Who will make the final Kansas City Chiefs roster? Here’s our projection for the 53-man

Through organized team activities, training camp and now three preseason games, Chiefs coach Andy Reid and his staff of assistants have used the offseason to evaluate personnel.

But there’s one more step in the process before the Chiefs head to Arizona to play the Cardinals in their Sept. 11 season opener, and it’s a biggie: The Chiefs must trim their roster from 75 players to 53 by 3 p.m. Central on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

The Chiefs got down to 75 players on Saturday by cutting offensive lineman Roderick Johnson, quarterback Dustin Crum, wide receiver Aaron Parker, running back Tayon Fleet-Davis and linebacker Mike Rose.

There shouldn’t be many surprises about the final 53. Here is The Star’s projection about who will make the roster, a lineup that includes 25 players on offense, 25 on defense and three specialists:

QUARTERBACKS (2): Patrick Mahomes, Chad Henne

The Chiefs aren’t likely to carry three signal-callers on their initial roster. Shane Buechele made his way from the practice squad to the active roster during the 2021 season, but the Chiefs made the move after the Cardinals attempted to sign Buechele to their active roster because of injuries at the quarterback position.

While there is a risk in waiving Buechele — he could be claimed by another team — he is a prime candidate to rejoin the Chiefs’ practice squad.

RUNNING BACKS/FULLBACKS (4): Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Isiah Pacheco, Jerick McKinnon, Michael Burton

When Ronald Jones signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs during free agency, it sure looked like he would be able to help anchor their backfield with incumbent starter Edwards-Helaire.

Then the NFL Draft happened. The Chiefs used a seventh-round pick on Pacheco, who emerged during training camp and leapfrogged Jones. By the end of camp, Jones found himself taking handoffs from Beuchele and sometimes fourth-string rookie quarterback Dustin Crum. Meanwhile, Pacheco further cemented his spot by becoming the Chiefs’ top kick-return option.

Burton is a shoo-in as the lone fullback on the roster.

WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Mecole Hardman, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, Justin Watson, Daurice Fountain

The top four receivers aren’t a surprise. But there’s a battle for the last two spots. The Chiefs could choose to keep five wideouts, but six is the sweet spot, especially with Smith-Schuster dealing with a knee injury.

Watson and Fountain bring special teams ability to the table, and special teams coordinator Dave Toub specifically mentioned both during training camp. Look for Watson and Fountain to fill the special teams roles previously held by Marcus Kemp and Byron Pringle, both of whom are now with other teams.

All of the above leaves Josh Gordon and Cornell Powell on the outside looking in. Powell had a good training camp and could return to the Chiefs’ practice squad.

TIGHT ENDS (4): Travis Kelce, Blake Bell, Noah Gray, Jody Fortson

Bell’s recent hip surgery, which will sideline him for a few weeks, makes him a wild card. The Chiefs have options, including placing Bell on injured reserve to start the season. They could elect to use the roster spot to bolster another position group.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Orlando Brown Jr., Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Andrew Wylie, Nick Allegretti, Austin Reiter, Geron Christian, Prince Tega Wanogho

The front five is set, with Brown at left tackle, Thuney at left guard, Humphrey at center, Smith at right guard and Wylie at right tackle.

Allegretti and likely Reiter can play either guard or center, but undrafted rookie Michael Calinedo, who can also play guard and center, will make for a tough decision about whether to keep nine or 10 offensive linemen.

Christian and Tega Wanogho project as the all-important backup swing tackles. And the Chiefs need them, with Lucas Niang starting the season on the reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list. He will miss at least the first four regular-season games.

Darian Kinnard, the Chiefs’ fifth-round pick this spring, typically worked with the third- and fourth-team units during camp. Unless the Chiefs decide to carry 10 offensive linemen, Kinnard, Caliendo (if he doesn’t make the initial 53), Vitaliy Gurman and perhaps Roderick Johnson are likely headed to the practice squad.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES (5): Chris Jones, Derrick Nnadi, Tershawn Wharton, Khalen Saunders, Danny Shelton

Jones and Nnadi are locked in as the starters in the Chiefs’ 4-3 base scheme, while Wharton and Saunders provide valuable depth. The Chiefs signed the massive Shelton, who measures 6-foot-2, 345 pounds, during training camp, and he could crack the roster because of his experience. If the Chiefs go this route, Taylor Stallworth would be out.

DEFENSIVE ENDS (5): Frank Clark, George Karlaftis, Carlos Dunlap, Mike Danna, Joshua Kaindoh

The Chiefs bolstered their pass rush by using a first-round pick on Karlaftis, and then signing Dunlap during training camp. Malik Herring has promise, so the Chiefs could bring him back on the practice squad along with Kehinde Oginni Hassan and Matt Dickerson.

LINEBACKERS (5): Nick Bolton, Willie Gay Jr., Elijah Lee, Leo Chenal, Darius Harris

The Chiefs kept six linebackers on their initial 53-player roster in 2021, but that was because Gay suffered a toe injury in last summer’s preseason finale before eventually landing on injured reserve.

Barring an injury, this is a healthy group and the Chiefs should keep five linebackers. In this scenario, Jermaine Carter, who joined the Chiefs on a one-year deal during free agency, is the likely odd man out. While Carter can contribute on special teams, so can Lee, rookie Chenal and Harris. Undrafted rookies Mike Rose and Jack Cochrane are prime candidates to join the practice squad.

CORNERBACKS (6): L’Jarius Sneed, Trent McDuffie, Rashad Fenton, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson, Chris Lammons

The Chiefs signaled their confidence in rookies McDuffie, Williams and Watson by parting ways with veterans Deandre Baker and Lonnie Johnson during training camp. Lammons is a Toub favorite on special teams, so it’s easy to see him making the cut. Dicaprio Bootle had his moments during training camp and is likely to return on the practice squad for a second straight season.

SAFETIES (4): Justin Reid, Juan Thornhill, Bryan Cook, Deon Bush

The top four safety spots were essentially etched in stone during OTAs: Reid and Thornhill are the starters. Nazeeh Johnson, picked in the seventh round this year, Zayne Anderson and Devon Key are practice squad candidates.

SPECIALISTS (3): Harrison Butker, Tommy Townsend, James Winchester

No surprises here, as the Chiefs never brought in competition for the trio during the offseason.