A DB from the Forgotten Chiefs is a contender to succeed L’Jarius Sneed.
To help replace L’Jarius Sneed, the Kansas City Chiefs may go outside the organization, but they also have a few interesting inside prospects who ought to be given a chance to earn a starting position.
According to Charles Goldman, a reporter for A-to-Z Sports Kansas City, one overlooked candidate is starting to show promise. Following an exclusive conversation with the player, Goldman explained to fans the reasons they shouldn’t write 2022 seventh-round pick Nazeeh Johnson off during training camp and OTAs.
Goldman stated on March 23 that “the Chiefs felt comfortable trading CB L’Jarius Sneed because they already have the perfect replacement on the roster.” “[Johnson] was scheduled to start at cornerback on defense in 2023, opposite Sneed and Trent McDuffie, but an injury during training camp ended his season.”
Johnson has been recovering from an ACL tear that occurred in 2024, but he looked prepared to return to the game in the middle of February after posting a video of himself working out on the 18th. The 25-year-old has also stated that he is eager to continue where he left off the previous summer.
According to Nazeeh Johnson, the Chiefs still have high hopes for him.
Johnson informed the reporter that the Chiefs still “had big things planned” for him following his injury during their conversation with Goldman.
In the piece, Goldman described Johnson’s difficult and drawn-out NFL transition from safety to cornerback, which appeared to come together at the last minute prior to Johnson’s injury. In the depth chart, he had even momentarily surpassed rookie sensations Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson.
“It was difficult at first, and I was doubting myself,” Johnson said to the media representative for A-to-Z Sports. They persisted in working with me even though it seemed like you were going from safety to corner and then you had to get hands-on and were getting shouted at for your technique and everything. And I am truly grateful that they collaborated with me.
“What I did at the last camp was a result of everything I learned that entire year—learning how to play corner, believing in my skills, and executing all that stuff,” he said. And everything is coming full circle. I was producing in OTAs and camp for that reason.
Johnson came to the conclusion that he “had no choice” except to retrace his steps.
Chiefs’ Domain You Shouldn’t Question Dave Merritt & Steve Spagnuolo
The Sneed trade has many Kansas City supporters fuming. While some felt the return was insufficient, others believed the Chiefs should have retained the talented defensive back for another season.
While it’s reasonable to have both of those viewpoints, it’s also reasonable to think that the Kansas City coaching staff can effectively develop further prospects in the same manner that they did Sneed.
It’s easy to forget that Sneed played safety in his last collegiate football season after being selected in the fourth round. As a rookie, he played in just nine games, starting six of them, but he did start the season with three interceptions and seven pass defenses.
That being said, Sneed is not an anomaly in this company.
Due in large part to the efforts of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and DBs coach Dave Merritt, among others, the Chiefs have emerged as one of the industry leaders in cornerback development.
Ultimately, McDuffie has already achieved stardom, while Williams and Watson have demonstrated their capacity to perform when called upon. Prior to his injury, Bryan Cook had developed into a starting safety by year two, and Johnson made significant progress the previous summer.
Who’s to say that one of these gamers can’t become Sneed or a comparable character?
With talented UDFA Ekow Boye-Doe and 2023 seventh round pick Nic Jones in the mix, the Chiefs have enough talent to field a competitive CB class in 2024.
Leave a Reply