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We’re now less than a week away from the Chiefs beginning their version of spring football practice, also known as organized team activities (OTAs). When Todd Haley’s squad steps between the hashes next Monday, 83 players will be eligible to participate in drills and Kansas City could push that number even higher should the front office choose to do so.

Under normal circumstances, NFL rosters cap off with a ceiling of 80 players under contract. At this time of year, however, that maximum of 80 might as well have an asterisk beside it.

Kansas City’s seven 2010 draft picks are expected to take part in next week’s OTAs, but won’t count against the 80-man cap until they have agreed to contract. Those players alone allow the Chiefs to carry up to 87 players for OTAs. Add in the lone Chief who hasn’t signed his tender, Jarrad Page, and you have an eighth rostered player who doesn’t count against the max.

If Page has yet to sign his tender offer before OTAs begin, he would sign an injury protection waiver if he were to participate in workouts. Such waivers typically guarantee his 2010 salary in the event of an injury incurred while participating in a team activity. He’s also under no obligation to sign a waiver and participate should he choose not to do so. Both the team and player have options in Page’s scenario.

Once the Chiefs officially sign their 81^st player to a contract, a one-for-one swap would have to occur on the roster (this typically happens when draft picks sign just prior to the beginning training camp), but until then the team can carry more than 80 as long as those picks remain unsigned.

The sheer number of players currently on the roster can cloud things, particularly when each position group will have to chop its cast of membership significantly at some point in the short-to-intermediate future. To help things settle here’s a quick go-to guide to the Chiefs personnel, separated by position group, as we approach the start of OTAs.

Overview Averages (specialists excluded)

Most Experience: Quarterbacks (4.0 years)

Least Experience: Tight Ends (2.5 years)

Oldest: Running Backs (27.75 years)

Youngest: Defensive Backs (24.1 years)

Largest Group: Offensive Line (16 players)

Smalles Group: Quarterbacks/Tight Ends (4 players)

Quarterbacks

Players (4): Matt Cassel, Brodie Croyle, Matt Gutierrez, Tyler Palko

Ave. Experience: 4.0 years

Ave. Age: 26.25 years

Age 27 and under: 4 players

Age 28 and older: 0 players

# who started 8 games in 2009: 1

Most experienced: Matt Cassel

Least experienced: Tyler Palko

Running Backs

Players (9): Jackie Battle, Tim Castille, Jamaal Charles, Mike Cox, Tervaris Johnson, Thomas Jones, Kestahn Moore, Kolby Smith, Javarris Williams

Ave. Experience: 3.75 years

Ave. Age: 27.75 years

Age 27 and under: 8 players

Age 28 and older: 1 player

# who started 8 games in 2009: 3

Most experienced: Thomas Jones

Least experienced: Tervaris Johnson

Wide Receivers

Players (10): Dwayne Bowe, Chris Chambers, Terrance Copper, David Grimes, Rich Gunnell, Jeremy Horne, Quinten Lawrence, Lance Long, Dexter McCluster, Jerheme Urban

Ave. Experience: 3.2 years

Ave. Age: 25.3 years

Age 27 and under: 7 players

Age 28 and older: 3 players

# who started 8 games in 2009: 2

Most experienced: Chris Chambers

Least experienced: 3 rookies (Gunnell, Horne, McCluster)

Tight Ends

Players (4): Brad Cottam, Tony Moeaki, Jake O’Connell, Leonard Pope

Ave. Experience: 2.5 years

Ave. Age: 24.25 years

Age 27 and under: 4 players

Age 28 and older: 0 players

# who started 8 games in 2009: 1

Most experienced: Leonard Pope

Least experienced: Tony Moeaki

Offensive Line

Players (16): Branden Albert, Jon Asamoah, Colin Brown, Tyler Eastman, Darryl Harris, Lemuel Jeanpierre, Nick Landry, Andrew Lewis, Ryan Lilja, Ikechuku Ndukwe, Rudy Niswanger, Ryan O’Callaghan, Jermail Porter, Barry Richardson, Brian Waters, Casey Wiegmann

Ave. Experience: 3.6 years

Ave. Age: 25.44 years

Age 27 and under: 13 players

Age 28 and older: 3 players

# who started 8 games in 2009: 6

Most experienced: Casey Wiegmann

Least experienced: 5 rookies (Asamoah, Eastman, Jeanpierre, Landry, Lewis)

Defensive Line

Players (10): Garrett Brown, Glenn Dorsey, Ron Edwards, Dion Gales, Wallace Gilberry, Bobby Greenwood, Tyson Jackson, Derek Lokey, Alex Magee, Shaun Smith

Ave. Experience: 2.9 years

Ave. Age: 24.5 years

Age 27 and under: 8 players

Age 28 and older: 2 players

# who started 8 games in 2009: 3

Most experienced: Ron Edwards

Least experienced: Garrett Brown

Linebackers

Players (12): Jovan Belcher, Justin Cole, Tamba Hali, David Herron, Derrick Johnson, Michael Johnson, Corey Mays, Cameron Sheffield, Andy Studebaker, Mike Vrabel, Pierre Walters, Demorrio Williams

Ave. Experience: 3.9 years

Ave. Age: 25.33 years

Age 27 and under: 10 players

Age 28 and older: 2 players

# who started 8 games in 2009: 4

Most experienced: Mike Vrabel

Least experienced: 3 rookies (Cole, M. Johnson, Sheffield)

Defensive Backs

Players (15): Javier Arenas, Jackie Bates, Eric Berry, Brandon Carr, Travis Daniels, Brandon Flowers, Reshard Langford, Maurice Leggett, Kendrick Lewis, Jon McGraw, DaJuan Morgan, Jarrad Page, Ricky Price, Mike Richardson, Donald Washington

Ave. Experience: 2.7 years

Ave. Age: 24.1 years

Age 27 and under: 14 players

Age 28 and older: 1 player

# who started 8 games in 2009: 3

Most experienced: Jon McGraw

Least experienced: 3 rookies (Arenas, Berry, Lewis)

Specialists

Players (3): Dustin Colquitt, Thomas Gafford, Ryan Succop

Ave. Experience: 3.66 years

Ave. Age: 26.0 years

Age 27 and under: 2 players

Age 28 and older: 1 player

# who started 8 games in 2009: N/A

Most experienced: Dustin Colquitt

Least experienced: Ryan Succop