The Kansas City Chiefs' secondary will look extremely different in 2026. Jaylen Watson, Trent McDuffie, and Bryan Cook are all gone, and rookie Mansoor Delane will have all eyes on him as their prized first-round selection.
Nohl Williams is a strong candidate to be Steve Spagnuolo's other boundary starting cornerback after a promising but limited rookie season. Chamarri Conner will likely play more safety after Cook's departure, leaving a big void in the nickel spot.
That's why Jadon Canady's strong start to training camp cannot be overlooked. According to Chiefs insider Matt McMullen, Canady was making plays all over the field in 7-on-7 drills before camp, logging multiple pass breakups and one INT on red-zone drills.
Jadon Canady could be Spags newest Swiss Army Knife
Canady had an up-and-down collegiate career, and he's admittedly undersized and a bit of a tweener. However, he plays bigger and stronger than his size, has a knack for finishing plays, and has extensive experience in the slot.
Admittedly, spending five years in college and playing for three different programs is far from ideal. However, that also allowed him to move all over the defensive backfield, taking extensive snaps at safety and excelling at nickel.
The Chiefs don't have that many options at the position. Chris Roland-Wallace is young and underwhelming, and Kader Kohou might not even make the 53-man roster; he was always there mostly for depth purposes.
While he's not a perfect prospect by any means, Canady put himself right back on the map with a strong year with the Oregon Ducks, logging 39 tackles, eight passes defensed, two interceptions, and one tackle for loss.
His close-out speed and anticipation help him stay in front of the play, and while he's not particularly strong, he knows how to use angles and technique to knock down his opposition with timely tackles. He might be a bit too small to play outside, but he can certainly handle his own in the slot against smaller opposition.
For years, the Chiefs rallied behind their championship-caliber, veteran defense, but last year proved that it was time to get younger, slimmer, and faster. Canady fits all those boxes, not to mention he's on the same timeline as their new star cornerback.
Of course, he still has to earn his stripes, just like everybody else, and nothing will be handed to a fourth-round pick; he'll have to fight. That said, he looks like the most natural fit to be the team's starter in the slot, not only because of his skill set and physical tools but simply because he offers more upside at the position.
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