UPDATE: The Chiefs have traded a future seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft in exchange for Johnson, per Ian Rapoport.
The Kansas City Chiefs just made a number of new additions to the secondary after a whirlwind weekend at the 2022 NFL Draft. However, they might not be done shopping at cornerback with the word of potential trade rumors for Houston Texans cornerback Lonnie Johnson.
NFL reporter Aaron Wilson of the Pro Football Network has linked the Chiefs with the Texans as a “strong potential destination” for Johnson in a post on the Monday following the draft.
The Kansas City Chiefs have officially traded for Texans cornerback Lonnie Johnson on Monday.
The Chiefs were previously linked to other potential corner additions like James Bradberry of the New York Giants, so this doesn’t feel all that far off given that history. However, the team did just trade up in the first round for Trent McDuffie in the draft, giving them a high investment at the position to go with holdovers like L’Jarius Sneed and Rashad Fenton.
In addition to the cornerbacks mentioned as obvious roster locks, the team also has Deandre Baker and DiCaprio Bootle from last season along with signings like Luq Barcoo and Brandin Dandridge and new draftees like Joshua Williams from Fayetteville State and Jaylen Watson from Washington State.
Johnson is the former second-round pick of the Texans in the 2019 NFL Draft out of the University of Kentucky, a player coached by former Chiefs linebackers coach Matt House. Johnson has been a part-time starter for the Texans in his first three years and will be on his final season contractually with Houston in 2022.
The Texans might be ready to move on from Johnson after importing a couple of new cornerbacks this offseason, including former Chiefs DB Steven Nelson and top draft pick Derek Stingley, Jr.,
Johnson had 55 tackles and his first three career interceptions last year for the Texans.