Kansas City Chiefs Depth Chart
- AFC West
- Stadium
- Arrowhead Stadium
- Head Coach
- Andy Reid
- Offensive Coordinator
- Eric Bieniemy
- Defensive Coordinator
- Steve Spagnuolo
- Special Teams Coach
- Dave Toub
- Defensive Scheme
- 4-3
Kansas City Chiefs safety Juan Thornhill is healthy for perhaps the first time since he tore the ACL in his left knee as a rookie in 2019, and he was impressive during offseason workouts. With Tyrann Mathieu now gone, the Chiefs will ask Thornhill to take on a bigger role in their secondary. "I'm committed to doing that," Thornhill said. Those are big shoes to fill, but the 26-year-old from Virginia is up to the task after producing a career-high 64 tackles (43 solo), one interception, three passes defensed, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 17 games (12 starts) in his third season with KC in 2021. Thornhill has 163 total tackles (118) in his three NFL seasons, and he could easily force his way onto the IDP radar in a bigger role this year.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Josh Gordon left the team's mandatory minicamp practice early on Wednesday with a trainer due to an undisclosed injury. We'll pass along any updates once we know the nature of Gordon's injury and whether it's anything to be concerned about. The 31-year-old didn't have much of a role in KC's offense last year, catching only five of 14 targets for 32 yards and a touchdown in 12 games (seven starts). He could have more of a role in 2022 with Tyreek Hill now in Miami, but he'll still have JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Mecole Hardman ahead of him on the depth chart most likely, and rookie Skyy Moore has more upside.
The Kansas City Chiefs have excused Pro Bowl defensive end Frank Clark from the team's mandatory minicamp this week, as he's expecting the birth of his child any day. If players aren't excused by the team during minicamp, they are subject to daily fines. Clark will not be fined and should be back with the team shortly. The 29-year-old restructured his deal in March to remain with the team and give the Chiefs more salary cap space this year after signing a five-year, $105.5 million contract in 2019. He has been a Pro Bowler each of the last three seasons, but Clark's 4.5 sacks in 2021 was his lowest total since his rookie year in 2015 with the Seattle Seahawks. Clark also had just 22 tackles (15 solo), four tackles for loss, 17 QB hits and two forced fumbles in 14 starts last year.
The Kansas City Chiefs re-signed running back Jerick McKinnon to an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday, according to a source. McKinnon had only 12 carries for 62 yards in 13 regular season games for the Chiefs last year, but he took on an expanded role in the playoffs with Clyde Edwards-Helaire injured and Darrel Williams in the doghouse. The 30-year-old will continue to be a change-of-pace back for KC in 2022, but his touches will probably be limited again with Edwards-Helaire and Ronald Jones II ahead of him on the RB depth chart. If anything, the return of McKinnon is bad news for both CEH and Jones in what has become a more crowded backfield.
Kansas City Chiefs second-round wide receiver Skyy Moore signed his four-year rookie deal on Friday. With the Moore signing, the Chiefs wrap up all 10 of their draft picks. Moore had 95 catches for 1,292 yards and 10 touchdowns last season at Western Michigan, and he's expected to help the Chiefs replace Tyreek Hill, who was traded to the Miami Dolphins this offseason. The 21-year-old picked up a hamstring injury during organized team activities, but he should be just fine for training camp next month and will be looking to compete with Mecole Hardman and Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a role opposite JuJu Smith-Schuster in his first NFL season.
