Kansas City Chiefs: 53-man roster predictions following first preseason game

Wide Receiver

Keep: Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Chris Conley, Demarcus Robinson, Jehu Chesson, Gehrig Dieter.

Cut: Marcus Kemp, Jordan Smallwood, DeAnthony Thomas, Byron Pringle, Daniel Braverman.

The wide receiver position is another position that is deep with talent. The starting four is a likely lock going into the season with Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Chris Conley, and Demarcus Robinson. While Conley could be cut for financial reasons, he’s entering a contract season while coming off an injury. He is a big target that will finally get an opportunity to prove himself with a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes.

Robinson will split snaps with Conley in the offense as the two receivers are two different types of players. Conley is the bigger and physical receiver while Robinson is the quick and shifty player. Regardless, I don’t see Kansas City moving on from either. Robinson will have to take a step forward in 2018 after a small performance last year.

Jehu Chesson enters his second season with the team taking on the route that Robinson pursued when he was drafted. Spending the first season with special teams, now is the time for Chesson to prove he can make some plays for the offense. He’s not a sure lock to make the roster by any means, especially considering he’s not a Veach drafted player, but I have a feeling he makes the roster.

Gehrig Dieter is a name that is very interesting to me. Already having a strong relationship with Mahomes, Dieter has found himself getting significant opportunities with the Chiefs this preseason. He ran with the starters in special teams which was a good sign and played ahead of Chesson in the offense against the Texans.

When it comes to DeAnthony Thomas, I feel that we have seen all that we will from him. Failing to become the return specialist in kick returns left by Tyreek Hill, Thomas feels like a likely cut to make room for younger developmental projects. Byron Pringle is a guy that might make the practice squad as he has special teams abilities and has made some splashes in training camp.

Marcus Kemp was a fan favorite a year ago getting time with Mahomes but has been generally quiet during offseason workouts and training camp. I fail to see him making the roster over Chesson or Dieter at this point.

While Blake Mack has been told making a move from tight end to wide receiver, I think that he will likely remain more of a tight end if he makes the final cut. The wide receiver position is too deep, and the tight end group is insufficient. Reid likes to line his tight ends up in the slot which could mean a spot opens up for Mack, but he is likely a practice squad player that the Chiefs might want to hide this season.