The Kansas City Chiefs are getting set to hold OTAs, starting on May 27, as players will start to make their respective cases to make that final 53-man roster this fall. There's a long summer ahead, though it's never too early to impress Andy Reid and the coaching staff.
One player who burst onto the scene in 2024 was undrafted running back Carson Steele, who won fans over with his cheery personality, pet alligator, and long flowing hair. Unfortunately for Steele, he struggled with fumbles after breaking camp and fell out of the running back rotation once Kareem Hunt was signed. That said, he's got an opportunity to save his job over these next few weeks.
While the position group is loaded with Hunt, Isiah Pacheco, Elijah Mitchell, and seventh-round rookie Brashard Smith, Steele has a unique skill set that could be on full display. For his sake, he'd better hope it is.
Chiefs RB Carson Steele Could Save Job at OTAs
Steele has an advantage that the other halfbacks don't in that he can be listed as a fullback, a position that Reid has historically preferred to have on the roster. He's moved away in recent years, but that didn't stop the Chiefs from listing Steele there and utilizing him on special teams as well.
While suiting up in all 17 games and starting three, Steele had 56 carries for 183 yards and seven receptions for 26 yards, adding five kick returns for another 138 yards. His three fumbles were certainly an issue, and it'll be on him to show that he's improved his ball security going into 2025.
In all likelihood, Steele's path to making the 53-man roster will be as a fullback. He's firmly fifth on the depth chart at running back right now, so he'll have to find other ways to make himself valuable. If he becomes a reliable kick returner, that'd be another path now that Mecole Hardman is off to the Green Bay Packers.
We'll see what happens over these next few weeks, but this is a key moment for Steele to try to stick with the organization.