Chiefs Camp Choices: Safeties

Laddie Morse

Ever since the Kansas City Chiefs let Safety Juan Thornhill walk and sign with the Cleveland Browns on a deal that gave him $14M Guaranteed, Kingdom fans have been wondering what K.C. would do to fill in that gap left by him? Thornhill had an up then down career with the Chiefs starting with a very good rookie year in 2019 after drafting him in the 2nd round with the 63rd overall selection. However, he was injured at the end of the 2019 season and never seemed to regain his previous glory, even though he received a Super Bowl ring following that year.

Solution

With Mike Edwards signing over this past offseason and 2022 draft pick Bryan Cook stepping up, the Strong Safety position looks to be improved in 2023. Part of Thornhill’s problem may be that he predicted he would make the Pro Bowl in 2022, but fell far short.

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In 2022, Thornhill had a good year, but not a great year. He played on over 1000 snaps (95%) on defense and had 3 INTs with 9 Passes Defensed. I would have been happy to see him return and while he met his rookie output in INTs, he was targeted over twice as often, and with a 68% completion percentage for opposing QBs. That shows that teams saw him as a weak link in the Chiefs coverage… and he was.

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Justin Reid

Justin Reid singed a three-year $31.5M deal with the Chiefs last offseason to replaced Tyrann Mathieu and did an admirable job. He not only improved as the year progressed but has become a vocal leader on and off the field, much the same as Mathieu was:

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Apparently, in Reid’s eyes, this group of Safeties has improved their communication and confidence. The same was noticed by DC Steve Spagnuolo this Spring:

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“They’re [they –> referring to DBs] like light years ahead. The first day we went out there for a walk-through [in OTAs], the communication – and I’m including Justin Reid in that because last year was all new for him too, even though it was vet, the system was new. And those guys just from a verbal and being tied into that standpoint, they were gelling.”

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“They’re like light years ahead.”

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Boy do I love hearing that!

That pretty much sums up the progress level of the Safety position coming into the Chiefs 2023 Training Camp. Of course, Spags, includes the Cornerbacks in this analysis. In any event, it’s nothing but good news and the Chiefs may presently have the best defensive backfield they’ve had since Andy Reid took over here ten years ago.

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Every position group needs a dynamic leader and that was one of my concerns a year ago in replacing Tyrann Mathieu. However, Justin Reid appears to have taken over the “DC on the field” role Mathieu was so good at. What does that require? –> Communication! Plus a certain level of belief in the person who is dispensing that communication and with Reid donning a brand new fresh Super Bowl ring… it’s hard to see the younger and newer Safeties not paying 100% attention.

It all begins with self-belief… which we know Tyrann Mathieu had in spades… so here’s a look at how Justin Reid thought his own play went as the season unfolded:

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Mike Edwards

Mike Edwards has spent four years in the NFL, all with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who drafted him in the 3rd round of the 2019 NFL Draft, pick #99. He goes 5-foot-10 and weighs 205 lbs.. He has made 7 INTs over the past three seasons with two of those coming in the 2022 season. He runs a 4.5 40 yard dash which is plenty fast enough to track down most free wheeling wideouts.

Edwards knows the pro game, is plenty savvy, and brings four years of knowledge about most QBs in the league to the table, so he should be pretty good. Tampa Bay has had an aggressive defense the past few years and that’s exactly how Edwards plays. However, I’m not counting on him to be the permanent replacement for Thornhill (3:42):

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Nazeeh Johnson

Johnson is a 5-foot-10, 199 lbs Safety who was drafted in the 7th round last year and played strictly on Special Teams, 96 snaps, or 33% of the Special Teams snaps. Special Teams coach, Dave Toub recently said of Nazeeh Johnson:

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“… towards the end of the year Nazeeh Johnson, as a gunner, he was playing better than anybody in the league. So I’m excited about him who[‘s] probably our number one gunner coming in the next year.”

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While Nazeeh Johnson has obviously etched a spot for himself on Special Teams, I’d be surprised if DC Steve Spagnuolo didn’t throw him in on defense for a few plays thus year, especially since he knows how well Johnson has done as a gunner.

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Chamarri Conner

Conner was taken in the 4th round this year in the NFL Draft with the 119 pick overall. I mention this because I think it’s significant for Conner. This draft was loaded at certain positions, enough for me to think Conner was nearly a top 100 prospect. So, we need to consider his value and skills moving forward. TheDraftNetwork.com said of Conner at he time of the Draft:

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“After being part of three state championships in high school, Chamarri Conner took his talents to Virginia Tech and delivered a productive career as a fixture for the Hokies’ defense. He started nearly 50 consecutive games and appeared in more than 60 during his career at Virginia Tech.”

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It’s really only worth mentioning his three state championships because… he has a winning pedigree, and that may be a big part of the reason that Chiefs GM Brett Veach had him high enough on his board to select him at 119. However, winning pedigrees don’t make you a top draft pick, but your performance does and that is apparently exactly what Conner brings to the Chiefs. TheDraftNetwork.com goes on to say of Conner:

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“Conner is a smart and physical player. Conner is an enthusiastic tackler that takes his responsibilities in run support seriously. Conner loves to key, trigger, fly to the football, and finish. He is never passive when given opportunities to hit and tackle. He has played primarily in the slot for the Hokies’ defense and he has the mentality and toughness needed to play closer to the ball.”

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While some may be expecting little from Conner — especially in his rookie year — I’d be surprised if K.C. doesn’t get much more from him (2:54):

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Conner appears to be very good at diagnosing a play, then sticking his foot in the ground and going to make the needed play. If he can study film and get these results noted in the video above, then he will be much more than a “Nazeeh Johnson” type of player in 2022.

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Deon Bush

Bush is entering his 8th year in the NFL and was drafted in 2016 in the fourth round. He played on 7% of the Chiefs defensive snaps last year while showing up on 73% of the Chiefs Special Teams snaps. Since K.C. appears to be loaded at Safety — and others can fill in his role as a Special Teamer — I’m not counting him in this year.

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Anthony Cook

I wouldn’t sleep on UDFA Safety, Anthony Cook, either. He’s 6-foot-0, 185 lbs. runs a 4.57 40 yard dash, and had a ton of experience at the University of Texas. His team mate Keondre Coburn was a 6th round pick for the Chiefs this year so he has a brother in arms which could help him acclimate at the Chiefs Training Camp:

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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