New Chiefs Arrival Already Pushing for Starting Job

Chiefs fans widely expect an under-the-radar cornerback to emerge as a legitimate weapon in the secondary following the trade of L'Jarius Sneed and one surprising name was floated as a potential starter by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

The signing of former second-round CB Kelvin Joseph to a reserve/future contract back wasn't considered a blockbuster move, but it sounds like Joseph is making a strong case to win a starting job.

He impressed at OTAs and while nothing is set in stone, Spagnuolo loves what he sees out of Joseph thus far.

Steve Spagnuolo Hints at Potential Starting Role for CB Kelvin Joseph

Joseph missed some practice time at the start of camp with an injury, hence Spagnuolo's "catch-up" comment. The rest of his answer, however, gave insight into how the coaching staff views the talented corner.

Spagnuolo said Joseph will be "right in the thick of things with the other cornerbacks. He's made enough plays to warrant being with that first group."

That may come as a surprise. We already know Trent McDuffie is a lock to start. Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson, Nazeeh Johnson, and Chamarri Conner have all been hyped up this offseason, not to mention incoming rookie Kamal Hadden. If Joseph is actually getting first-team snaps, that means he's leapfrogged most of those guys.

Of course, Johnson and Conner both have the versatility to play safety as well. Spagnuolo could be talking about pure corners, though it's not completely clear from his comments. Nonetheless, Joseph is making moves up the depth chart and could soon become a major contributor for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions.

One man's trash is another man's treasure. Joseph bounced around the NFL after flaming out in Dallas but may have found an ideal spot in Kansas City.

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