Chiefs: Latest signing is more important than you may think
When you piece it all together, the Chiefs are really making great moves.
Free agency has been a little crazy for everyone. For the Kansas City Chiefs, they have lost some key players, but also added some guys they feel will make the team better.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Chiefs WR1 last season, is now with the New England Patriots. Orlando Brown Jr. is now with the Chiefs' biggest rival, the Cincinnati Bengals in what was a shocking signing, and Juan Thornhill signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns.
But, it feels like for every player they have lost, they added one too. Well, besides for Smith-Schuster, which we fully expect them to do so eventually.
They added left tackle Jawaan Taylor, linebacker Drue Tranquill, and now safety Mike Edwards.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Chiefs are signing Edwards to a one-year deal worth $3 million with a chance to get to $5 million with incentives.
If you ask me, the Chiefs got a steal on their last two signings. Tranquill was the Chargers' best linebacker who led the team in tackles. Edwards is coming off his best season, yet they got both of them for very, very cheap.
Edwards has played in 58 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the last four seasons. Last year he finished with 82 tackles and two interceptions with a pick-six.
I think Edwards could be the replacement for Thornhill. Edwards is solid in coverage, and he knows how to play the ball, but he does have his lapses. Thornhill had three picks last year, which is important because he was the only safety to register an interception in 2022. Edwards will help make up for that loss of production.
But this move was more about the scheme, as the Chiefs ran some three safety sets last season with Bryan Cook, Thornhill, and Reid. Whether it's big dime or big nickel, they like to have three safeties on the field, and we know that Steve Spagnuolo, the defensive coordinator, likes to use multiple defensive backs in many different areas on defense.
Cook also could be the replacement, as the soon-to-be second-year safety showed so many flashes last year. He made plays that won games. Look at the AFC Championship game when Cook batted down a pass that turned into an interception.
Edwards comes in at a versatile position where he can do whatever Spagnuolo needs him to do, and can start or come off of the bench. And, it seems like he is only getting better.
The Chiefs may have something up their sleeve with this signing,
