What are Chiefs’ biggest roster decisions? Tuesday’s NFL cuts deadline is approaching
The next juncture in the NFL careers for many arrives with Tuesday’s 3 p.m. deadline to finalize 53-man rosters, and the whole thing can feel unsettling said Chiefs quarterback Shane Buechele.
“It’s still kind of an eerie day,” Buechele said.
The NFL used to have multiple cut days. Now it’s one stroke. From the end of the final preseason game, which for the Chiefs was Saturday, until Tuesday, the roster trims from 90 to 53. Additionally, teams can carry 16 on a practice squad.
Players like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce don’t sweat cut day. Maybe Buechele doesn’t either. But the third-year pro who spent his first two seasons on the Chiefs’ practice squad/inactive list is battling Blaine Gabbert to be the team’s primary backup.
The Chiefs could keep all three, but it’s never a comfortable day for a player who hasn’t appeared in an NFL game.
“The day is always tough,” Buechele said two days before the Chiefs’ final preseason game on Saturday. “You never know what’s going to happen. You just hope and pray your play in the preseason did a good enough job to put a good impression on coach (Andy) Reid, (general manager Brett) Veach and all those guys back in the office.”
Buechele started the preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns, throwing a touchdown pass and two interceptions. A week earlier against the Arizona Cardinals, Buechele completed all 10 of his pass attempts.
What the Chiefs do at backup quarterback is one of the team’s roster mysteries. The number of wide receivers they keep is another. Should the Chiefs break precedent and carry as many as seven? Do they need that many at the position?
Reid tends to stock up on tight ends, so the Chiefs could keep four, even with the season-ending injury to Jody Forston. Matt Bushman could make his first 53-man roster.
Three or four running backs could come down a decision on La’Mical Perine, the Chiefs’ rushing leader in the preseason.
The starting offensive line is set and the top reserves likely are Nick Allegretti and rookie Wanya Morris with a group battling for two more spots.
Defense has bigger questions. If the Chris Jones holdout continues he’ll be placed on a did not report list and will not count against the roster. Also, end Charles Omenihu will miss the first six games while serving a suspension. Draft picks Felix Anudike-Uzomah, B.J. Thompson and Keondre Coburn should be part of the roster’s nine or 10 defensive linemen.
The math suggest five linebackers, five safeties, five cornerbacks and three specialists to get the Chiefs to 53.
One cornerback candidate, undrafted rookie Ekow Boye-Doe from Kansas State, said he planned to approach the decision day like he has every other since signing with the Chiefs.
“I just go every day, attack the day,” said Boye-Doe, who attended Lawrence High. “Whatever comes, comes.”
Of the 16-member practice squad, 10 may not have accrued more than two NFL seasons. The remaining six have no limitations.
If it were up to Mahomes, the Chiefs would find spots for everyone.
“I’m rooting for everybody,” Mahomes said. “It’s hard. ... You don’t want to promote for one guy to make it over another because this is people’s livelihoods, this is people’s lives.
“It definitely is a hard day for everybody in this league.”
This story was originally published August 28, 2023 at 12:30 PM with the headline "What are Chiefs’ biggest roster decisions? Tuesday’s NFL cuts deadline is approaching."