic Jones last season and Kamal Hadden this season, while veteran Keith Taylor had a productive preseason.
Any or all of them could be in the running for a spot on the 53-man roster or practice squad, assuming they come off the waivers list.
Each of the five players mentioned on the sidelines of the squad discussion also has one last chance to impress under floodlights.
Due to Hollywood Brown’s injury, I believe the Chiefs will likely start the season with seven wide receivers.
2. Fill the WR space
Brown must be included on the initial 53-man roster and will not go to the injured list, but may not be available for the Sept. 5 home game against Baltimore or the Sept. 15 Week 2 game against Cincinnati.
This means that flexibility in scheduling will be required.
Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy are surefire starters, as is Justin Watson, who is also a sure bet due to his value on the special teams.
Personally, I think Mecole Hardman Jr. has shown enough in his career and preseason to deserve a spot on the roster, and Dave Toub seems to like Nikko Remigio, who rebounded from a mixed preseason performance in Jacksonville to flash his skills against the Lions.
If the Chiefs keep seven receivers to start the season, it could be a battle between Skyy Moore, Justyn Ross and Kadarius Toney for the last spot.
Fans would probably lean towards Ross in this case, but Andy Reid and Brett Veach will have the final say.
3. Additional RB or TE?
Suppose Kansas City is forced to keep seven receivers because of Brown’s injury. Would that rob them of a running back, a tight end or an offensive lineman?
It’s possible the Chiefs could place seventh-round pick CJ Hanson on waivers, but that will happen regardless of the number of players needed to handle the depth at the receiver position.
The numbers show that Kansas City can’t keep four running backs And four tight ends if they initially start with seven receivers, meaning Irv Smith Jr. or Deneric Prince may end up being released in the hopes of returning to the practice squad in September.
4. Help with the waiver wire?
DE Charles Omenihu will likely miss the first half of the season due to his recovery from a torn ACL, so the Chiefs are thin on defense.
With other teams making cuts ahead of the 3 p.m. deadline on Tuesday, August 27, could there be help from the waiver list?
Perhaps, given that the Chiefs are at the bottom of the waiver list, Veach is considering another trade during training camp – like when Kansas City signed Neil Farrell Jr. last season?
If there is a position where reinforcements need to be added, the defensive line seems to be the best choice.
5. Secret specialists
When it comes to specialists, fans focus on kickers, punters and long snappers – and that’s understandable since that’s how they’re ranked.
But the Chiefs are treating specialists a little differently after Reid gave Toub preference for some back-of-the-roster spots.
Players like Justin Watson, who starts as a gunner, and Remigio, for whom Toub wants to “bang on the table” in squad talks, tend to be on the right side of the cut line.
But who else are the secret specialists that Toub could secure a spot on the roster – DE Truman Jones, LB Cam Jones, S Deon Bush? At least two, maybe all three of these players are sure to be on the initial 53-man roster.
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