Chiefs Defensive Overview - Secondary

A look at the secondary headed into Free Agency

We are into the full swing of the offseason and it’s time to dive into the position groups to see where the Chiefs can improve heading into next season.

There are many players that have been added to the team as future contracts but I will not be touching on those players here. This is going to be about the players that played in 2021 and also those that have the highest likelihood of contributing in 2022.

If you missed the primer on the Chiefs Free Agents you can find it here.

I also dove into the cap situation for the Chiefs this season here.

If you missed the first article on the positional groups for Offense and special teams you can find it here.

And if you missed the first defensive positional overview you can find it here.

The Chiefs secondary is a position group that could go through a lot of changes in the coming months. With several free agents at both CB and safety, there could be a lot of turnover for the Chiefs’ back end of the defense.

Corner Back

This is a position that a lot of people are going to disagree with me on. I think the Chiefs have two starters in La’Jarius Sneed and Rashaad Fenton. I also expect Baker back since they control his rights. The question is going to be beyond those three CB’s

I also believe Chris Lammons will be back even after his brush with the law. It’s possible that will change based on what happens with his case but the Chiefs also control his rights. Regardless of whether or not he’s back, he’s a special teams guy and nothing more so it shouldn’t affect the guys that are playing CB.

Charvarius Ward has earned a big pay raise over the past several seasons. He is an ascending player and deserves to get paid as he is about to in the coming weeks. Ward is a very good corner and definitely fits what the Chiefs want. I’d like to see him back in red and gold this fall but I think he could get a big deal somewhere else.

Mike Hughes could be back in KC though it would have to be at a lower deal and would be mostly for his return abilities. Hughes had moments for the Chiefs last season where he played like Minnesota hoped he could when they drafted him but he never was consistent.

I think the Chiefs are going to be looking at drafting a corner and maybe even an early-round corner. The problem with pigeonholing yourself into that going into the draft is you may have to give up a lot if there is a run on the position to get a player that fits what you want to be able to do. If Ward leaves I could see the Chiefs potentially double-dipping in the draft if the talent is there.

Safety

We know Juan Thornhill will be back and will be a starter. The question is who is going to be in the safety room with him because the rest of the group are free agents. I’m not sure the Chiefs bring any of the safety’s back at this point.

To be clear yes the Chiefs have guys that were mostly practice squad guys or special teamers in 2021 in Zane Anderson and Devon Key. Both players have ability and the Chiefs obviously like what they saw so we will see if they are able to move up to the active roster on Sunday’s this fall.

Unfortunately for the Chiefs, I believe Mathieu’s market is going to price him out of Kansas City. I’d love to see him back in Arrowhead when the season kicks off, but unless he’s willing to take a deal closer to 12 million a season than breaking the ceiling on the safety market he is likely elsewhere in 2022. He will be tough to replace at the back end of the defense for sure with his instincts and leadership.

Daniel Sorensen and Armani Watts are also likely done in Kansas City. I hope that Sorensen is remembered for the tough and gritty player that had game-changing plays on the Chiefs Super bowl run as opposed to the player that struggled mightily this past season. Watts showed promise early in his career but never developed into a starting-caliber player and never saw consistent snaps at the position.

I think the Chiefs have to look to address the safety position in both free agency and the draft. They may wait until after the draft to sign a safety to provide leadership in the safety room but with losing three of the four top safeties they are going to have to bring in new blood.

As we get closer and closer to free agency which kicks off on March 14th there will be plenty more to come and to talk about. To this point, the Chiefs still have not made tenders to their ERFA’s and RFA’s that we’ve found out about. As I’m writing this the Chiefs are still also over the salary cap so there are more moves coming in the coming days.

I will be diving into the contracts and the free agents when we find out about signings so be on the lookout for that!