The Kansas City Chiefs are obviously hard at work trying to ensure that the 2025-26 Super Bowl doesn't go like last year's did, and the only goal is hoisting a Lombardi Trophy when it's all said and done.
This is an organization with more expectations than perhaps any other in sports. Anything less than a championship is a failure. This is a front office that knows what it wants to accomplish; now it's merely a matter of attaining those goals.
There is always a significant amount of roster turnover, and now we'll look at five players who are likely to be cut when it's all said and done.
1. Carson Steele, RB
Running back Carson Steele, who won over the fan base with an exceptional effort in the summer of 2024, is the most obvious cut candidate on the roster.
He struggled with fumbles and wasn't overly impressive, leading to the front office pursuing Kareem Hunt in a redemption tour. They certainly left no stone unturned, and Steele's effort should be praised. Special teams coordinator Dave Toub loves Steele, and it's easy to imagine him making the team as a fullback, but you'd be remiss to think it's guaranteed.
Steele's best chance to make the final 53-man group is as a fullback. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, but Steele's status could ultimately determine the fate of some of the more intriguing players who remain desperate to sign a deal. His fumbling issues caused the coaching staff to move away from him, though his value on special teams was still helpful.
His days with the Chiefs are coming to an end, but he was still a valuable player to add and try to develop, regardless.
2. Bailey Zappe, QB
Bailey Zappe spent time on Kansas City's practice squad in 2024 and entered this year hoping to earn the backup quarterback job behind Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs then signed Gardner Minshew, and he's firmly ahead of Zappe, which suggests Zappe's best chance to stick around is back on the practice squad.
He's struggled significantly in the preseason, and it's possible that he falls behind Chris Oladokun on the depth chart as well. Oladokun's speed and athleticism make him valuable on the scout team when preparing for certain opponents, and Zappe can't provide the dual-threat ability that Oladokun does.
During his three-year career, Zappe has been with the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns, too. He's thrown 12 TDs to 14 interceptions and has a losing record as a starter, but there's still enough talent for him to be a long-term backup in the league.
His errors mostly come from processing and bad decision-making, which can be fixed with more seasoning. Expect Zappe to be a priority practice squad add once it's all said and done.
3. Jake Briningstool, TE
Originally an undrafted rookie tight end out of Clemson, Jake Briningstool won fans over during the summer with his impressive play at a crowded position for the organization. The Chiefs heavily invested in Briningstool, clearly believing he could be a valuable practice squad add at the least.
He was excellent as a Tiger, catching 127 passes for 1,380 yards and 17 TDs during a four-year career. Briningstool's red-zone prowess was obvious, so it makes sense why a team preparing to eventually move on from Travis Kelce would want to invest in him.
Unfortunately, Briningstool missed most of the last month with an injury, costing him valuable time to prove to the coaching staff that he should be on the 53-man roster. At this point, Briningstool looks to be a long-term developmental project, but one that the team clearly believes in.
Kelce, Noah Gray, and likely Robert Tonyan are all ahead of Briningstool. Barring a surprise in which the team keeps four tight ends, he'll be off the roster within roughly a week.
4. Elijhah Badger, WR
Another valued undrafted free agent was former Arizona State and Florida standout Elijhah Badger. The wide receiver starred early in the summer and, just like the above few players, should be targeted to be on the practice squad once he's eventually cut.
Badger is a dangerous downfield threat, having averaged a remarkable 20.7 yards per catch during his senior season with the Gators. He had three straight seasons with over 700 receiving yards, displaying consistency while serving a similar role to former Chiefs playoff hero Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Even after trading Skyy Moore to the San Francisco 49ers, however, there just isn't room for Badger on this roster.
Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Royals, Tyquan Thornton, and Nikko Remigio all feel like near-roster locks at this point. Jason Brownlee is pushing for a role, but that's already seven guys, typically one more than Reid likes to keep. If Kansas City does keep seven, it's hard to see Badger earning a spot barring an injury.
Hopefully he won't be claimed by another team, but don't expect Badger to be on the roster.
5. Major Williams, S
Fans would be remiss not to recognize Major Williams' name. The undrafted rookie out of Virginia has just one tackle in the preseason and is using this opportunity to learn from the best coaching staff in the NFL and potentially audition for another team.
At 23 years old and boasting strong size at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds with decent arm length, Williams fits what defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo looks for. That said, it's impossible to find a spot for him on this team.
Bryan Cook, Jaden Hicks, Mike Edwards, and Chamarri Conner are the obvious top four safeties. Nazeeh Johnson has some versatility and can play safety as well, which leaves one or two, at most, spots for Williams, Glendon Miller, Melvin Smith Jr., and Kevin Knowles. In all likelihood, none of those four players will be on the final roster.
This may sound like a broken record, but Williams is another example of someone who should be fighting for a practice squad spot to develop into a contributor down the line. It just likely won't happen with the Chiefs.