The Kansas City Chiefs open training camp on Friday at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri. Here is a starting lineup projection:
Offense
Quarterback (Alex Smith): Smith’s standing as the starter is solid, considering the Chiefs drafted a QB, Patrick Mahomes II, in the first round. But Mahomes' presence will be a steady reminder that, sooner or later, Smith’s job will be given to another.
Running back (Spencer Ware): Ware led the Chiefs in rushing last season, his first as the regular featured back. But he slumped over the second half of the season, and the Chiefs drafted Kareem Hunt in the third round to handle some of the workload.
Wide receiver (Chris Conley): Conley had a nice debut season as a starter last year with 44 catches. Now he must become more than a possession receiver. He had just three receptions of more than 20 yards and didn’t score a touchdown in 2016.
Wide receiver (Tyreek Hill): The Chiefs plan to increase his playing time in the hope he can produce more than he did as a rookie. He led the Chiefs with 12 touchdowns, six as a receiver.
Wide receiver (Albert Wilson): Wilson is no lock to make the roster. He could be released if he doesn’t play well at camp and the Chiefs’ many young receivers do. But if he does stick, he will be the main beneficiary from Jeremy Maclin’s release in terms of increased playing time.
Tight end (Travis Kelce): Kelce, with at least 100 receiving yards in five of the last seven games and over 1,100 overall in 2016, had his breakout season. Now the Chiefs must look his way more in the red zone. His four touchdown catches last season were a career low.
Left tackle (Eric Fisher): Fisher has come a long way since the two rocky seasons he had to start his NFL career. But he’s still not the player the Chiefs expected they would get when they drafted him with the first overall pick in 2013.
Left guard (Zach Fulton): This spot was Parker Ehinger’s last season before he tore his ACL. He’ll get it back at some point, the question being exactly when. The Chiefs aren’t confident he’ll be ready to participate when training camp begins, and Fulton is the most likely starter in his absence.
Center (Mitch Morse): Morse, the Chiefs’ second-round draft pick in 2015, has been everything the Chiefs hoped. He played more snaps the past two seasons than any other Kansas City offensive player.
Right guard (Laurent Duvernay-Tardif): The Chiefs showed a lot of faith in Duvernay-Tardif during the offseason by signing him to a lucrative contract extension a year before his original rookie deal was to expire. But Duvernay-Tardif, a Canadian who is relatively new to American football, has the ability to make the Chiefs look good.
Right tackle (Mitchell Schwartz): Schwartz is the only Chiefs starting lineman who wasn’t drafted by the team. He proved his value in 2016 by having a solid season.
Defense
Left end (Allen Bailey): Bailey missed the final 11 games plus one in the playoffs last year after having shoulder surgery. The Chiefs believe his absence is one reason their pass rush faltered.
Nose tackle (Bennie Logan): Logan is replacing Dontari Poe, the Chiefs’ longtime nose tackle. Poe rarely came out of the game in passing or running situations, and Logan can expect a similarly heavy workload.
Right end (Chris Jones): Jones had a big rookie season last year. He was second on the Chiefs in quarterback pressures, a difficult task for an inside pass-rusher.
Left outside linebacker (Justin Houston): The key for Houston is to play 16 games, something he has done once in the past four seasons. The last time he did, in 2014, he led the NFL with 22 sacks.
Left inside linebacker (Derrick Johnson): Johnson is returning for the second time in his career from a torn Achilles tendon. He missed most of offseason practice, but the Chiefs expect him back in their lineup at training camp.
Right inside linebacker (Ramik Wilson): Injuries to not only Johnson, but Justin March-Lillard, forced the Chiefs to play Wilson last year. He played well enough that the Chiefs didn’t sign a veteran inside linebacker in free agency.
Right outside linebacker (Dee Ford): Ford had an interesting season last year with 10 sacks in the first nine games and none after that, though he did get a half-sack in the playoffs. It will be interesting to see what he and Houston can produce if each plays a full season.
Left cornerback (Marcus Peters): Peters is the NFL’s top playmaking cornerback. In his two NFL seasons, he’s first in interceptions (14) and third in passes broken up (27).
Right cornerback (Steven Nelson): He played well enough last season, his first as a starter, that the Chiefs felt comfortable in their decision not to add a veteran corner. Nelson will move into slot coverage in obvious passing situations.
Strong safety (Eric Berry): He was always a solid player, but last year turned into a playmaker as well. His interception for two points against the Falcons last season is now a part of Chiefs lore.
Free safety (Ron Parker): Parker is an underrated player who handles many roles for the Chiefs. He’s a former cornerback, so the Chiefs are comfortable with him in one-on-one pass coverage.
Special teams
Kicker (Cairo Santos): His field goal percentage was a career-high 88.6 last year. He also made the rite of passage for a kicker by hitting two walk-off game winners.
Punter (Dustin Colquitt): He’s 35, but the veteran has shown no signs of a career decline. He’s in the final season of his contract, so this could be his last year with the Chiefs.
Long-snapper (James Winchester): He’ll be in his third season as the Chiefs’ snapper.