Building a solid rotation in the defensive secondary will be one of the Kansas City Chiefs‘ priorities in 2022.
Therefore, it’s no surprise they drafted safeties Bryan Cook and Nazeeh Johnson after not giving Tyrann Mathieu a contract extension.
But they’ve also added cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. via a trade with the Houston Texans.
Kansas City gave a conditional 2024 seventh-round draft choice to acquire the three-year player.
Happy to be here https://t.co/CDBTGqdKDx
— Lonnie Johnson jr. (@Lonnie30johnson) May 3, 2022
Johnson is thrilled to be with the Chiefs after tweeting, “Happy to be here.”
He said this in response to the team’s official tweet which said, “Welcome to The Kingdom @Lonnie30johnson!”
The former Kentucky standout was drafted by the Texans in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
That year, he scored a touchdown off a blocked punt against the Chiefs in their Divisional Round showdown.
However, Travis Kelce got hot, giving Kansas City the comeback victory.
In three seasons with the Texans, Johnson had 168 total tackles, 13 pass deflections, and three sacks.
Building The Chiefs Secondary
Aside from Mathieu, safety Daniel Sorensen also joined the New Orleans Saints.
That situation left Kansas City’s rotation at the position shallow.
That’s why drafting Cook and Johnson fits their needs.
However, it would take time before any of them can match the level of production Mathieu brought.
His tenacity on the field might also be difficult to copy.
They badly need upgrades in the secondary after finishing 27th in passing yards allowed last season at 251.4 per game.
That rate won’t work in their division alone because they will be facing Justin Herbert, Derek Carr, and Russell Wilson.
The Chiefs hope that their new defensive backs will help shut down opposing wide receivers and tight ends.
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