As the Chiefs and general manager Brett Veach look to reboot a stale roster, free agent safety Bryan Cook may be on the outside looking in when it comes to garnering a long-term contract to stay in Kansas City.
A second-round pick in 2022, Cook has been one of the Chiefs' more reliable players on the backend for years now. He’s improved both statistically and mentally, becoming an expert in a complex Steve Spagnuolo defense. He took a major step forward in 2025 after the departure of lead safety Justin Reid, becoming the established leader and communicator on the backend, finishing with a career-high 83 total tackles.
But as any perspective-free agent, having the best season of your career will only increase your price point. And it’s no different with Cook, as he’s projected to garner roughly $15 million annually, per ESPN’s Nate Taylor.
With this information, the Chiefs are undoubtedly considering several scenarios regarding how to move forward with their defensive back room. Whether it be extending or trading CB Trent McDuffie, and signing CB Jaylen Watson and/or Cook long-term, this franchise will have options. Listening to Veach’s comments at the NFL combine, it seems like the team is set on finding a common ground with McDuffie, who may get paid twice what Cook will, making both his and Watson’s Chiefs reunion very unlikely.
Kansas City Has Plenty of Options to Replace Bryan Cook
The problem with losing Cook, however, is who will take his place? Spags seems staunch in his belief in developing Chammari Conner as a corner, and 2024 fourth-round safety Jaden Hicks came into the league with some high potential as an athlete, but hasn’t grasped the pro game enough to make the Chiefs confident he can be a lead communicator on the field.
When it comes to free agency, there are many solid safeties up for grabs. What KC has desperately lacked in recent years at the safety position is the ability to force turnovers and make impact plays. Signing a guy like Kamren Curl from the Rams would play a big part in solving this issue. Curl is just 26 years old, with three years of starting experience, playing over 90 percent of snaps. He is a tackling machine in the open field and has recorded a sack in each of his six years in the league, to go along with two interceptions in 2025. Curl would require a sizable investment from the Chiefs at around $10 million annually, according to Spotrac.
Another free agent to keep your eyes on is Jaquan Brisker, who is a big safety at 6’1” and almost 210 lbs, and was drafted 14 spots before Cook in 2022. Brisker was a full-time starter for Chicago who had at least one sack and one pick each season. Brisker is versatile, with enough speed to cover downfield but can also come up in the box and wreak some havoc with his instincts and closing speed. His price point will likely be higher than Curl's at around $11 million per year, according to Spotrac.
Lastly, not mentioning projected top-10 pick Caleb Downs from Ohio State would do a disservice to what the Chiefs brass is mulling over. Downs is arguably the best safety prospect since Eric Berry in 2010, who the Chiefs drafted fifth overall. He is talented, fast, hits hard, and has the size at 6’0”, 205 lbs. What really separates Downs and makes him a generational prospect is his next-level instincts that pair well with excellent coverage abilities. If Downs drops to pick nine in the draft, Veach would find it really hard not to go best player available with a can’t-miss prospect like Downs.