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Kansas City Chiefs: The seven biggest roster battles to watch in training camp

By Lyle Graversen

SAINT JOSEPH, MO - JULY 31: Fans watch from the bleachers during Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp on July 31, 2011 in Saint Joseph, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
SAINT JOSEPH, MO - JULY 31: Fans watch from the bleachers during Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp on July 31, 2011 in Saint Joseph, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 30: Wide receiver Cody Latimer
KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 30: Wide receiver Cody Latimer /

Free Safety

The Contenders:
Eric Murray, Armani Watts, Daniel Sorensen, Robert Golden, Leon McQuay

This is another position that I really don’t know what to expect from. A lot of Chiefs fans seemed to think that rookie Armani Watts was the safe bet to start at free safety when he was drafted this offseason. Watts definitely has ability but he also had some issues with angles and biting on play fakes that could take some coaching to fix before he’s ready to be an every down player. Could he start as a rookie? Sure. Should K.C. fans be banking on that as a sure thing? No.

If I had to predict the opening day starter right now it would have to be Eric Murray. I really liked Murray out of college as a cornerback prospect. He’s now had a couple of seasons to transition to safety and knows the KC system. He’s had some mistakes in his first couple of seasons but I do think there is some talent there. If Murray is our free safety in 2018 I don’t think that’s the end of the world. Still, the position is up for grabs.

I’ve heard some discussion of Daniel Sorensen or Robert Golden being in the competition. Anything is possible but I don’t see either of those guys as “centerfield” type free safeties like Ron Parker often played. If the Chiefs do plan on playing either of those guys as every down players it may take some reworking of how they play their safeties and that just seems unlikely to me. Sorensen has been best covering guys out of the box safety spot and Golden is a career special teams guy that has made spot starts at strong safety. The only other option I really see on the roster is Leon McQuay who is kind of a corner/safety hybrid type guy that the Chiefs drafted last season. He’s a long shot but I think his skill set is better suited for the free safety spot than Sorensen or Golden.

Finally, how will things shake out at cornerback?

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