The Kansas City Chiefs saw victory slip out of their hands in the final minute of their preseason Week 1 matchup against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, but not all was lost. They saw several standout performances from underrated members of their roster on both sides of the ball, and several players came out of the matchup with a better chance to make Kansas City’s 53-man roster in September.
Check out the 10 biggest winners of the Chiefs’ preseason loss to the Saints:
QB Shane Buechele
Buechele threw an interception in this matchup but managed to lead two touchdown drives that gave Kansas City a fourth-quarter lead. If Chris Oladokun hadn’t thrown a fluky pick in the game’s final minute, Buechele would be the talk of the town on Monday. His performance was player-of-the-game worthy but was completely overshadowed by the Chiefs’ collapse late in the game.
DL Danny Shelton
Shelton was credited with a sack in this matchup and outperformed the relatively low expectations placed on him during Kansas City’s first preseason game. The absence of Chris Jones was glaring when the Chiefs’ first-team defense was on the field, and though Shelton isn’t likely to match the All-Pro lineman’s production one-for-one, he seemed capable of eating up space on Kansas City’s front four, which is a positive sign for him ahead of the regular season.
WR Nikko Remigio
Remigio was Kansas City’s leading receiver and made several spectacular catches in this game. Though he was unable to find the endzone, Remigio served as a reliable target for every quarterback he took the field with, and coaches will have a tough decision to make about his future later in August when they start cutting down the roster.
DB Kahlef Hailassie
Kahlef Hailassie made the play of the game for Kansas City’s defense when he came down with an incredible interception in the second half to spark the Chiefs’ comeback effort. Though his efforts would be for naught in the end, Hailassie proved that he could hang with NFL competition in his first game as a pro, and may have earned himself more looks in the weeks to come.
WR Justyn Ross
Ross’ touchdown grab against the Saints was a great sign for his future, and Chiefs fans might riot if he isn’t included on Kansas City’s 53-man roster for the regular season. His natural athleticism was on full display in this matchup, and he looked to be completely healthy against New Orleans’ underrated secondary.
DB Chamarri Conner
Conner’s second-quarter sack was a welcome sign for the Chiefs’ pass rush, which needs all the help it can get after the abysmal performance of Kansas City’s defensive line. His selection as a fourth-round pick back in April was a sign that the Chiefs wanted to add playmakers in their secondary, and Conner looked every bit the part of a top performer against New Orleans.
WR Kekoa Crawford
Crawford came down with Buechele’s second touchdown pass of the day and caught two of his three targets in the game. Though he remains a longshot to make Kansas City’s 53-man roster, he is a great practice squad candidate and may even be a target for a receiver-needy team ahead of the regular season after his standout performance against the Saints.
LB Cole Christiansen
Christiansen led Kansas City’s defense in tackles, which was surprising given that he has flown under the radar to this point in the preseason. This second-year linebacker could be a dark horse to make the Chiefs roster as a depth piece for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense after his standout performance on Sunday.
