Identity shifts within the Chiefs defense in 2022

Vastly improved coverage among defensive backs

While a great deal of the criticism aimed at the defense in 2021 was fielded by the front seven and its inefficiency, coverage is always a better indicator of a defense’s success than pass rush. In the case of the 2021 Kansas City Chiefs, depth was at a minimum among defensive backs. Tyrann Mathieu led the team in defensive snaps played, followed by L’Jarius Sneed and Juan Thornhill; there was a significant dropoff between the remaining leaders in playing time in the secondary (Charvarius Ward, Daniel Sorrensen, and Mike Hughes).

That perspective demonstrates just how great a deal of responsibility for coverage fell on the shoulders of the three leaders. It is, however, a difficult angle to make sense of as two-thirds of that group is safeties. After losing Charvarius Ward to free agency, the Chiefs addressed their preexisting issue of cornerback depth in the draft by using their first selection on Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie.

Beyond the excitement of drafting a first-round cornerback—for the first time since selecting Marcus Peters, also from the University of Washington, in 2015—there is a ton of youth with great upside in the secondary. L’Jarius Sneed, Rashaad Fenton, Mike Hughes, and Deandre Baker are all 25 years old, and Lonnie Johnson Jr., signed in free agency, is 27. The balance of demonstrated success and potential for growth in the cornerback room paired with this newfound depth is more than noteworthy and should inspire confidence among Chiefs fans.

Rounding out the defensive backfield improvement this offseason is done by highlighting rejuvenated energy in the safety room. Tyrann Mathieu and Daniel Sorrensen, who didn’t have nearly as many fans in their final days dawning the red and gold, are gone and had their shoes filled rapidly. Justin Reid brings excellent instincts to Kansas City, and Bryan Cook (rookie from the University of Cincinnati) brings a ferocity to the secondary that was missing in 2021. Those two alongside Juan Thornhill, who has steadily improved since entering the league in 2019, make for a well-rounded and versatile group of safeties.

The varietal strengths, experience, and depth that have entered the discussion in regards to the Chiefs’nfds defensive backs should lead to an identity shift from a group that was very much so in the middle of the NFL pack, to a much more consistent and vastly improved coverage in the secondary.