On this sequence, we’re 60 gamers who’ve an opportunity to make the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ 53-man roster for 2023 — whether or not they’re locks or on the bubble.
We’re organizing them into eight classes: roster cornerstones, high quality starters, satisfactory starters, replacement-level gamers, high quality depth gamers, non-roster gamers, rookies and people whose evaluations are but incomplete.
The primary article of this sequence centered on the roster cornerstones. So now, let’s take into account the workforce’s high quality starters.
What’s a top quality starter?
We’re defining high quality starter as a participant who can be more likely to begin on any NFL roster. Whereas they may not beat out a cornerstone participant, most groups can be completely satisfied to have them. They’re gamers who can be tough to improve with out making a big free-agent funding, a big commerce or hitting a house run within the NFL Draft. They may very well be (or have already been) chosen for a Professional Bowl.
Who’re the Chiefs’ high quality starters?
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Cornerback Trent McDuffie: When he was on the sphere throughout his rookie season, McDuffie was a wonderful cowl nook. Whereas there’s little question that his early-season damage hampered his growth, his protection abilities are promising; his youth brings loads of upside to the protection. However to be thought of an elite participant, he might want to enhance his ball manufacturing.
Proper guard Trey Smith: After coming into the league in 2021, Smith has shortly develop into considered one of its greatest guards. There are few metrics out there to judge gamers at this place, so it may be exhausting to distinguish those that are elite. However Smith’s nasty streak routinely generates highlight-level performs — and he’s essentially sound. His inconsistency in go safety and penalties (13 since 2021) are the one issues preserving him from being a cornerstone.
Security Justin Reid: After a horrible 2021 season with the Houston Texans, Reid had a pleasant bounce-back yr in Kansas Metropolis. His function grew all through 2022 — and down the stretch, his play towards tight ends and receiving operating backs performed a big function within the protection’s success. Like McDuffie, Reid wants to seek out the ball extra typically.
Defensive lineman Charles Omenihu: Throughout two-and-a-half years with the Texans, Omenihu was largely a disappointment. However whereas with the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, he was a top quality starter. It’s attainable to argue that he’s not but proven sufficient to be rated this extremely. Nonetheless, I make this projection as a result of I’m bullish concerning the function he would play in Kansas Metropolis’s line of defense beneath place coach Joe Cullen. He may very well be the perfect participant defensive sort out Chris Jones has ever had enjoying beside him — which ought to terrify opposing offenses.
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Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed: Over three seasons with the Chiefs, Sneed has carved out a pleasant function as a “do all of it” nook. He brings a sure physicality to the place that’s uncommon amongst NFL corners. A defensive weapon in each sense of the phrase, he’s been an essential asset within the workforce’s younger secondary. He typically exhibits some weak spot in protection — which saved him from being named a cornerstone — however I did take into account him for that group.
Linebacker Nick Bolton: On the sphere for 98% of the workforce’s 2022 defensive snaps, Bolton is the unit’s appointed chief. He supplies the protection its eyes and ears — and is a constantly glorious participant. Solely his protection abilities maintain him from being thought of one of many league’s greatest linebackers. In any other case, he’s a ball magnet — and appears to have been born with a clutch gene.
Deal with Jawaan Taylor: Just like Omenihu, there may be some projection going down for the Chiefs’ new sort out. I’m assuming he’ll start 2023 at proper sort out — the place he might be enjoying on the perfect line of his profession and getting one other yr of high quality teaching in a system with which he’s acquainted. Taylor has an opportunity to essentially flourish in Kansas Metropolis.
Placekicker Harrison Butker: The seventh-year participant has quietly develop into the workforce’s longest-tenured kicker since Nick Lowery for one purpose: he has ice in his veins. He has made some insanely clutch kicks in Kansas Metropolis. Whereas a Week 1 damage led to his worst season in 2022, Butker has earned the belief of his teaching workers — and the followers.
Punter Tommy Townsend: Named an All-Professional in 2022, Townsend is solely one of many league’s premier punters. If he wasn’t a punter (who performs on a workforce with quarterback Patrick Mahomes), he is likely to be a roster cornerstone. He’ll simply should accept being among the many greatest at his place.
The underside line
Coupled with 5 roster cornerstones, these 9 high quality starters give the Chiefs a championship-level roster; towards most groups, 14 gamers who’re elite to good give Kansas Metropolis a transparent benefit.
It’s value noting that 5 of those 14 are both inside offensive linemen or specialists. However there are a number of gamers who’re knocking on the door. With good seasons in 2023, operating again Isiah Pacheco, sort out Donovan Smith, broad receiver Kadarius Toney and defensive finish George Karlaftis may all discover themselves advancing to the following tier.
