The Kansas City Chiefs spared no effort in revamping the defense this offseason. More specifically, they went to great lengths to bolster the secondary by adding younger pieces to replace departing veterans.
Whether that will be better in the long run remains to be seen, and it definitely has the potential to. However, they won't have much time to get up to speed before their season opener against the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos pulled off one of the biggest moves of the offseason when they traded for Jaylen Waddle. They already had a solid guy in Courtland Sutton, and Pat Bryant has drawn rave reviews as a potential breakout candidate, so the Chiefs' new secondary will certainly have its hands full.
Steve Spagnuolo's secondary will be battle-tested from the jump
With Bryan Cook, Jaylen Watson, and Trent McDuffie no longer in the building, the Chiefs will turn to rookies Mansoor Delane and Jadon Canady, second-year budding star Nohl Williams, and proven veterans L'Jarius Sneed and Alohi Gilman.
Trying to dominate a physical and sturdy pass catcher like Sutton was already a concern, and adding a twitchy playmaker like Waddle by his side only makes it more challenging. Waddle enters an improved quarterback situation, and he has already shown that he can be a primary pass catcher after stepping up for the injured Tyreek Hill.
Waddle is coming off hauling in 64 receptions on 100 targets for 910 yards and six touchdowns. He's elite in man coverage and knows how to use his quick first step to create separation right off the snap, and the Chiefs will have to stay on their toes to stay close to him.
Sean Payton's offenses are known for their spread-out sets and ability to isolate defenders. The Chiefs have two unproven guys (Canady and Delane), a first-time starter (Williams), and a former star who's past his prime (Sneed), so there will be plenty of matchups to attack and ways to get guys on an island.
Of course, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is also a master of disguise and shifts, so this will be an interesting chess match between two savvy football minds. But as much as we'd hate to admit it, the fact of the matter is that the Broncos have experience on their side.
That said, the Chiefs' lack of reps might also be a blessing in disguise here. While the Chiefs know more or less what the Broncos will throw at them, the Broncos don't have tape of the new-look secondary; they'll have the element of surprise.
This will be an incredibly challenging matchup to start the season, but it will also be the best measuring stick to determine where this defense truly stands. Also, sometimes there's just not much you can do against special players, and unfortunately, Waddle falls into that category.
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