After coming up just short of the ultimate goal, the Kansas City Chiefs revamped their already scary NFL depth chart. With an emphasis on the offensive line, the Chiefs are a team primed to be Super Bowl favorites in 2021.
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Kansas City Chiefs Depth Chart
Let’s simply list the Chiefs’ depth chart as it currently stands on both offense and defense.
Offense
Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes, Chad Henne, Jordan Ta’amu-Perifanos, Anthony Gordon
Running Back: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Darrel Williams, Darwin Thompson, Elijah McGuire, Derrick Gore, Michael Burton
Wide Receiver: Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson, Byron Pringle, Antonio Callaway, Marcus Kemp, Gehrig Dieter, Tajae Sharpe, Jody Fortson, Chad Williams, Maurice Ffrench, Dalton Schoen
Tight End: Travis Kelce, Nick Keizer, Blake Bell, Sean Culkin, Evan Baylis
Offensive Tackle: Orlando Brown Jr., Mike Remmers, Martinas Rankin, Lucas Niang, Prince Tega Wanogho
Offensive Guard: Joe Thuney, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Kyle Long, Nick Allegretti, Andrew Wylie, Bryan Witzmann, Yasir Durant
Center: Austin Blythe, Darryl Williams
Defense
Interior Defensive Line: Chris Jones, Jarran Reed, Khalen Saunders, Derrick Nnadi, Tershawn Wharton
EDGE: Frank Clark, Taco Charlton, Tim Ward, Michael Danna, Austin Edwards, Demone Harris
Linebacker: Anthony Hitchens, Willie Gay Jr., Ben Niemann, Dorian O’Daniel, Omari Cobb, Darius Harris, Emmanuel Smith
Cornerback: L’Jarius Sneed, Charvarius Ward, Rashad Fenton, BoPete Keyes, Deandre Baker, Chris Lammons
Safety: Tyrann Mathieu, Juan Thornhill, Daniel Sorensen, Armani Watts, Rodney Clemons
Special Teams
Kicker: Harrison Butker
Punter: Tommy Townsend
Long Snapper: James Winchester
Chiefs Depth Chart Analysis | Offense
In this next section, we’ll break down the depth chart of the Chiefs’ offense, starting with the quarterbacks.
Quarterbacks
At this point, we are running out of superlatives to describe Patrick Mahomes. Creating highlight-reel plays every game, his ceiling is to go down as the greatest QB in NFL history.
Mahomes put together yet another outstanding campaign in 2020. He compiled 4,740 passing yards, 38 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions, in addition to 308 rushing yards and 2 scores on the ground. When on the field, Mahomes elevates the rest of the Chiefs’ depth chart to a level we have rarely seen before in the history of this game.
Chad Henne saw action when Mahomes rested at the end of the season. Furthermore, he saw pivotal work in the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs. Henne got within inches of the first down with a headfirst dive on a 3rd-and-14 scramble, then found Tyreek Hill to convert on fourth down and bring on victory formation.
Running Backs
The No. 32 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Clyde Edwards-Helaire was thought to have put the Chiefs over the edge — not that they needed any help.
Edwards-Helaire put together a solid rookie season, with 181 carries for 803 yards and 4 scores across 13 regular-season games, in addition to 36 catches (54 targets) and another touchdown. After a prosperous start to his career, Edwards-Helaire failed to break the 50-yard mark on the ground in all but two of his remaining seven contests. This drop in production coincided with the midseason addition of Le’Veon Bell.
With Bell gone and the release of Damien Williams, the Chiefs brought back Darrel Williams to back up Edwards-Helaire. Signed to a one-year contract worth up to $2.13 million to remain with the Chiefs, Williams rushed 39 times for 169 yards with 1 touchdown while catching 18 passes for an additional 116 yards.
Wide Receivers
Hill is arguably the most dangerous receiver in the NFL. He led the Chiefs’ vaunted passing attack with six 100-yard performances during the 2020 regular season, recording 87 catches for 1,276 yards and a career-high 15 touchdowns. This was Hill’s third 1,150-plus-yard season in his last four years.
Mecole Hardman is expected to take on a more significant role on the Chiefs’ depth chart after Sammy Watkins went to the Ravens in free agency. Still a somewhat raw player, Hardman could be dangerous if he is on the same page with Mahomes. In 16 regular-season games in 2020, Hardman caught 41 of 62 targets for 560 yards and 4 scores.
Kansas City re-signed Demarcus Robinson to a one-year contract to stay with the team. Robinson set a career-high in receiving yards last season with 466 on 45 receptions while adding 3 touchdowns.
Tight Ends
There is no larger gap from the No. 1 to the No. 2 ranked player at any position in the NFL than there is with Travis Kelce to his contemporaries. Yet, somehow Kelce still found a way to take his game to another level. He set career-highs across the board with 105 receptions, 1,416 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. Kelce has had over 1,000 yards in every season since 2016 and established a new NFL record for the position last season.
Nick Keizer logged 302 snaps on offense in 2020 but saw minimal action, catching 6 of his 9 targets for 63 yards throughout the season. So long as Kelce is on the roster, Keizer is nothing more than a blocking tight end.
Offensive Tackle
After watching Mahomes run for his life in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs’ only goal of the offseason was to upgrade the depth chart at the offensive line.
The Chiefs made a massive move as the 2021 NFL Draft approaches by trading for Orlando Brown. He indicated he wanted to play left tackle to fulfill his late father’s dream. Now, he gets his chance in Kansas City.
Brown, who turns 25 in May, has started 42 games for Baltimore since being a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. What will be interesting is how his game changes, going from a run-centric offense to a passing-forward attack. He is one of four offensive tackles selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons.
As of today, Mike Remmers would be the starting right tackle for the Chiefs. He didn’t allow a single sack during the regular season last year, with less than 20 pressures playing three positions in total. He’s not the only option, however. Andy Reid has mentioned Kyle Long and Lucas Niang as other options at tackle.
Offensive Guard
Joe Thuney was the most highly regarded lineman available in free agency, and the Chiefs spared no expense when they brought him in. With the visions of the Super Bowl debacle fresh in their minds, Kansas City happily wrote a check to Thuney to the tune of a five-year, $80 million contract. Thuney had started all 80 of the New England Patriots’ regular-season games since they selected him in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
There are times in life where playing a game goes on the back burner as there are bigger purposes in life. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif exhibited this last year when he became the first NFL player to opt-out of the 2020 season, choosing to continue working at a long-term healthcare facility near Montreal.
While we all get to see his work on our TV screens on Sundays, the tireless work of Duvernay-Tardif, along with all healthcare workers, will be forever in our debt. He is expected to return to the team this season to resume his NFL career.
Center
Continuing the trend of offensive line upgrades, Austin Blythe joined the Chiefs’ depth chart on a one-year contract. Blythe spent the last four seasons with the Rams, including three years as their starting center.
Chiefs Depth Chart Analysis | Defense
Next, we look at the Chiefs’ depth chart on the defensive side of the ball, beginning with the AFC champions’ interior defensive linemen.
Interior Defensive Line
Handling the middle of the Chiefs’ defense, Chris Jones appeared in 15 games (14 starts), recording 36 tackles (23 solo), 7.5 sacks, and a team-high 28 QB hits, including a safety. Taking on double-teams seemingly in every game, Jones is one of the league’s premier interior defensive linemen.
After his release from the Seattle Seahawks, Jarran Reed landed with the Chiefs, signing a one-year deal. Reed recorded 38 tackles (20 solo), 6.5 sacks, 1 pass deflection, and a forced fumble in 2020. The 28-year-old has 19 sacks over the past three seasons despite playing through several injuries, including an undisclosed issue for which he underwent surgery back in January.
Derrick Nnadi ended the season a tackle shy of tying his career-high from the year prior. The third-year pro recorded 47 tackles across 15 games.
EDGE
Frank Clark started the season off hot with 3 sacks in his first four games. He ended the season with 6 sacks to go along with 29 tackles, 15 QB hits, and 8 tackles for a loss. It was the worst season for Clark since his 2015 rookie season with the Seahawks.
After Clark, the Chiefs need some help on their depth chart at defensive end. With Dee Ford and Justin Houston off the roster, this is likely the weakest part of the roster.
One option could be Taco Charlton, who re-signed with the Chiefs on a one-year contract with the team in the offseason. Charlton played in a rotational role before suffering a season-ending leg injury in Week 8, recording 8 tackles and 2 sacks.
Michael Danna saw his rookie season shortened after spending time on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Still, he played well when on the field, recording 25 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 6 QB hits on 31% of the defensive snaps.
Linebacker
Although he missed the final two games due to NFL protocols, Anthony Hitchens was second on the Chiefs’ depth chart in tackles last season. Starting in all 14 games when available, Hitchens compiled 78 tackles (44 solo), with 4 QB hits and 1 pass defensed. The Chiefs need to improve their defense — particularly in the rushing game — after they finished 21st in the league in rushing yards allowed per game.
Kansas City selected Willie Gay Jr. last season, as his build and play style were a great fit for their scheme. Making eight starts in 16 appearances, Gay Jr. showed flashes of potential in 2020, recording 39 tackles (29 solo), 3 passes defensed, and a sack. Unfortunately, his season ended when he tore his meniscus in practice leading up to the Super Bowl. With a four-month timeline for recovery, Gay Jr. should be good to go for the start of the season.
Ben Niemann is likely the third starter for the Chiefs at linebacker. Niemann appeared in 15 games and played on a career-high 43% of the defensive snaps, where he recorded 44 tackles, a forced fumble, and a sack.
Cornerback
L’Jarius Sneed was a welcome addition to the Chiefs’ depth chart last season. Despite missing five weeks in the middle of the season due to a collarbone injury and sitting out Week 17, Sneed recorded 3 interceptions to go along with a pair of sacks and 41 tackles (31 solo) during the regular season. His performance came as a bit of a surprise as he transitioned from safety to play corner.
Charvarius Ward received a second-round tender from the Chiefs. That means he’ll be paid $3.3 million in non-guaranteed money for the 2021 NFL season. Ward has started 31 games over the past three seasons. During that span, he’s recorded 155 tackles, 2 interceptions, 19 passes defensed, a sack, and 3 QB hits.
Rashad Fenton played in a reserve role for the Chiefs in his second year, tallying 35 tackles, an interception, and 7 passes defensed in 16 games.
Safety
Tyrann Mathieu continues to be the top safety in the NFL. He has been spectacular since joining the Chiefs in 2019, compiling a combined 10 interceptions and 132 tackles (111 solo). Mathieu recorded 62 tackles (48 solo) and a career-high 6 interceptions (along with 9 passes defensed) in 2020.
Juan Thornhill looks as if he could be a star in the NFL as he heads into his third season. He started 16 games as a rookie, totaling 58 tackles and 3 interceptions, including a touchdown return. Unfortunately, Thornhill tore his ACL in the final game of the 2019 regular season. He started the first six games of 2020, but the lingering effects of his knee injury limited his snap count. He ended the season with 41 tackles, 3 passes defensed, and an interception.
Back to full strength in 2021, Thornhill and Mathieu could be the top duo in the NFL.
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Tommy Garrett is a writer for Pro Football Network covering the NFL and fantasy football. You can read more of his work here and follow him at @TommygarrettPFN on Twitter.
