The Kansas City Chiefs have been hard at work in the first few days of NFL free agency, pulling off multiple moves that suggest there's a big plan moving forward, particularly considering some of the major moves surrounding the secondary.
Justin Reid is no longer part of the team, representing a major loss for in the defensive back room under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
General manager Brett Veach has done a tremendous job of finding mid-to-late-round options at the position, suggesting there could be a resoluton on the way. Regardless, he's made things more complicated by a pair of decisions on the third day of free agency.
Chiefs offered right of first refusal tenders on CB Nazeeh Johnson and LB Jack Cochrane. Those are contract offers of $3.263 million for the 2025 season.
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) March 12, 2025
Restricted free agents not offered tenders: TE Peyton Hendershot, CB Keith Taylor and K Spencer Shrader.
Chiefs Offer Tenders to Nazeeh Johnson and Jack Cochrane in Free Agency
According to Chiefs insider Matt Derrick, the organization election to offer a right-of-first-refusal tender to both cornerback Nazeeh Johnson and linebacker Jack Cochrane.
That means that if any opposing team offers either player a contract, Kansas City can match it. Should the Chiefs want to keep either player, both of whom have been key contributors during the last couple of seasons, they now have the opportunity.
Johnson in particular has been the subject of much debate and the franchise's signing of former Los Angeles Chargers corner Kristian Fulton suggests that the coaching staff doesn't have that much confidence in the young player. He's been a valuable contributor on special teams, though Johnson fell short in the biggest moments when trusted in coverage following Jaylen Watson's injury.
Neither player has ever been considered a long-term starter on the defense, yet this complicates matters. Even if they were trusted to play meaningful snaps, it appears obvious that Spagnuolo would regret needing to rely on either guy. Special teams coordinator Dave Toub may rely on them, though the defense can't.
It'd be surprising if another organization offered either player a contract. If they do though, the Chiefs are ready to keep them.