The Kansas City Chiefs entered the offseason with one clear goal on the defensive side of the ball. They wanted to get stronger and faster on defense, while knowing at the same time their secondary was likely to undergo major changes.
Of course, trading Trent McDuffie and replacing him with rookie star Mansoor Delane was the biggest and most-discussed offseason move in the Chiefs' defense. And we can't forget the multi-year deals Jaylen Watson and Bryan Cook received on the open market as well. That said, Delane wasn't the only promising first-year DB to arrive in Missouri.
As Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report pointed out, the Chiefs also set their sights on Iowa safety Xavier Nwankpa. After going undrafted this past April, the Chiefs were quick to sweep Nwankpa up and bring him into the building. A former high school star who didn't quite live up to the hype in college, he's reportedly already turned some heads in spring workouts and looks to be a guy Chiefs fans should keep tabs on in a wide-open safety room.
A guy who put together an outstanding day was S Xavier Nwankpa. I’m curious to see if he can continue to stack days like today together. He had multiple pass breakups, good anticipating and baited a couple of throws include an INT. #Chiefs #ChiefsCamp41 #ChiefsKingdom
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) July 25, 2026
The Chiefs might have solved their safety depth with UDFA Xavier Nwankpa
"Nwankpa's NFL comp was Bryan Cook, which is somewhat ironic given that Cook just departed the Chiefs in free agency," Davenport wrote. "Nwankpa's 30.75" arms likely contributed to his going undrafted, but he has the toughness and versatility to make a real run at making the final 53 in Kansas City."
There's nothing not to like about Nwankpa's instincts. While his college production doesn't necessarily pop off the charts, his abilities in man coverage and his athleticism at a larger 6'3", 210 lbs make him a natural fit for almost every team.
Of course, he needs to refine his game in zone coverage, and his shorter arms might limit him at the next level. That may have cost him a spot in the first seven rounds of the NFL Draft, but Nwankpa's physicality and football IQ are still impressive enough to be worth the gamble.
Nwankpa is a physical and sturdy hitter who rarely misses tackles. He's a great box safety, and his ability to shut down the run, plus the fact that he can also contribute on special teams, should help him get on the field early and often as a rookie.
Nwankpa scored an unofficial 9.95 RAS (Relative Athletic Score) out of a possible 10.0. That was the seventh-highest score out of 1,242 strong safety prospects dating back to 1987. And while it takes much more than just pure athleticism to make it in the league, that certainly won't hurt.
He's an intriguing player with a strong upside, especially if he can get it together in zone coverage and finish more plays with his ball-hawking instincts. The Chiefs don't need him to provide starting-caliber production right out of the gate, and they can afford to let him grow through his mistakes and slowly climb his way up the depth chart.
Some guys just need more time or the right environment to get it together, and it's hard to think of someone better to bring out the best in Nwankpa than Steve Spagnuolo.
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