Chiefs To Sign Safety Mike Edwards

Embed from Getty Images
The Kansas City Chiefs have made a second free agent move on this Friday afternoon. Once again, they have opted to add depth to their defense. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Mike Edwards will have the opportunity to make up to $5 million in incentives on a one-year deal.

#ChiefsKingdom #FPC #NFL #NFLTwitter pic.twitter.com/O2vyNUVR50

— Full Press NFL (@FullPressNFL) March 17, 2023

Just a couple of days ago, Kansas City saw safety Juan Thornhill leave to sign with the Cleveland Browns. It was not all that surprising that Thornhill chose to sign elsewhere. Safety was seen as a secondary need for the Chiefs entering the offseason. Obviously, Justin Reid will be the top dog at the position for Kansas City, holding many responsibilities. Bryan Cook will also be looking to take on a larger role in his second career season in 2023.

Now with Mike Edwards in the fold, what will the Chiefs be able to rely on from him? Plus, will Kansas City be done adding at the safety position with premium assets? Let’s kick it off.

Edwards Allows Chiefs To Mix And Match

With the aforementioned departure of Thornhill, the Chiefs were going to have to find another option to give them three capable safeties. Mike Edwards has been a pretty durable player with the Buccaneers. Overall, this is a safety that has lined up in coverage all over the field. He is comfortable playing over the top, in shallow areas and when matching up against opposing tight ends.

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo loves to mix and match and play evil genius, so to speak. He may not disguise different looks or coverages as often as others. But at the same time, Spagnuolo asks a lot out of his defensive backs. Mike Edwards can be a dependable veteran that he can call upon for specific situations.

Does Edwards have to come in and be a high producer with ball production? Not necessarily. Yet, Kansas City can ask him to line up all over the defensive formation. Mike Edwards is also capable of doing the dirty work, both in coverage and when defending the run.

Kansas City Continues To Add Flexibility Before 2023 NFL Draft

With seemingly all four of the outside free agent additions made by the Chiefs, Kansas City has bolstered needs. Jawaan Taylor will obviously be a prominent piece at offensive tackle. But with Charles Omenihu, Drue Tranquill and now Mike Edwards, the Chiefs have found proven veterans with specific skill sets.

Edwards has the versatility in coverage. Tranquill gives the Chiefs a linebacker who can cover in space. Furthermore, Omenihu is someone who can line up both at EDGE and on the interior, while being a long and fast pass rusher. Not all of these moves will blow people away. However, Kansas City has done well to secure defenders who can wear multiple hats on defense, while adding youth and pieces that are still improving.

The important thing is, Kansas City has plenty of flexibility entering the 2023 NFL Draft in just over a month. Sure, more defensive line help could be added. The Chiefs filled the roles of DL3 or DL4, SAF3 and SAM linebacker adequately, though. You will still see other holes tightened up with future transactions. But largely, the Chiefs have added a sense of reliability with their defensive additions.

Is Safety Need Filled?

As far as the names that will likely be garnering the most snaps at safety, the team need is pretty much filled. Mike Edwards is not a player who will completely prevent Kansas City from still drafting a safety. Even with that in mind, this will not force the Chiefs to draft one in the first two rounds, if that was an option they were originally seeking. Could they still do that? Sure. It is not an urgent position of need to address, though.

Mike Edwards is not the exact same style of player of Cook. There seems to be similar parallels to one another. Cook can be used as a bit of a rover or robber over the middle of the field. On the other hand, there are subtle chances for the Chiefs to put him down in the box. Mike Edwards has previous experience in each regard as well. Kansas City now has their top three guys at safety, with the opportunity to add a rookie on day three of the draft, if they so choose.

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles and analysis in the coming days. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.