The Kansas City Chiefs have not been shy about cutting draft picks if they don’t feel they deserve a spot on the 53-man roster, and 2024 seventh-rounder C.J. Hanson appears to be the latest recent prospect who’s on the chopping block entering training camp.
A-to-Z Sports Kansas City reporter Charles Goldman discussed the various offensive line battles on June 30, and it’s pretty clear Hanson will have to fight to earn a spot in 2025.
“The unproven nature of the left tackle and left guard positions may lead the Chiefs to lean into a roster composition with as many as 10 offensive linemen,” Goldman noted.
He called the following seven offensive linemen “locks” for the 53-man roster: Josh Simmons, Kingsley Suamataia, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor, Jaylon Moore and Hunter Nourzad.
“That leaves the following players competing for the 2-3 remaining spots,” Goldman continued, listing Mike Caliendo, Wanya Morris, Ethan Driskell, Chu Godrick, C.J. Hanson, Dalton Cooper, Esa Pole and Joey Lombard.
Needless to say, that creates a very competitive roster battle for Hanson and company at Chiefs training camp throughout July and August.
Chiefs’ C.J. Hanson May Have to Overtake 2024 Starter Fill-In Mike Caliendo for Roster Spot at Training Camp
Goldman dove deeper on the specific roster battles that could occur at Chiefs training camp. And Hanson will likely match up with Caliendo — assuming Suamataia does indeed make the roster.
“Of the seven players I consider locks, three offensive tackles — Simmons, Taylor, and Moore — have each dealt with recent injuries,” the reporter began. “Knowing what happened at the left tackle position last season, I feel like the Chiefs could keep 1-2 more players at the offensive tackle position just for Peace of Mind.”
“As for the interior offensive line, Caliendo has a leg up on the competition,” he relayed.
“Hanson needs to prove that he can take a step forward after a forgettable rookie season, during which he made the jump from Holy Cross to the NFL,” Goldman argued. Adding that undrafted rookie Joey Lombard is also in the mix.
But it feels like Hanson versus Caliendo will be the most likely “do-or-die” faceoff at guard, and Goldman is certainly correct in saying that Caliendo has the early lead.
Some view Caliendo as a candidate to start at left guard in 2025, let’s say Suamataia is not ready by Week 1. After all, the former UDFA was tasked with the role during the playoffs last year with Joe Thuney at left tackle.
Unfortunately for Caliendo, that brief starting opportunity also revealed that he is probably not the answer long-term.
Chiefs Guard Mike Caliendo Struggled During Postseason Run
Players can always improve, but if Caliendo’s stretch as the starting left guard was not great.
To be fair, it started out really well during the regular season with a perfect pass protection performance in Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns (zero charged QB pressures according to Pro Football Focus). Then the real Caliendo began to show.
He was charged with 7 combined QB pressures the next two weeks and was rested Week 18, along with the other starters.
Then, during the postseason, Caliendo 2 sacks and 8 QB pressures against top talent. On top of that, his best run blocking grade over his six starts was a sub-par 62.7, and his worst during the Super Bowl was an atrocious 30.1.
Caliendo is a versatile backup, and he’s proven himself valuable in that regard. But realistically, his ceiling is probably never going to be a starting-caliber blocker.
The question is: Is he good enough to hold off the trio of 2024 draft picks (Suamataia, Nourzad and Hanson) at Chiefs training camp this summer?
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