Kansas City Chiefs depth chart heading into Super Bowl LVIII

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs will need nearly every player on the roster to perform at a high level if they hope to beat the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.

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The Chiefs will be a bit weaker up front on both sides of the ball with the losses of All-Pro guard Joe Thuney and defensive end Charles Omenihu. The onus will be on their replacements to keep the Chiefs from experiencing any kind of drop-off in performance.

Here’s a look at the Kansas City Chiefs’ depth chart heading into Super Bowl LVIII, with some key notes on the position groups below.

Kansas City Chiefs depth chart (Offense)

QB	Patrick Mahomes	Blaine Gabbert
RB	Isiah Pacheco	Clyde Edwards-Helaire	Jerick McKinnon
WR	Rashee Rice	Richie James
WR	Justin Watson	Skyy Moore
WR	Marquez Valdes-Scantling	Mecole Hardman Jr.
TE	Travis Kelce	Noah Gray	Blake Bell
LT	Donovan Smith	Wanya Morris
LG	Nick Allegretti	Mike Caliendo
C	Creed Humphrey	Nick Allegretti
RG	Trey Smith	Mike Caliendo
RT	Jawaan Taylor	Lucas Niang

Quarterback: Mahomes, by his standards, had a down regular season, although his completion percentage (67.2 percent) was the best of his career. He threw for the fewest yards and touchdowns in the past four seasons, and his passer rating, yards per attempt, and QBR were the lowest of his career. He also lost six games as a starting quarterback for the first time. Nevertheless, he was invited to the Pro Bowl for the sixth time. Gabbert, a 12-year pro, started the final regular-season game because it was meaningless.

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Running back: Pacheco, a seventh-round pick in 2022, had a solid second season, falling just short of the 1,000-yard mark. He’s a physical runner who averaged 4.6 per carry and scored seven touchdowns. In the playoffs, he’s been even better, averaging 84.7 yards per game and scoring three TDs. Behind Pacheco is Edwards-Helaire, who’s playing time has diminished due to Pacheco’s effectiveness.

Wide receiver: Rice emerged as a go-to receiver for Mahomes in the latter half of his rookie season. He caught 79 passes for 938 yards and seven TDs. Behind Rice, there’s a large drop-off in production down to Watson (27 catches), Valdes-Scantling and Moore (21 catches each), and Hardman (17). The receivers as a whole led the league in drops and were a concern all season, as they struggled to get any separation from the defenders.

Tight end: Kelce has no equals at the position as a receiving tight end. Invited to his ninth Pro Bowl, Kelce fell short of 1,000 yards receiving to break a seven-year streak, and he scored five TDs, his least since 2019. But he’s looked more like the Kelce of old in the playoffs, catching 23 passes for three TDs. He’s only 11 catches short of tying Jerry Rice for the most in Super Bowl history. Gray chipped in with 28 catches, more than anyone but Kelce and Rashee Rice. Bell caught only five passes and is mostly used as an extra blocker.

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Offensive line: Not having Thuney, who will miss the game with a pectoral injury, is a huge loss for the Chiefs. Thuney is a first-team All-Pro who graded as the top pass-blocking guard in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Even though Allegretti will replace Thuney at left guard, as he did in the AFC Championship Game, he can’t be expected to play at the same level as Thuney. Humphrey is a Pro Bowl center, and the combination of him, Thuney and Trey Smith at right guard formed the league’s best offensive interior. Overall, ESPN rates the Chiefs’ offensive line as the No. 1 pass blocking unit. But Donovan Smith and Taylor will be challenged to slow the 49ers’ edge rushers. Taylor led all NFL players in penalties with 20.

Kansas City Chiefs depth chart (Defense)

DE	George Karlaftis	Malik Herring
DT	Tershawn Wharton	Mike Pennel
DT	Chris Jones	Neil Farrell
DE	Michael Danna	Felix Anudike-Uzomah
WLB	Willie Gay	Leo Chenal
MLB	Nick Bolton	Cole Christiansen
SLB	Drue Tranquill	Jack Cochrane
CB	L’Jarius Sneed	Jaylen Watson	Nic Jones
CB	Trent McDuffie	Joshua Williams
SS	Justin Reid	Chamarri Conner
FS	Mike Edwards	Deon Bush

Defensive line: Jones is the anchor, voted to his fifth Pro Bowl and selected as a first-team All-Pro for the second time in his career. He tied for the team lead in sacks with Karlaftis (10.50) and led the team in tackles for loss (13) and QB hits (29). The sack total for Karlaftis, in his second season, was the highest of his career. Danna chipped in with 6.5 sacks, the most of his career. Wharton had one of four sacks against Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson.

Linebacker: Bolton suffered a dislocated wrist in October and missed two months of the season, but he’s back and playing well as the Chiefs’ inside linebacker. Tranquill, who signed with the Chiefs this past offseason, leads the linebacking unit in tackles and sacks (4.5), yet Chenal grades as their most effective linebacker against the run. Gay leads the team in fumble recoveries with three.

Cornerback: Other than Jones, this is the strength of the defense, which has been outstanding against the pass. They could make life difficult for the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. McDuffie not only made the Pro Bowl, but was named a first-team All-Pro in his second season. He led the Chiefs in forced fumbles (5) and ranks as one of the league’s best cover corners. Sneed led the way with 14 passes defended and two interceptions. Watson and Johnson have also been excellent in coverage, combining for 11 passes defended.

Safety: Reid is the Chiefs’ leading tackler and also had three sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. Edwards picked up two fumbles, returning one for a touchdown, and an interception. Conner has impressed, grading out as one of the league’s best safeties against the run and the pass.