Final season, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs had one of many NFL’s most impactful cornerback duos: L’Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie. They had been a giant a part of the rationale Kansas Metropolis completed the season ranked second in each factors and yards allowed — and received its second straight Tremendous Bowl.
This season, the protection will attempt to repeat 2023’s elite manufacturing with out Sneed, who was traded to the Tennessee Titans in March. This leaves McDuffie to go a place group for which there are plenty of questions after the All-Professional’s departure.
In 2023, cornerbacks Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams break up time because the third cornerback. Watson continues to be recovering from offseason labrum surgical procedure — so throughout coaching camp, Williams has been within the beginning lineup as the skin nook throughout from McDuffie.
However that isn’t but a sign that he’ll play the second-most cornerback snaps in 2024. After Monday’s observe session at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, Kansas Metropolis defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo confirmed the second cornerback spot continues to be up for grabs.
“It’s fairly open,” Spagnuolo assured reporters. “Preventing for that, you bought Josh, Jaylen, and NJ.”
Spagnuolo was referring to cornerback Nazeeh Johnson, the crew’s seventh-round decide within the 2022 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he earned a roster spot as a particular groups contributor. In 2023, he was impressing his coaches as an out of doors cornerback earlier than being misplaced for the season with a torn ACL early in coaching camp.
Now he’s making an attempt to make up for misplaced time. He’s been standing out to Spagnuolo whereas working with the second crew.
“NJ would have had an interception immediately,” recalled Spagnuolo. “He was set to make it. He has been approaching… I feel it’s vast open, and I feel all three of these guys know that.”
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whereas Watson and Williams have already had the chance to make their mark, Johnson hasn’t. Nonetheless, Spagnuolo has seen a number of good issues from the third-year participant.
“I believed he made plenty of performs final yr throughout this camp,” he Spagnuolo. “We as coaches use a library of tape after I’m sitting there speaking about approach. Simply final night time, [I saw] there was one among NJ [from] final yr, making a very good play.
“He’s getting there. He’s just a little rusty simply due to on a regular basis he’s had off; it has been a full yr. It appears to me like he’s transferring round fairly good. I don’t see limitations.”
Final season, McDuffie manned the slot throughout most of his snaps, aligning inside when the crew introduced in a 3rd cornerback for its nickel alignment. However this yr, he’s been extra targeted on the skin; security Chamarri Conner has been within the slot because the beginning nickel nook. That will naturally go away fewer snaps for the crew’s third and fourth cornerbacks.
McDuffie is also deployed the identical manner Sneed was in 2024 — however it stays to be seen if that’s how Spagnuolo desires to roll.
“Virtually each recreation, we had LJ journey with the highest receiver,” he reminded his listeners. “Whether or not or not we try this with Trent, we’ll see. It’ll be a game-by-game plan. We’ll see who the opposite nook is [and] who the nickel is.
“There are nonetheless plenty of unknowns proper now. We’ve received some work to do again there. We definitely miss LJ. I miss him every single day.”
Though the Chiefs’ protection excelled with shutdown cornerback, it’s vital to keep in mind that it’s not a requirement for Spagnuolo’s protection. Utilizing Sneed in that manner was extra of an adjustment to maximise the out there expertise.
“Within the years that we’ve been right here, we didn’t at all times journey a nook,” famous Spagnuolo. “We did it just a little bit when Charvarius Ward was right here. But it surely’ll be a game-by-game factor.”
The Chiefs believed they may afford to commerce Sneed due to the depth they’d constructed on the place. That’s led to this competitors between third-year gamers — which is able to enhance every of them.
Up to now two seasons, we’ve seen a reasonably balanced rotation between Williams and Watson because the third cornerback. But it surely seems the Chiefs need one among them (or maybe Johnson) to change into the clear starter with McDuffie. That battle is now in full swing — and it could final by means of all the preseason.
