Chiefs position review: Safeties
Bryan Cook leads a trio of players ready to step up
[Editor’s note: KC Sports Network writers Herbie Teope and Tyler Brown look at the Chiefs’ position groups on both sides of the ball with a series of articles ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.]
From Eric Berry to Tyrann Mathieu to Justin Reid over the past decade, the Chiefs have always possessed a standout producer and leader on the backend of coverage.
Someone must step up now because Reid signed with the New Orleans Saints during free agency.
Filling the void won’t be easy, as Reid consistently ranked among the Chiefs defense in tackles. He also proved durable, appearing in 49 regular-season games (all starts) while playing 97.3% of defensive snaps over the past three seasons. And don’t forget Reid could perform as a kicker in emergency situations.
While there will be a mini transition phase, the Chiefs already boast a group of safeties ready to step up.
OUTLOOK
Bryan Cook, Chamarri Conner and Jaden Hicks currently project as the top three safeties.
The trio are all recent draft picks, of course, so Kansas City has done a quality job of developing their own.
Cook, however, enters the final year of his rookie contract, which pays a base salary of $1.42 million. And as the late great Terez Paylor was fond of saying, “The contract year is undefeated.”
Cook, a 2022 second-round pick, comes off a season where he logged career-high totals in tackles (78), interceptions (2) and passed defensed (5), all of which provides a preview of what might come in 2025 as he plays for a new contract.
Conner, who joined the Chiefs in 2023 as a fourth-round pick, has become the Swiss Army Knife of the safety group. His versatility allows defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to line up Conner at either safety position or in the nickel cornerback role to defend against a slot receiver.
Hick, the team’s fourth-round pick in 2024, appeared in 17 games with one start last season. He played just 330 defensive snaps (31%) in a backup role, but there’s no doubt he made the most of his playing time by notching three interceptions, which led the defense. Hick also saw action on special teams, logging 307 snaps (71%).
Veterans Deon Bush and Mike Edwards, both of whom have previously spent time with the Chiefs in recent seasons, give this position group a good mix of youth and experience.
Nevertheless, general manager Brett Veach has found success in identifying a safety in the middle rounds of the NFL draft, evidenced by Conner and Hicks in consecutive drafts.
With eight total picks in the upcoming draft, it wouldn’t surprise if Veach uses a pick to bring in another safety with a view to bolster depth.