Chiefs 2022 53-Man Roster Prediction: Linebackers

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Making an NFL team’s 53-man roster for the start of the season is incredibly challenging. Some spots are filled more for niche roles and experience, rather than just simply draft status or ability. Meanwhile, special teams can make certain position battles more intense, especially for the final depth pieces looking to make it. The Kansas City Chiefs are no different than other teams.

For instance, they find themselves having to make tough decisions in key spots. This team also underwent a massive amount of changes this offseason. As a result, the opportunities are there for the taking at many spots on the 53-man roster. Though, expectations may vary all across the depth chart, at the same time.

We have just a few days left until teams have to finalize their 53-man roster. We are going position by position, giving our best predictions of who will make the cut for the Chiefs in 2022. Practice squads will once again be maxed out at 16 players as well. In addition to the 53-man roster, we will also give our best bets at who may make it back to Kansas City as part of the practice squad. So far, we have completed 53-man roster predictions for six positions on the roster. To read those, click on each position: QB, RB, WR, TE, OL, DL

Next up, it is time for the linebackers. Let’s kick it off.

Current Linebackers On Chiefs Roster

• Nick Bolton
• Willie Gay
• Elijah Lee
• Leo Chenal
• Darius Harris
• Jermaine Carter
• Jack Cochrane
• Mike Rose

Explosive Duo

There are going to be some new roles occupied all over the Chiefs roster. Arguably, none may be more fascinating than the new starting duo at linebacker. Bolton and Gay, each former second-round picks of the Chiefs, have flashed their fair share of explosiveness, instincts and playmaking ability. With the energy they bring, Kansas City is hoping that it is able to translate throughout the entire revamped defense. Bolton and Gay are also looking to carry the torch in the Chiefs’ hope of becoming faster and more physical as a defensive unit, to boot.

Bolton will assume the green dot in the middle of the Chiefs defense. While this is his first chance to call out defensive play calls and get teammates aligned in KC, the Missouri product is no stranger to this. He played the same leadership type of role at Missouri during his college career. As we wrote about this summer, his path to the NFL has helped build him for that distinct position. Bolton’s production was already through the roof as a rookie who rotated in. What will year two have in store for him as he moves to a starting linebacker spot?

Gay has had some starts and stops along his early NFL career. If anything, 2021 showed that he was becoming more comfortable and surer of what he was reading. He flashed downhill with more tempo, proving that he can be relied upon in space. Gay also made quarterbacks pay for attempting to fit quick throws into shallow areas. With a steady trajectory, the Mississippi State product is ready to put it all together in 2022.

Violence And Physicality

Rookie third-round pick Leo Chenal is a bit of a throwback. When you look at his tape at Wisconsin, it is easy to see why someone like defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would want to have this guy added to his defense. He plays a bruising style with everything he does. This includes disengaging from blocks, fitting holes against the run and occasionally rushing the passer, not just with his punishing tackling form. Chenal is no slouch in space, however.

He does a fine job of covering ground laterally. When you see how quickly he diagnoses tendencies, having the added violence and physicality that he self-proclaimed is an added bonus. He may not be fully ready to assume a heavy workload in 2022. Nevertheless, Chenal is a perfect stylistic fit for this Chiefs defense and a fine complement to players like Bolton or Gay.

Homecoming

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A local product in Kansas City, Lee played his high school football at nearby Blue Springs High School. Arrowhead Stadium is just 16 miles west of the high school. After attending Kansas State and playing for the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns, it has all come full circle for Lee. And for the most part, he has continued to be a strong performer for the Chiefs during training camp and the preseason.

Kansas City has done a tremendous job of rebuilding the depth at the linebacker position. With having someone like Lee, the Chiefs are able to use him as a versatile chess piece in certain matchups. Lee can cover passes in the shallow or flat areas. We have seen him impose major power as a hitter or tackler in training camp and the preseason. Moreover, Lee is looking to be a standout on special teams. The Chiefs lost so many players who filled special teams roles for them last year. That prowess and his preseason performance has appeared to make Lee a lock for the Chiefs 2022 roster.

Final Depth Piece

Going into the preseason, the Chiefs had one true linebacker spot that was up for grabs. Given the desire to carry plenty of trench players and the influx of defensive backs, it was likely that only five linebackers would be kept. We saw them sign Jermaine Carter away from the Carolina Panthers for a cheap one-year deal this offseason. A somewhat productive player in Carolina, Carter has largely struggled to gain his footing with Kansas City.

You have a pair of intriguing undrafted free agent linebackers in Cochrane and Rose. They were each multi-faceted players for their respective colleges. Development is still needed for each guy. Though, you can see how their body-type and play style at linebacker is built for today’s NFL. Possibly, the Chiefs will keep each guy around on the practice squad.

Finally, Harris has continued to grow and impress throughout training camp and the preseason. His showing in the final preseason game allowed him to display his quickness and slipperiness against blocks. This is the fourth consecutive year for Harris in the Chiefs program. He has grown from a former UDFA signing into a more polished player. Overall, Harris has appeared in 11 games over the last two seasons. That number should continue to grow in 2022, as he looks to have the LB5 spot locked up.

Prediction

Starting MIKE: Nick Bolton

Starting WILL: Willie Gay

LB3: Elijah Lee

LB4: Leo Chenal

LB5: Darius Harris

On The Practice Squad: Jack Cochrane and Mike Rose

Be on the lookout for more of our FPC Chiefs 53-man roster prediction articles and more Kansas City analysis in the coming days. 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.