This offseason, the Chiefs lost star safety Justin Reid to the Saints in free agency, leaving a fairly significant hole on the defense that needed to be filled. The Chiefs are also slated to lose two of their top corners in Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams to free agency next offseason.
They hope to see young guys like Jaden Hicks, Bryan Cook, Chamarri Connor, and Kristan Fulton step up and make an impact. Regardless, the Chiefs may look to make an addition in the secondary through the draft this offseason, so today I took a look at my favorite five options.
1. Jonas Sanker, Virginia
Jonas Sanker is one of my favorite hybrid safeties in this year's draft and would be a perfect fit for the Chiefs' defense. His ability to play all over the field is exactly what Steve Spagnuolo likes in a safety prospect and is exactly what the Chiefs should be looking to add in the draft later this month.
The Virginia safety is maybe the best-tackling safety in the entire draft, and his ability to impact the game in a variety if ways is incredibly apparent on film. Sanker has had over 200 tackles in his last two seasons of college football, as well as 12 TFLs and four fumble recoveries. But Sanker is far more than just a box safety and his coverage skills show up on film as well.
With his incredible athletic upside, he is able to lock down tight ends with physicality, and he is quick enough to match with slot receivers and running backs in coverage. He has a great blend of speed and strength that allows him to stick with anyone in coverage, while also being able to make impact tackles all over the field.
There is no better fit in this year's draft for the Chiefs at safety than Jonas Sanker. I have a third-round grade on him and would love to see the Chiefs take him with pick No. 95 or 133 if he falls into the fourth round. Sanker would make an immediate impact on the Chiefs' defense and his upside to be a long-term starter makes him one of my favorite players in this year's draft.
2. O'Donnell Fortune, South Carolina
I just included Fortune in the 7th round of my most recent Chiefs mock draft, and here is what I had to say earlier this week:
Fortune quickly caught my eye when watching film of South Carolina's stacked defensive line, and he continued to make plays and became a rapid riser on my draft board over the last three months. He is an impressive athlete who can do it all on the outside, with great length and ball skills to attack and make plays for his team. The Chiefs love these long athletic corners who they can get on Day Three and mold into their defensive scheme, and Fortune is just that.
The Chiefs have had so much success in the later rounds drafting corners, that it should almost be rule of law for them to draft one on Day Three. With Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams likely hitting free agency in 2026, the Chiefs will need corners for the future. Trent McDuffie is one of the best corners in football, but in order for him to be effective, the team will need solid corners around him.
If Kansas City is going to add a corner to help bolster its secondary, it should take a chance on one of its three seventh-round picks. Fortune would be a great fit for the Chiefs and has the potential to be a full-time contributor for the next several seasons if he develops the way I think he can.