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Four Chiefs players we were wrongly excited about this preseason

By Maxwell Cashio

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 03: Antonio Callaway #11 of the Cleveland Browns runs with the ball during the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on November 3, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Browns 24-19. (Photo by Rob Leiter/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 03: Antonio Callaway #11 of the Cleveland Browns runs with the ball during the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on November 3, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Browns 24-19. (Photo by Rob Leiter/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 03: DeVonta Smith #6 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball against DeAndre Baker #30 of the Kansas City Chiefs at Lincoln Financial Field on October 3, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 03: DeVonta Smith #6 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball against DeAndre Baker #30 of the Kansas City Chiefs at Lincoln Financial Field on October 3, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

#3 Deandre Baker

The former 1st-round pick is in his second season with the Chiefs after breaking his femur in Week 17 of last season after being signed to the Chiefs practice squad after the Giants waived him in December. Coming into 2021, the hype around Deandre Baker was high, and rightfully so, a first-round pick in 2019 who never really saw his play dip in any meaningful way. Again, the Chiefs were taking a flier on a young unproven player to add depth to this defense.

In June, Baker held the 2nd cornerback spot on the depth chart behind Charvarius Ward. However, by this October, Baker is now 5th on the Chiefs’ depth chart for corners. Many felt that Baker could turn it around and hopefully become the high-caliber defensive back he was supposed to be out of college. As of now, it seems we’ve all missed the mark with Baker as he’s averaging 35% of available snaps in Weeks 3-6, even with his high of 91% of the defensive snaps against Philadelphia in Week 4. Through 7 weeks, Deandre Baker has appeared in 20% of available defensive snaps.

#4 Jarran Reed

One of the most talked-about signings of the 2021 offseason was the Chiefs signing defensive tackle Jarran Reed to help beef up the defensive line alongside Frank Clark and Chris Jones.

However, through 7 games Reed has amassed a paltry 8 solo tackles, 0 sacks, and only 6 QB hits. Reed is on pace for one of the worst statistical seasons of his career. He is currently on track for 28 combined tackles, 2nd lowest total for his career, and is currently headed toward a season where he doesn’t get a tackle for loss or a sack. At the midway point of the season, it is concerning that a defensive tackle commanding nearly 64% of all defensive plays this season has yet to sack any of the quarterbacks they’ve faced or stop an opposing running back behind the line of scrimmage.

While there is plenty of time for a second-half turnaround, as of now Jarran Reed has yet to impress since coming to Kansas City. What many envisioned as one of the more dominant defensive lines in the AFC given their talent has quickly turned into one of the worst in all of football and it looks like Reed is leading the charge.

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