Despite the heights of the last three years, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX loss forced a brutally honest look in the mirror. “Chiefs’ Kingdom” had such a powerful reign over the NFL reality checked by a 40-22 beatdown of the Philadelphia Eagles. So while they reign supreme over the AFC, it is clear they are vulnerable and must key on any potential weaknesses. That was a daunting task at the start of free agency with little cap space relative to the assets they wanted to retain.
However, the Chiefs have managed a solid campaign to ensure some retention. The team placed a franchise tag on right guard Trey Smith, keeping the most valuable piece on their offensive line. Kansas City also struck a deal with linebacker Nick Bolton to keep him in town. They have also expanded outside the confines of their current group, adding Jaylon Moore and Elijah Mitchell among others. In turn, the Chiefs have locked in some retentions for their depth heading into offseason programming.
The latest is cornerback Nazeeh Johnson, mainly a special teams contributor in his role with the Chiefs. The announcement came via the team’s X page. Johnson has made in into game action in the 2022 and 2024 seasons, appearing in 16 games last year.
Related: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Make Major ‘Puppy-Love’ Commitment However, he is somewhat controversial around the fan base given his apparent struggles of late. Johnson ranked 165 of 222 eligible cornerbacks in Pro Football Focus’ rankings while conceding a 107.7 passer rating in coverage.
Indeed, one site insists that Johnson is a “most-despised” figure in Chiefs Kingdom. Given those struggles, he will likely have to work his way back into a contributing role in the secondary against the projected defensive backs and potential rookie signings. There is no guarantee he makes the final 53-man roster.
But Kansas City has valued his presence enough thus far to allow him to compete in the offseason. Perhaps he learns from his expanded role last season to prove something that the coaching staff and fan base has not seen just yet.
