KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs' secondary added a key piece, Tyrann Mathieu, through free agency, signing the former Houston safety to a thre-year contract.
Mathieu already is putting his stamp on the team through social media.
With the 2019 NFL Draft approaching, it's possible the Chiefs will want to add a running mate as the squad tries to turn around one of the league's worst pass defenses.
New defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo prefers safeties with a high football IQ who are good tacklers with ball-tracking skills, solid route and formation diagnosis, and range.
The Chiefs reportedly tried to add Earl Thomas even after signing Mathieu, which certainly suggests they may not be finished at the position. Here are some safeties who could fit the scheme:
ADDITIONAL NFL DRAFT COVERAGE
[April 10 — Nick Jacobs: Best running back fits]
[April 11 — Nick Jacobs: Best wide receiver fits]
[April 12 — Nick Jacobs: Best tight end fits]
[April 15 — Nick Jacobs: Best interior offensive line fits]
[April 16 — Nick Jacobs: Best offensive tackle fits]
[April 17 — Nick Jacobs: Best edge rusher fits]
[April 18 — Nick Jacobs: Seven-round Chiefs mock draft, v 1.0]
[April 18 — Nick Jacobs: best defensive tackle fits]
[April 19 — Nick Jacobs: First-round mock draft]
[April 19 — Nick Jacobs: Best linebacker fits]
[April 22 — Nick Jacobs: Best cornerback fits]
[Today — Nick Jacobs: Best safety fits]
BEST SAFETY FITS FOR CHIEFS
1. Nasir Adderley, Delaware
Height: 5-11 — Weight: 206 — 40-yard dash: n/a
Adderley is a ball-hawking safety who tracks the deep ball better than most. He has the range to play center field, if needed, is fearless in run support, tackles well and makes his presence known to opponents.
Adderley also shows a natural feel for routes. He can be a free or strong safety with his skill set and does not give up on a play until it is over.
2. Amani Hooker, Iowa
Height: 5-11 — Weight: 210 — 40-yard dash: 4.48
Hooker has a knack for understanding route combinations and how to bait the quarterback into making poor throws. He has a great concept of angles in run support, blitzing and pass coverage.
The former Hawkeye quickly adjusts pursuit angles and theusually takes the correct path to maintain leverage. Hooker also has great vision with the football in his hand after interceptions, but he lacks elite explosiveness and can be a little slow in his quarter turns.
Hooker is a roving strong safety who can take away short and intermediate routes, help in run support and take away half of the field in two-deep looks.
3. Juan Thornhill, Virginia
Height: 6-0 — Weight: 202 — 40-yard dash: 4.42
Thornhill is an instinctive safety against the run. He reads and attacks immediately with his speed, is a sure tackler and understands how to properly breakdown as well as keep outside leverage. The underrated former Cavlaier has solid range and elite closing speed to go with it.
4. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida
Height: 5-11 — Weight: 210 — 40-yard dash: 4.48
Gardner-Johnson is a safety who excels in coverage off the ball, reading routes and driving on the football. He has enough range to play center field, if needed, with great ball-tracking skills to go with it.
Often, Gardner-Johnson times his jumps perfectly on interceptions, baiting the quarterback into a throw. He shows good speed on blitzes, no hesitation in run support and is a solid form tackler.
5. Taylor Rapp, Washington
Height: 5-11 — Weight: 208 — 40-yard dash: n/a
Rapp, who projects as a box safety, is a good athlete but lacks elite level. He makes up for it with his ball-tracking skills and his football IQ.
The former Husky understands the right angles to undercut routes or make a deflection. He closes well despite a sluggish reported 40-yard dash time at his pro day (4.74), blitzes well off the edge and is great in run support.
6. Deionte Thompson, Alabama
Height: 6-1 — Weight: 195 — 40-yard dash: n/a
Thompson has top-end speed and might be the fastest in the group. He closes quicker than most and erases windows that look wide open.
Additionally, Thompson likes to lay big hits with his shoulder, trying to use the full force of that speed to lay out defenders — even sometimes when they are out of bounds. He's a gifted athlete who relies on thattoo much and will need good coaching in the NFL to reach his full potential.
7. Darnell Savage, Maryland
Height: 5-10 — Weight: 198 — 40-yard dash: 4.36
Savage has a high football IQ and firm grasp of route combinations. He has a great feel for what the offense is trying to do and puts himself in great positions to stop it.
While Savage lacks the elite speed to be a single high safety, he can play two deep or cover three without an issue and shines when he can be within 10 yards of the football and attack. He is a great run-support safety.
8. Jonathan Abram, Mississippi State
Height: 5-11 — Weight: 192 — 40-yard dash: 4.45
Abram is more of a run-support enforcer. He wants to hit the ball carrier as hard as he can to dislodge the football, which unfortunately leads him to put his shoulder into tackles rather than wrapping up sometimes.
Abram also lacks an elite close on the ball, but he's got decent long speed.
9. Malik Gant, Marshall
Height: 5-11 — Weight: 209 — 40-yard dash: 4.63
Gant wants to go full steam ahead at all times on the football field. It leads to plays where he can put himself out of position. He is a run-support safety with solid tackling ability but lacks elite speed.
Other safeties who fit the Chiefs: Marquise Blair (Utah), Saquan Hampton (Rutgers), Khari Willis (Baylor), Jaquan Johnson (Miami), Iman Marshall (USC) and Delvon Randall (Temple)
Safety likely isn’t the highest priority for the Chiefs, but it's still unquestionably a need for a passing defense that finished 31st in the NFL last season in opponents' passing yards per game.
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