Throughout the 2022 offseason, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs made a concerted effort to rebuild their secondary, changing Tyrann Mathieu with former Houston Texans security Justin Reid — after which within the NFL Draft, including 5 younger, cost-controlled defensive backs: Trent McDuffie, Bryan Cook dinner, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson and Nazeeh Johnson.
The strikes had been wildly profitable. Excluding Johnson, all the rookies made vital contributions to the group’s Tremendous Bowl championship. McDuffie seemed like a budding star, Williams and Watson held down the second outdoors cornerback spot and Cook dinner had an unimaginable postseason.
Now we see the opposite profit from these strikes: with the ability to construct round them for years to come back. Excluding security Juan Thornhill, each one in every of final 12 months’s defensive backs is returning for 2023. In the meantime, Kansas Metropolis has added veteran security Mike Edwards and drafted defensive backs Chamarri Conner and Nic Jones.
What roles can we anticipate these gamers to fill in 2023?
Beginning cornerbacks: L’Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie
When Kansas Metropolis is in its 4-3 base protection, the surface cornerbacks will likely be Sneed and McDuffie. That is how the Chiefs had the cornerbacks organized when McDuffie returned from final season’s hamstring harm; it’s not prone to change this 12 months.
Beginning safeties: Justin Reid and Bryan Cook dinner
Whereas Reid began slowly final 12 months, his play improved over the past a part of the season. He spent extra time in man protection in opposition to tight ends — and performed with extra total pressure. I anticipate him to start 2023 as he completed 2022.
With Thornhill gone, Cook dinner — in whom I’m an enormous believer — will turn into a full-time beginning security. His glorious postseason performances clearly present the place he’s headed. His tackling capacity, vary and ball expertise all flashed within the playoffs; I’m anticipating all of that to proceed in his bigger position.
However one of the best factor about these two gamers is that they’re interchangeable. Since each can play from vary or in run matches, the Chiefs don’t have to present something away of their play-calling. That is in distinction to final 12 months, when Thornhill couldn’t be inserted right into a run match.
Nickel defensive again: Jaylen Watson or Joshua Williams
When the Chiefs go into their nickel protection, McDuffie will kick inside to fit cornerback — whereas both Williams or Watson will exchange him on the surface. That is what Kansas Metropolis did throughout the postseason’s stretch run — and I anticipate no modifications.
Whereas I feel Watson is a greater participant, we must always anticipate the 2 of them to rotate. Which one sees the sector in a given second is prone to rely upon which one in every of them is taking part in higher or has a greater matchup. Watson is a greater zone defender and has higher ball expertise, whereas Williams has extra pace — which can give him the sting in sure matchups.
Dime defensive again: Mike Edwards
When Edwards signed with the Chiefs, I instantly thought this jack-of-all-trades participant can be a superb dime security. His worth to Kansas Metropolis is that he can do something. He can play the robber zones beneath and fly to the soccer. He’s a implausible blitzer — which is one thing the Chiefs can have him do repeatedly. He’s additionally versatile sufficient to bail to a deep zone in order that both Cook dinner or Reid can take a flip as a blitzer — which is one thing we noticed security Daniel Sorensen do for years.
Edwards has a protracted harm historical past, so managing his snaps will likely be vital — however I’m excited to see how he performs this season.
Chamarri Conner: backup dime defensive again
Whereas Conner’s essential worth throughout his rookie 12 months will likely be on particular groups, I feel he’ll finally be taking Edwards’ position. The oft-injured 27-year-old veteran is on a one-year contract, so getting insurance coverage (and a long-term substitute) was essential. Conner can present that. Whereas he doesn’t but possess Edwards’ instincts or consciousness, he’s a greater athlete who has a ton of potential as a blitzer.
Particular Groups/Backups: Deon Bush, Nazeeh Johnson and Nic Jones
We don’t know what number of defensive backs Kansas Metropolis will preserve. It now appears to be like like 4 cornerbacks and 4 safeties are locked into roster spots, leaving just one or two locations obtainable. Bush, Johnson, and Jones can all current circumstances to make the group.
Bush has the expertise to step in on protection if a security is injured, however can even present good special-teams play. A supremely proficient athlete, Johnson is a second-year participant the Chiefs hope to develop. Jones — a rookie — brings numerous particular groups expertise to the room and has outdoors cornerback potential.
My guess is that Kansas Metropolis will go along with Bush and Jones. If Conner isn’t able to play protection instantly, the group will want further insurance coverage if Edwards is injured. Bush can present that. Jones has extra potential as an out of doors cornerback, which will likely be essential within the occasion of an harm there. Whereas Johnson may make one other group, I feel there’s an excellent probability the Chiefs may sneak him onto their observe squad.
