Kansas City Chiefs bolster secondary with safety Mike Edwards

The Kansas City Chiefs struck again in free agency with the signing of safety Mike Edwards.

The Kansas City Chiefs announced a series of new acquisitions on Friday to end the first week of free agency. The latest of which is the news that the secondary is stronger with the signing of safety Mike Edwards.

Edwards is a former third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in the 2019 NFL Draft.

After losing Juan Thornhill to the Cleveland Browns on a three-year deal earlier this week, the Chiefs now have their replacement in Edwards, who started 12 games last year for the Bucs and put up career highs in a number of categories in his fourth season. Last year, he had 82 tackles and 2 interceptions for Tampa Bay while playing 94 percent of snaps in the games he played.

As for the Chiefs’ secondary, the loss of Thornhill means that last year’s second-round pick Bryan Cook will have a primary shot at stepping into the starting role opposite Justin Reid. Cook was the team’s third safety last year and should be ready for more playing time, but having Edwards around keeps the Chiefs from having to worry in case Cook is somehow not ready.

Edwards also adds another veteran element to an overall very young secondary. The Chiefs also lost Deon Bush in free agency so it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see K.C. bring in someone else via free agency or the draft.

Edwards has 21 career pass deflections and 7 interceptions in 58 career games with Tampa Bay, 23 of them as starts.