Meet the Chiefs’ 53-man roster following final cuts

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

1. Patrick Mahomes
2. Chad Henne

Waived: Shane Buechele.

No big surprises here. Mahomes and Henne we’re always going to be the two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Buechele has a chance to return on the practice squad should he clear waivers.

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

1. Clyde Edwards-Helaire
2. Darrel Williams
3. Jerick McKinnon
4. (FB) Michael Burton

Waived: Darwin Thompson & Derrick Gore.

Andy Reid sure loves having a fullback on the roster. Thompson’s time with the Chiefs has likely come to an end. Expect Gore back on the practice squad.

AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn

1. Travis Kelce
2. Blake Bell
3. Noah Gray
4. Jody Fortson

The Chiefs keep all four tight ends who were on the 90-man offseason roster. Andy Reid hinted that the team might overload themselves at certain positions if the players were good enough. Fortson did enough on offense and special teams to prove that he belonged in Kansas City.

“He busts his tail,” Chiefs HC Andy Reid said on Tuesday. “He’s earned the right to make that cut. It’s been his attitude all the way through, just positive attitude and fighting for a spot. That’s been the one common denominator that got him to this point — a matter of becoming more consistent, growing in the size part of it. Remember, he was a college quarterback, then a receiver, then a tight end. So, he’s gone through a gambit of positions there.”

Don’t be shocked if Fortson was the second-best tight end on the team by the end of the season.

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

1. Tyreek Hill
2. Mecole Hardman
3. Demarcus Robinson
4. Byron Pringle
5. Daurice Fountain

Waived: Cornell Powell, Maurice Ffrench, Darrius Shepherd & Dalton Schoen.

Released: Marcus Kemp & Gehrig Dieter.

To some, rookie WR Cornell Powell being waived will come as a huge surprise. If you’ve been following Chiefs Wire, you’ll have known that he’s been in danger of the roster bubble since training camp. The preseason didn’t help his case either.

Marcus Kemp’s release may come as a big surprise, but he should be back on the 53-man roster after moves to injured reserve for some offensive linemen. As a vested veteran, he’s not subject to waivers.

Chiefs fans will be happy to learn that Daurice Fountain made the 53-man roster. He was a former rookie minicamp tryout. He worked his way up to repetitions with the first- and second-team during training camp and the preseason. It’s a well-deserved opportunity for him.

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

1. LT Orlando Brown Jr.
2. LG Joe Thuney
3. C Creed Humphrey
4. RG Trey Smith
5. RT Lucas Niang
6. OL Mike Remmers
7. OL Nick Allegretti
8. OL Andrew Wylie
9. OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
10. OL Austin Blythe

Waived: Prince Tega Wanogho, Wyatt Miller & Darryl Williams.

Traded: Yasir Durant

PUP: Kyle Long.

The Chiefs navigated their logjam on the offensive line about as well as anyone could have hoped. Two players, Blythe and Duvernay-Tardif, could be heading to short-term injured reserve. That could pave the way for the team to re-sign some released players like Marcus Kemp.

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

1. Derrick Nnadi
2. Jarran Reed
3. Tershawn Wharton
4. Khalen Saunders

Waived: Tyler Clark.

There are few surprises here. The Chiefs typically carry four defensive tackles. With Chris Jones making the switch to defensive end this season, it made sense to continue carrying four defensive tackles on the roster.

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

1. Chris Jones
2. Frank Clark
3. Alex Okafor
4. Mike Danna
5. Joshua Kaindoh

Waived: Tim Ward, Demone Harris & Austin Edwards.

Non-football injury list: Malik Herring.

The Chiefs are going with just five defensive ends initially, likely because of the versatility of a player like Tershawn Wharton. Ward not making the squad is disappointing and a bit of a surprise.

AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn

1. Anthony Hitchens
2. Willie Gay Jr.
3. Nick Bolton
4. Ben Niemann
5. Dorian O’Daniel
6. Darius Harris

Waived: Omari Cobb, & Emmanuel Smith.

With Willie Gay Jr. dealing with an injury, the Chiefs opted to keep six linebackers on the 53-man roster. O’Daniel is likely for his special teams prowess, but Harris could play in place of Gay if he misses time.

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

1. Charvarius Ward
2. L’Jarius Sneed
3. Rashad Fenton
4. Mike Hughes
5. DeAndre Baker
6. Chris Lammons

Waived: BoPete Keyes, Dicaprio Bootle & Zayne Anderson.

The Chiefs are rolling with Chris Lammons over BoPete Keyes is a bold move. It seems like a very Dave Toub decision as Lammons played the most special teams snaps of any Chiefs player during the preseason.

AP Photo/Tony Avelar

1. Tyrann Mathieu
2. Daniel Sorensen
3. Juan Thornhill
4. Armani Watts

Waived: Devon Key, Marlon Character & Rodney Clemons.

After Key was waived, the Chiefs’ plans at safety were clear. With two interceptions in the preseason, Watts proved himself worthy of a roster spot.

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

1. K Harrison Butker
2. P Tommy Townsend
3. LS James Winchester

No surprises here because there was no competition at any of these positions.