Kansas City Chiefs 2023 Roster Preview: Specialists Entering Training Camp

After a handful of ups and downs last season, the Chiefs' kicking game will be a highly-monitored production in training camp and during the year.

The Kansas City Chiefs had built up a sparkling reputation under special teams coordinator Dave Toub prior to undergoing a youth movement in 2022, and that inexperience certainly showed early and often during the season.

Going from ranking third in Football Outsiders' Special Teams DVOA in 2021 to 19th last season, it was a very challenging year for Toub and company. That ranking was dragged down from a league-worst grade for field goals and extra points, as well as bad marks for kickoff and punt returns. All of that, combined with spotty holding from Tommy Townsend on occasion and a significant injury to Harrison Butker, put Kansas City behind the eight-ball until things ultimately improved in time for the playoffs. This year, the goal will be to get off to a much better start and remain consistent across the board. 

As 2023 Chiefs training camp comes into focus, Arrowhead Report will be previewing each of the team's position groups. This precedes a roster projection once training camp is in full swing, allowing for in-depth analysis and observations of the roster general manager Brett Veach has put together. The series concludes with specialists. 

The kicker: Harrison Butker

Butker, who has historically been one of the better kickers in football since entering the league back in 2017, converted on a career-low 75% of his field goal attempts in 2022. That was a very far cry from his prior worst mark of 88.9%, and his accuracy from 50-plus yards was also his worst (3-for-7). A high-ankle sprain suffered in Week 1 may have been the culprit, though, as Butker got better as the year went on and he made six of his seven attempts in the playoffs while also converting on all of his extra point tries.

If Butker is actually back to the player he was prior to the 2022 campaign, the Chiefs are getting their money's worth at kicker. Ankle injuries can derail kickers' seasons, and Butker spoke earlier this year about how difficult the entire process was for him. Siding with his track record and a healthy offseason is the apt path to take until proven otherwise. 

The punter: Tommy Townsend

Coming into the NFL back in 2020 and taking over for longtime Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt, Townsend faced sky-high expectations that he didn't live up to right out of the gate. He's steadily improved in each of his first three years, however, and is coming off a season that saw him be named an All-Pro and Pro Bowler. Townsend averaged more yards per punt than all but one player in the league and had the best net average in the NFL, also posting a career-high in punts inside the 20 and a career-low touchback percentage. If Townsend has developed consistency with his holding process on Butker's field goals, he should be a truly elite option for Kansas City. 

The long snapper: James Winchester

Winchester is entering the final season of his current contract with the Chiefs and as he turns 34 in August, he'll aim to keep chugging along for the team as one of the league's most reliable long snappers. Winchester faces very minimal competition for his role during training camp and should generate momentum into the preseason and regular season as he works in conjunction with Butker and Townsend to smooth out the kicking and punting operations. 

Possible return game options

A season ago, the Chiefs used four different primary punt returners (Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, Mecole Hardman and Justin Watson) and had then-rookie running back Isiah Pacheco be the primary kickoff return man. Due to Pacheco's durability concerns and expected role in the offense, he'll likely have to concede his kickoff duties to someone else. Moore didn't do too well in the punt return role and Toney struggled to stay healthy in 2022, so they may not be high-ranking options for their respective roles on special teams, either.

Rookie running back Deneric Prince got some return work during organized team activities (OTAs), wideout Ihmir Smith-Marsette has a special teams background and veteran pickup Richie James also has experience in the return game. That collective, as well as potentially even Moore or someone else, could factor into the picture. On a roster that has so many roles seemingly solidified, the Chiefs' two go-to returners should be decided on over time.

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