After a productive free agency and NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs kick off their Organized Team Activities (OTAs) next week on May 27. OTAs are the first opportunity for veterans to show coaches how much they've grown from the end of last season. For Kansas City, there is no area of their roster that needs to show more improvement than their cornerback room.
In 2024, outside of Trent McDuffie, the Chiefs struggled in coverage. As a result, they added Kristian Fulton and rookie Nohl Williams to bolster the room this offseason. The addition of both players pushes others down the depth chart.
One of those players is former seventh-round pick in 2022, Nazeeh Johnson. If Johnson doesn't show growth during OTAs, he will be at risk of losing playing time during the preseason, which would likely lead to him being cut.
Nazeeh Johnson Must Show Improvement During OTAs to Keep a Roster Spot
Last year, Johnson struggled in coverage. The 25-year-old recorded a 51.2 coverage grade and allowed a 60.9% competition rate against him, according to PFF. Thus, Johnson's first order of business during OTAs is proving that his technique, awareness, and consistency have improved.
If he fails to do so, he risks being buried on a depth chart where there is little margin for error. As it stands now, Johnson will likely start OTAs getting a majority of the third team reps, but could also see some reps with the fourth stringers. In order to keep his spot, he must be playing significantly better than the third-stringers.
Though that might be difficult early on due to the lack of physicality, the 25-year-old must do everything he can to prove he should stay with the third stringers. Currently, he will be fighting for snaps with both Nohl and Joshua Williams. The latter of the two also mightily struggled last year.
Therefore, it likely those two could be fighting for the last spot on the 53-man roster or even the practice squad. That is why it is imperative for Johnson to have a great OTA period.