Jets sack leader Bryce Huff thinks new Chiefs safety Trey Dean III has what it takes to be great in the NFL
The Kansas City Chiefs appear to have got themselves a good one for the 2024 NFL season before the new league year and free agency period even begins. After the 2023 NFL regular season ended, the Chiefs won a bidding war for former New York Jets S Trey Dean III, signing him to the practice squad for […]
The Kansas City Chiefs appear to have got themselves a good one for the 2024 NFL season before the new league year and free agency period even begins.
After the 2023 NFL regular season ended, the Chiefs won a bidding war for former New York Jets S Trey Dean III, signing him to the practice squad for the playoffs. After winning Super Bowl LVIII as a member of the team, Dean is among the practice squad players who the team brought back for the 2024 NFL season.
Why should Chiefs fans be excited about that signing? Just listen to what his former teammate in New York had to say about him. Jets team reporter Ethan Greenberg asked the team's sack leader, Bryce Huff, which player he thought had grown the most during the season. He mentioned Will McDonald IV, the Jets' first-round draft pick in 2023, but he also discussed Dean at length. He explained that he saw a lot of himself in the undrafted rookie out of the University of Florida.
“Trey Dean has been a huge inspiration to me,” Huff said. “Just him coming in undrafted reminds me of myself. He has that fire, that chip on his shoulder. He just came out every day to practice getting better and better every day. He was the same guy every day. Full speed. I really wish he would have been able to dress up throughout the season, but he just wasn’t able to get the opportunity. He’s probably going to be a great safety in this league, just how he works, just relentlessly. He just does not stop, every day.”
That's significant praise from one of the best defensive players on the Jets' roster. Huff went undrafted in 2020 and had to work his way up to a substantial role in New York and has set himself up for a nice payday this offseason. If Dean has that same type of drive, Chiefs fans should feel optimistic about what the future holds for this young and talented player.
What should you know about Chiefs S Trey Dean III?
The 23-year-old Dean did not make the 53-man roster as a rookie with the Jets this past year, winding up on the practice squad after cuts. He wasn't elevated at all during the year, but that seems to be an issue of circumstance rather than skill or drive. During the 2023 NFL preseason, Dean managed a whopping 24 total tackles in four games without a single missed tackle.
As a senior at the University of Florida in 2022, the 6-foot-3 and 206-pound defensive back recorded 81 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, a half sack, four passes defended and two fumble recoveries. He was named Defensive MVP of the East-West Shrine Bowl after breaking up four passes and snagging an interception.
Dean primarily played in the box in New York, but Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo typically prefers a level of interchangeability from his safeties. Dean might be asked to play all sorts of different roles for Kansas City in 2024. His size suggests that he could even play the dime linebacker position that has been occupied by safeties like Daniel Sorensen in the past under Spags. Undoubtedly, he gives this defense another intriguing depth piece on defense with a very high ceiling.
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