Football has finally arrived, Chiefs fans! Well, sort of. After an elongated offseason, Kansas City takes on the Los Angeles Rams in the Chiefs' first of three preseason games this Saturday afternoon. The prospect of watching Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, and the rest of the starters was quickly denied by head coach Andy Reid.
He made it clear that the starters would not play in what is a meaningless game in terms of the 2026-27 NFL season standings. However, the case is not the same for most of the Chiefs roster. For much of the current 90-man squad, the preseason is where jobs are won and lost.
For some, these next three games are as big as the Super Bowl. General manager Brett Veach has had himself another solid draft, as first-round picks Mansoor Delane and Peter Woods have flashed constantly in training camp; second-rounder R Mason Thomas has continuously used his burst and athleticism to crash the pocket, and fifth-round wide receiver Cyrus Allen has just about everybody at One Arrowhead Drive buzzing about what he could provide to Mahomes and this offense.
These four Chiefs could ascend up the depth chart with a solid first preseason game versus the Rams Saturday afternoon
Brashard Smith
Smith enters his second pro campaign and has, seemingly in a matter of months, been supplanted on the depth chart by Kenneth Walker III, Emari Demercado, and Emmett Johnson. His rookie season featured highs and lows, but the explosiveness Smith showed both on offense and in the return game with the ball in his hands was notable.
Reid mentioned in an earlier press conference that Smith looked stronger and has improved in the pass protection part of his game. Special teams coordinator Dave Toub also praised Smith's ability in the return game, citing him as an integral part of what his unit does. A good showing versus the Rams might very well seal Smith's spot on the final 53-man roster.
Kahlil Benson
Unless you're living under a rock, the name Kahlil Benson should sound quite familiar. The undrafted tackle out of Indiana was scooped up by Veach and the Chiefs and has been a revelation in camp. Many are of the firm belief that Benson has already taken the right tackle job from veteran Jaylon Moore.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Chiefs know what they have in Moore, but not in Benson. Giving the 6'6", 320 lb Benson lots of reps in practice and preseason games will only strengthen their stance one way or another. If Benson shows out, he may very well be an incredible hit by Veach. If he gets pushed around all game, then it may have been more of a fluke than real.
Jeffrey Bassa
Like Smith, Bassa enters year two as a fellow day-three draft pick, looking to expand his role. The linebacker out of Oregon saw little action last year for Steve Spagnuolo's defense, but by all accounts has taken a jump in training camp.
Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill don't project to play, and if they do, it'll be very sparingly, providing Bassa with all the reps he needs to show just how much better he's become. Bassa is certainly the Chiefs' most athletic and quick-twitched linebacker. His being a consistent tackler is a must, but if he can show prowess in pass coverage as well, that would do wonders for his ascension.
Tyreke Smith
Tyreke Smith may be the only name Chiefs fans have heard very sparsely from. A fifth-round pick in the 2022 draft, Smith has bounced around to Seattle and Arizona before landing with the Chiefs in August of last year. He has yet to play a regular-season snap for the Chiefs, but has quietly risen up the defensive end depth chart in training camp.
The recent addition of former Chief Emmanuel Ogbah may slow Smith down a little, but the best thing he could do is play a lot and play well versus the Rams later today. At 6'3", 255 lbs, with above-average agility and burst, Smith has stacked multiple solid days in camp. He is one of those guys fighting for one of the last three or four spots on the roster when it's all said and done.
Add us as a preferred source on Google