With the 2021 NFL preseason drawing to a close soon, the regular season is just around the corner. These next couple of weeks become even more crucial for coaching staffs and front offices alike. In just under a week, NFL rosters will drop from 80 to 53 players.
Who are the fringe players worth keeping on the roster? How many individuals should be available at certain positions? All of those questions will need to be answered. Other factors like game film, injuries to other players, being able to play special teams or not, or simply locker room leadership could help make the decisions somewhat easier.
Over the next week and a half, we will be going position by position to forecast our projections for who will and will not make the Kansas City Chiefs 53 man roster for 2021. We will also note which players we believe will stick around on the practice squad, if they cannot fit into the initial 53 man roster. Today we will be focusing on the Chiefs wide receiver position.
Multiple Decisions
As of this writing, there are currently eleven wide receivers on Kansas City’s depth chart. That includes Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle, Demarcus Robinson, Cornell Powell, Marcus Kemp, Daurice Fountain, Gehrig Dieter, Maurice Ffrench, Darrius Shepherd and Dalton Schoen. We project that six wide receivers will be kept on the 53 man roster. Which ones stick remains to be seen. For some, their arrows are pointing in the right direction. Let’s just say a couple of other names have a lot to prove in the final preseason game this Friday. Understandably, this was one of the most difficult positions to project. Here is how I currently see it for the Chiefs at wide receiver.
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The Cheetah
Tyreek Hill has been one of the league’s most productive wide receivers over the last four years. His 2020 numbers were at or above any of his previous results in certain notable categories. Hill set new career bests in receiving touchdowns (15) and receptions per game (5.8). Meanwhile, his receptions (87) and yards per touch (14) were either equal or nearly equal to his top marks in those categories from 2018.
While not all changes to the Chiefs wide receiver room entering 2021 are all bad, Hill could face an even greater weight on his shoulders this year. Seeing the ways in which he has matured as a receiver should give the team confidence, though. Hill has become more nuanced as a route runner. He has grown into just as dangerous of a player to cover in the short to intermediate part of the field, compared to the deeper portion. Furthermore, Hill has had a fairly decent hit rate when being counted on as the go to guy in crucial moments.
Crucial Year For Hardman
The time is now for Mecole Hardman to take control inside the Chiefs offensive attack. The 2019 second round pick has developed slowly. Most of his production so far has come from end arounds, touch passes, sitting in zones over the middle or even on occasional punt or kick returns.
Despite some miscommunications with Patrick Mahomes and Hardman in the latest preseason game, there were encouraging improvements made by the Georgia product in training camp. He was creating more separation at the top of routes. To boot, Hardman had better body positioning on throws to the sideline or on vertical routes over the middle. The other aspect he has been working on, has been finishing off his routes. Mahomes expects him to be in certain spots. And he must figure it out.
Without Sammy Watkins in the fold, the only thing truly keeping Hardman from reaching his potential is himself. There is going to be a lot of faith put in him by the Chiefs coaching staff. Nevertheless, the opportunities will eventually run out if the wideout cannot rise up to the challenge.
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Primed To Breakout
Over the last year or so, Pringle has warranted more snaps and passes going his way. Those have not fully resonated quite yet. With an opening in the offensive attack, it is now all coming together for the former UDFA out of Kansas State.
We know Pringle can win underneath. His soft hands and underrated twitch at the top of routes allow for Mahomes to throw to a dense, yet longer pass catcher. Where he could surprise this season in a larger role is down the field. Pringle was usually able to separate vertically in college. We have briefly seen that in the preseason. On the other hand, he is not afraid to outmuscle defenders or make them miss. Mahomes seems to favor him more than most realize already.
Surprises
The Robinson Question
My final projections have all altered greatly in the last five days or so. Subsequently, the last 48 hours have brought about even more indecision. Let’s start with Demarcus Robinson.
On Tuesday, special teams coach Dave Toub was quoted in saying this. “He drives me nuts. He’s got to learn to get up the field. He’s got a ways to go.”
Rarely, if ever, have we seen any Chiefs coach under the Reid regime directly call out players like this publicly. Is it a motivational tactic while Robinson is still slightly favored to stay on the roster? Or, is he in danger of being cut?
It feels like anything is on the table here. Let’s face it, Robinson’s ceiling in the offense may have already been reached. He is entering his sixth year in the league. His minimal production has been consistently low, despite his high snap count. Drops and ball security have also been an issue. At this point, I only think he makes the roster if any of Powell, Fountain or Kemp disappoint miserably in the preseason finale.
The Final Three
Based on my last paragraph and the direct criticism shown towards Robinson, I believe those three others all make the roster.
Powell has been used only at the end of preseason games. Although it has been at a minimal rate, his style of play and body type is a nice, unique feature to have in the offense, if you need immediate production. He has come along slowly. I just do not see him dropping to the practice squad, especially if the coaches believe Powell is turning a corner. Using that fifth round pick on him is another indicator as to why I believe he will crack the 53.
Kemp has always been one of Toub’s favorites due to his special teams prowess. Additionally, his yards after catch ability and downfield potential has yet to be untapped. Kemp can slice through tight spaces with his short area quickness. If he garners snaps, the Chiefs can utilize him in the quick passing game.
Fountain has done nothing but produce in the preseason. I do not know if many people truly expected a lot from him. However, the former Colts wideout can become a versatile weapon in the offense. Can he separate? Yes. Could he add some physicality after the catch? Definitely. I have also been impressed with his clean routes and no clear issues with drops. At this point, I do not understand how the Chiefs could honestly leave Fountain off the roster after seeing what he can do.
FINAL DEPTH CHART
WR1: Hill
WR2: Hardman
WR3: Pringle
WR4: Fountain
WR5: Kemp
WR6: Powell
Be on the lookout for the rest of our Chiefs 53 man roster projection pieces and other articles in the upcoming weeks. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.
– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.