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Kansas City Chiefs: De’Anthony Thomas not a lock to make roster

By Leigh Oleszczak

GLENDALE, AZ - AUGUST 15: Wide receiver De'Anthony Thomas #13 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs with the football during the pre-season NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on August 15, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. The Chiefs defeated the Cardinals 34-19. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - AUGUST 15: Wide receiver De'Anthony Thomas #13 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs with the football during the pre-season NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on August 15, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. The Chiefs defeated the Cardinals 34-19. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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The Kansas City Chiefs re-signed De’Anthony Thomas on Tuesday. Even though he’s a familiar face, that’s no guarantee for Thomas to beat out some of the other talented receivers on the roster.

The Kansas City Chiefs are nearly five years removed from going an entire season without having a wide receiver catch a touchdown pass. That notion seems crazy now, as the Chiefs have a plethora of talent at the position.

Even with all of that talent, the Chiefs opted to bring back former fourth round pick De’Anthony Thomas. The Chiefs drafted the Oregon product in 2014 and he didn’t live up to the hype of what the team was hoping he’d become. Between injuries and just a lack of production, something was missing there.

It wasn’t until Tyreek Hill joined the Chiefs in 2016 that fans truly saw what the team was HOPING Thomas would become. That’s a legitimate wide receiver, a threat on special teams, and an occasional running play here and there. Hill proved to be that kind of player for the Chiefs while Thomas faded into the background more and more as the weeks passed.

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It appeared as though Kansas City would finally move on from Thomas this past offseason when he was arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession. A suspension will likely loom large for Thomas, so if he were to make the 53-man roster, there’s a good chance he’ll miss a game or two (or even more). Is that something the Chiefs want to deal with?

Thomas was more than likely brought back to Kansas City due to the injury to Marcus Kemp, who probably had a good shot at making the roster had he not gotten injured. Thomas was turned into more of a special teams guy during his tenure with the Chiefs anyway, so it’d make sense for him to be Kemp’s replacement, as that was what Kemp’s role was likely going to be.

Now, even though he’d be used predominantly on special teams, Thomas will look to edge out the likes of Gehrig Dieter, Byron Pringle, and rookie Cody Thompson. All of those guys had the best shot at rounding out the receiver depth chart behind Hill, Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson (who also isn’t a lock), and rookie Mecole Hardman.

While De’Anthony Thomas has shown he can be a fun player to watch, this signing might end up being nothing more than just having another body in camp over the summer. Hopefully he doesn’t prevent someone like Byron Pringle or Cody Thompson from making the final roster because we know what Thomas can do and it hasn’t been enough to merit giving him this many opportunities.

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What do you think, Chiefs fans? Do you think De’Anthony Thomas will make the 53-man roster?

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