From Tyrann Mathieu to Juan Thornhill, Chiefs’ new starting safeties shined in 2019
As the Chiefs prepare for the NFL Scouting Combine and 2020 NFL Draft, we’re evaluating each of the team’s position groups. Previously, The Star looked at the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, defensive line, linebackers and cornerbacks.
Here, the safeties.
2019 FINAL ROSTER: Tyrann Mathieu, Juan Thornhill, Daniel Sorensen, Armani Watts, Jordan Lucas
INJURED RESERVE: Juan Thornhill (knee)
2020 FREE AGENTS: Lucas
Position review
With a one-two punch featuring Mathieu and Thornhill, the Chiefs transitioned to a new starting safety combination and scheme under first-year defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and thrived as one of the top strengths on the team.
Mathieu, one of the Chiefs’ biggest free-agent signings in 2019, proved to be everything the team hoped he would be as a leader and high-impact producer. With Mathieu quickly assuming a leadership role at the strong safety position, their back end of coverage against the pass improved dramatically in 2019.
Mathieu hardly got off the field, too, so he led by example en route to a first-team All-Pro selection. He started all 16 regular-season games and totaled a team-high 1,095 defensive snaps, which represented a head-turning 97.8 percent of the team’s total. And he made the most of that playing time, totaling 75 tackles, two sacks and two quarterback hits, leading the Chiefs in interceptions (4) and passes defensed (12).
Thornhill couldn’t have have found a better player to learn from in his rookie season, and Thornhill and Mathieu fed off each other during the season. Thornhill was making a case for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year before suffering a torn ACL in the regular-season finale.
He finished the season with 16 starts at free safety and totaled 57 tackles, three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, and five passes defensed on 1,011 defensive snaps, which represented the third-most on the team behind Mathieu and cornerback Charvarius Ward (1,062).
With Thornhill out for the playoffs, second-year pro Watts, who finished the regular season with 74 defensive snaps and 280 special teams snaps, appeared set for a bigger role.
Sorensen, though, kept Watts on the sidelines with his versatility to play both safety positions and ability to slide inside as a linebacker in the Chiefs’ three-safety packages. Sorensen made numerous plays in the postseason to energize the Chiefs’ run at a Super Bowl championship. His signature play came in the AFC Divisional Round against Houston, when he sniffed out a fake punt and stopped it before it had a chance to succeed. Cornerback Kendall Fuller also rotated to the safety position to compensate for the loss of Thornhill.
Sorensen appeared in all 16 regular-season games with three starts and totaled 52 tackles, two interceptions, four passes defensed and two quarterback hits on 574 defensive snaps, 352 coming in the final seven games of the season. His 284 snaps on special teams were the third-most on the team.
Like Watts, Lucas’ primary contributions came on special teams, where he logged 267 snaps as a core contributor compared to 41 defensive snaps.
Looking ahead
With Mathieu and Thornhill under contract, the Chiefs appear set for a few years. Thornhill has the coming months to recover from his knee injury, and the Chiefs may err on the side of caution during their offseason workout program by limiting his participation to save him for the regular season.
Sorensen is entering the final year of his contract, which will pay him a base salary of $3.6 million in 2020. He’s continued to prove his worth as an interchangeable player on defense and a core special teams contributor.
Watts has two years remaining on his rookie contract, and he should be ready to take the next step with a year under his belt in Spagnuolo’s scheme.
Nevertheless, it makes sense for the Chiefs to use the draft to add depth and competition to the position group behind Mathieu and Thornhill.
On the chopping block?
While Lucas has tremendous value on special teams, the Chiefs will have opportunities to replace him either through free agency or the draft if he signs with another team. The Chiefs, however, can’t get too wild in spending for a potential replacement. Spotrac projects the Chiefs to have $16.5 million in available salary cap space in 2020.
