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Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid talks to the media at the 2024 NFL Combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
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The Kansas City Chiefs boast one of the most explosive rosters, especially on offense, across the NFL and only became more dynamic during the NFL Draft.
After adding Xavier Worthy to a receiving corps that already includes Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes’ supporting cast has the chance to be more prolific than ever. At least, more reliable than it was a year ago when Chiefs receivers dropped a league-high 41 passes.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
However, after expending meaningful resources offensively during the NFL Draft and free agency, the Chiefs may need to turn some attention to the defense.
Trading away L’Jarius Sneed created a hole at cornerback, which one NFL analyst believes is now the most glaring on the roster.
Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) breaks up a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) in the first quarter in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Aaron Schatz suggests the Chiefs must figure out a way to upgrade at cornerback before the 2024 season kicks off in Arrowhead this fall.
“The Chiefs are the defending Super Bowl champions,” Schatz writes for ESPN. “So it is difficult to find holes on their roster. Wide receiver may be a problem if Rashee Rice’s legal issues lead to a long suspension, but even after Rice, the Chiefs do have Skyy Moore, Justin Watson and whatever they can get out of Kadarius Toney.
“There’s less depth behind the starting cornerback trio of Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie. The fourth corner is probably sixth-round rookie Kamal Hadden. Nic Jones, a seventh-round pick last year, barely played in his rookie season. Everyone else is a street free agent. This would be a great landing spot for a veteran such as Ahkello Witherspoon, who might be willing to take a small contract to go ring-chasing as a depth player.”
If the season began today, McDuffie, Williams, and Watson make a fine trio, with McDuffie approaching an All-Pro caliber level of play at the position.
However, if the Chiefs are looking to add quality depth, signing Xavien Howard may be the kind of move that significantly moves the needle.
Howard, 30, would provide quality veteran leadership and is coming off a 45-tackle and one-interception campaign for the Miami Dolphins.
Released by the Dolphins as a cap casualty, Howard is the premier cornerback available in free agency and could be lured to the Chiefs by the chance to chase a Super Bowl ring.
Xavien Howard, Miami’s best player, is one of the few shutdown corners in the league. Miami’s secondary is already thin and CB Byron Jones is already hurt to start training camp, so Miami needs its Pro Bowl corner to stay healthy. Mark Brown/Getty Images