NFL
By Bill Carroll
The 2023 Kansas City Chiefs are on a quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions, which would make them the first to do so since the 2003-04 New England Patriots. To accomplish this they will have to replace or strengthen some portions of a deep and talented roster. The biggest places that are being addressed are the two front-lines on defense and offense.
Via the draft and free agency they bolstered Mahomes’ phalanx of bodyguards, even bringing home one of their own, Nick Allegretti returned on a one-year deal. The 2023 Kansas City Chiefs also added Jawaan Taylor on a four-year deal worth $80 million, including $60 million in guarantees. He is the projected starter at right tackle, with former Pro Bowler and anchor on the Bucs offensive line, Donovan Smith, however is coming off of his poorest NFL season.
If the The 2023 Kansas City Chiefs are to repeat as Super Bowl champions, Smith, who was the most penalized starting left tackle in the NFL, needs to regain his previous form. The other changes to the offensive line of the 2023 Kansas City Chiefs include Wanya Morris, who was picked in the third round, 92nd overall, is a likely swing tackle candidate. There are two intriguing practice squad members, OT Darian Kinnard, who impressed my on his college career at Kentucky and the league’s International Player Pathway program member, Chukwuebuka Godrick.
Godrick is a truly fascinating case, a part of the International Player Pathway program, his presence does not count against the practice squad limit. The 2023 Kansas City Chiefs are allotted a 17th practice squad spot. He was one of six players, from Nigeria, who were selected to participate in the NFL’s IPP combine. AFI notes that Godrick’s background was mostly as a basketball athlete. Chukwuebuka Godrick is attempting to learn American football.
The 2023 Kansas City Chiefs Offense:
QB – Patrick Mahomes, Blaine Gabbert
WR – Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, Justin Watson, Richie James, Rashee Rice, Justyn Ross
OL – Donovan Smith, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor, Nick Allegretti, Wanya Morris, Lucas Niang, Prince Tega Wanogho, Mike Caliendo
TE – Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Blake Bell
RB – Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jerick McKinnon
The 2023 Kansas City Chiefs Defense:
DE – George Karlaftis, Charles Omenihu*, Feflix Anudike-Uzomah, Mike Danna, Malik Herring, BJ Thompson
DT – Tershawn Wharton, Derrick Nnadi, Keondre Coburn, Neil Farrell Jr.,
LB – Nick Bolton, Willie Gay Jr., Drew Tranquill, Leo Chenal, Cam Jones, Jack Cochrane
CB – L’Jarius Sneed, Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson, Nic Jones, Darius Rush
S – Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, Chamarri Conner, Mike Edwards
The 2023 Kansas City Chiefs Specialists:
K – Harrison Butker
P – Tommy Townsend
LS – James Winchester
*This player is suspended, therefore does not count against the roster number
The 2023 Kansas City Chiefs Practice Squad
- CB Ekow Boye-Doe
- RB Deneric Prince
- TE Matt Bushman
- RB La’Mical Perine
- WR Cornell Powell
- S Deon Bush
- C Austin Reiter
- OT Chukwuebuka Godrick
- QB Chris Oladokun
- DT Danny Shelton
- WR Montrell Washington
- CB Reese Taylor
- DE Truman Jones
- DT Chris Williams
- LB Cole Christiansen
- DT Matt Dickerson
- OT Darian Kinnard
*Chukwuebuka Godrick joined the Chiefs via the NFL International Player Pathway (IPP), an initiative created to find athletes from outside the US with NFL-level talent. Since it was established in 2017, the IPP has helped increase the number of international players in the league, exemplified by success stories such as Efe Obada, Jordan Mailata, and Jakob Johnson.
The two most note-worthy names are: mammoth veteran, defensive tackle, Danny Shelton, he has played in 101 games, including two Super Bowls. In his career Danny Saileupumoni Shelton AKA Feast Mode, has totaled 138 solo stops, 140 assists, 17 tackles-for-loss and six sacks. He is considered a top flight clogger on the interior. Deon Bush was added as well. He drafted at pick 124, by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. His career has been inconsistent, but he has ability.
The 2023 Kansas City Chiefs Roster Changes:
The 2023 Kansas City Chiefs Waived Players:
- DE Joshua Kaindoh
- DT Phil Hoskins
- DB Reese Taylor
- DB Ekow Boye-Doe
- LB Cole Christiansen
- DB Anthony Cook
- RB Deneric Prince
- OT Sebastian Gutierrez
- DB Kahlef Hailassie
- RB La’Mical Perine
- DT Daniel Wise
- QB Shane Buechele
- QB Chris Oladokun
- TE Matt Bushman
- DB Dicaprio Bootle
- WR Izaiah Gathings
- RB Jerrion Ealy
- WR Ty Fryfogle
- OT Chukwuebuka Godrick
- WR Juwan Green
- OT Anderson Hardy
- DB Lamar Jackson
- DE Truman Jones
- OT Darian Kinnard
- DB Duron Lowe
- DB Isaiah Norman
- WR Cornell Powell
Shane Buechele signed to Texas out of Lamar High School in Arlington, Texas, later he transferred to SMU, where he played 23 games in two seasons throwing for 7,023 yards and 57 touchdowns. I compared him to Case Austin Keenum, as a college prospect. In three preseason games with the 2023 Kansas City Chiefs, Buechele completed 29 of 45 passes for 349 yards for three touchdowns and three interceptions. In his three preseasons with the Chiefs, Shane Buechele completed 97 of 151 passes for 1,106 yards, nine TDs and six interceptions.
The Bills might see what I saw in Shane Buechele and they might want to add a younger version of Case Austin Keenum. Keenum signed with the Houston Texans on March 13, 2023. The Bills were carrying only Josh Allen and Kyle Allen on the active roster with Matt Barkley on season-long injured reserve with elbow injury. That means that Buchele has a decent chance to be activated from the practice squad.
The last quarterback that the 2023 Kansas City Chiefs have signed is Chris Oladokun, to their practice squad. The current active roster has only Gabbert and Mahomes. Oladokun is a smaller, more mobile player who transferred from Samford to South Florida, prior to South Dakota State. He is 6’1 ¼ 213 pounds and he ran a 4.71 40 at South Dakota State’s pro day. Think of a younger, slightly less athletic and thicker version of Josh Johnson.
Waived with injury designation:
- OG Jerome Carvin
- LB Olakunle Fatukasi
- WR Nikko Remigio
Released Players:
- S Deon Bush
- DT Danny Shelton
- C Austin Reiter
- TE Kendall Blanton
Reserve/Did Not Report:
- DT Chris Jones
Kansas City placed Chris Jones on the Did Not Report list. This means he does not count against the teams 53-man roster until he returns from his holdout. Chris Jones has now amassed over $2 million in fines for missing all of training camp and the preseason. If he doesn’t report by Sunday, his fines will reach $2.2 million dollars. Chris Jones is an absolutely dominant force who can play both on
Trades:
- WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette was traded to Carolina Panthers in seventh-round pick swap.
- DT Neil Farrell was acquired from the Raiders for sixth-round pick.
Injured/Reserve List:
- DB Nazeeh Johnson
- TE Jody Fortson
