Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Deandre Baker. (Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)
The Chiefs’ draft featured the addition of several new faces on defense, which gives them much-needed athleticism but also puts other veterans in danger of losing their jobs.
The Chiefs went through somewhat of a roster turnover this offseason, losing major pieces such as Tyreek Hill and Tyrann Mathieu. In turn, they’ve bolstered their depth at wide receiver and loaded up on defense via the NFL Draft.
Their defensive overhaul will pay huge dividends this upcoming season, but it also may force veterans off of the team. These three guys saw their position groups be strengthened, putting them in danger of being released.
3 Chiefs who could be cut following the 2022 NFL Draft
3. DeAndre Baker, Cornerback
Brett Veach has always been known to fill the cornerback position via the late rounds of the draft, UDFA’s, or one-year veteran additions. This year, his philosophy took a turn. The Chiefs drafted Trent McDuffie in the first-round, Joshua Williams in the fourth-round, and Jaylen Watson in the seventh-round. They then traded for former Texans cornerback Lonnie Johnson post-draft.
All of these moves suggests that Veach was unhappy with the current group of corners, and when looking at who may be the odd man out, DeAndre Baker stands out. The former Giants’ first-round pick may be on the outs in Kansas City.
Baker has shown flashes with the team, but has so far been unable to put together solid tape for the team to be able to rely on him any more than depth and special teams. It may be better for him to find an opportunity elsewhere.