Adam Teicher, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

One final projection of Chiefs' 53-player roster

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- With the preseason complete, here is one final attempt at projecting the Kansas City Chiefs' 53-player roster. The Chiefs must cut their roster from 76 players to 53 by Saturday afternoon.

QUARTERBACK (3): Alex Smith, Nick Foles, Tyler Bray

It seems the biggest issue now is whether the Chiefs will keep two or three quarterbacks instead of who that third quarterback might be. I don't sense the Chiefs are ready to give up on Bray.

RUNNING BACK (4):Jamaal Charles, Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West, Knile Davis

I'm gambling that the Chiefs will keep a fourth back. It could certainly be three. I'm gambling that fourth back is Davis. It could be Darrin Reaves.

FULLBACK (1): Anthony Sherman

The Chiefs don't need to cut anyone to get to one fullback.

WIDE RECEIVER (6): Jeremy Maclin, Chris Conley, Albert Wilson, Rod Streater, Tyreek Hill, Demarcus Robinson

There's been speculation the Chiefs will unload Wilson, but that's unlikely. They would have showcased him Thursday if they were hoping to trade him. De'Anthony Thomas and Frankie Hammond Jr. finished the preseason well, but I don't see roster room for them.

TIGHT END (3):Travis Kelce, Demetrius Harris, Ross Travis

The Chiefs have depth here and could keep Brian Parker, but it's going to be difficult to keep four tight ends when they're keeping four running backs.

OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Eric Fisher, Parker Ehinger, Mitch Morse, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Mitch Schwartz, Zach Fulton, Jah Reid, Jordan Devey

The final three are the backups and they've all started NFL games before.

DEFENSIVE LINE (5): Allen Bailey, Dontari Poe, Jaye Howard, Chris Jones, Nick Williams

The Chiefs have players here, notably Rakeem Nunez-Roches and David King, who they might like to keep. But they won't be able to.

LINEBACKER (9): Tamba Hali, Frank Zombo, Dee Ford, Andy Mulumba, Dadi Nicolas, Derrick Johnson, Justin March, Ramik Wilson, D.J. Alexander

The season-ending injury to Josh Mauga opened a spot for an inside linebacker. I'm giving it to Alexander.

CORNERBACK (6): Marcus Peters, Phillip Gaines, Steven Nelson, D.J. White, KeiVarae Russell, Kenneth Acker

There won't be room for Marcus Cooper, a former starter.

SAFETY (5): Eric Berry, Ron Parker, Daniel Sorensen, Eric Murray, Jerod Johnson

A former starter at cornerback, Jamell Fleming, could get squeezed out.

SPECIALISTS (3): Cairo Santos, Dustin Colquitt, James Winchester

They are the only kicker, punter and deep snapper the Chiefs have.

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