Coming into the 2026 NFL Draft, safety felt like a major need for the Chiefs, with many draft analysts mocking the top safety in the draft, Caleb Downs, to Kansas City in the first round. Despite the public perception, Kansas City finished the 2026 NFL Draft without adding a safety prospect, leaving many confused as to what the back end of the Chiefs' secondary would look like this season.
The Chiefs' secondary took major hits this offseason with the trade of superstar Trent McDuffie and the departures of Bryan Cook and Jaylen Watson in free agency; the team needed an overhaul. In free agency, the Chiefs' biggest move in the secondary was adding safety Alohi Gilman. Then, in the draft, Kansas City added two top corners with Mansoor Delane and Jadon Canady, but the secondary unit was still lacking depth.
#Iowa Safety Xavier Nwankpa is the definition of a thumper. Runs the alley with authority, can drive and chase down plays on the perimeter, wasn't tested much deep downfield but has the range to do it. Didn't have a lot of ball production this year but forced 2 fumbles.
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) February 20, 2026
I like… pic.twitter.com/61f0tCtavP
Why the Chiefs targeted Xavier Nwankpa after the draft
Immediately following the NFL Draft's conclusion, the Chiefs got busy, signing key UDFAs whom they felt could be impactful players in the league. One of their top targets came at safety, landing Iowa star Xavier Nwankpa, whom many were surprised fell out of the draft the way he did. I personally know analysts who had Nwankpa graded as a Day 2 prospect, and the Chiefs landing him as a UDFA pickup felt like a steal.
A clear path to a roster spot in Kansas City
Now, as we head into training camp, Nwankpa's path to making the roster is much clearer than that of your average run-of-the-mill UDFA addition. As of today, the Chiefs have just two locks to make the roster out of camp: Gilman and Jaden Hicks. Beyond those two, the path is open, and Nwankpa will have a strong chance to make the team and could potentially find playing time in Week 1. Beyond Gilman and Hicks, the biggest competition will be Chamarri Conner, Christian Roland-Wallace, and fellow UDFA DeShon Singleton.
Show me Iowa S Xavier Nwankpa (6’2, 215) as the next Jeff Ulbrich “Safety ->Speed backer”
— Clint Goss (@NFLDraftDome) December 17, 2025
Previous Examples:
✈️Jets LB Jamien Sherwood (6’2, 216) Auburn safety
♦️Falcons LB Malik Verdon (6’4, 220)
Iowa State safety
♦️Falcons LB Divine Deablo (6’3, 223)
VA Tech safety
🎥 @NTB_43 https://t.co/BmB1NdAYdi pic.twitter.com/3mIVun7CP7
For Conner, he is likely to make the team despite struggling last year when he spent most of his time playing out of the slot. This year, the team hopes he can move back to his old role and find the success he had early in his career. As for Roland-Wallace, he found measurable success as a primary corner last year, and while he is likely to make the team, most people see him as a corner first, meaning a safety spot would likely remain open.
Nwankpa almost feels like the favorite to land the fourth safety spot, and if Kansas City elects to move on from Conner via trade, he could compete for significant snaps early in the year. The Chiefs love players like Nwankpa, with his big 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame, impressive tackling skills, and range to make plays all over the field. The Chiefs lack a true free safety, and while Nwankpa can struggle to react to the ball, he has incredible range and the skills to make plays on the ball from sideline to sideline.
As of today, I would give Nwankpa at least a 50 percent chance of making the team, and as the offseason goes on, if he performs well, that number will only rise. Nwankpa has all the tools that Steve Spagnuolo loves to see in the secondary, and if his production at Iowa carries over to the league, he could be a game changer for the Chiefs this season. This is a name all fans should know heading into the season, and his performance in the preseason will be one to watch very closely.
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