KC Chiefs take physical safety from Cincinnati with second Round 2 selection: NFL Draft
.png "The newest Chiefs safety comes with a reputation as a big hitter, which will be a welcome addition for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.")
The Chiefs went back to defense with their second selection of the NFL Draft’s second round on Friday in Las Vegas, taking Cincinnati strong safety Bryan Cook with the No. 62 overall pick.
Cook, 6-foot, 206 pounds, played five college seasons, the first two at Howard. He started his college career as a cornerback and has been lauded for his versatility.
“He can line up in the box or play deep,” said Chiefs director of football operations Mike Borgonzi. “He’s a physical, smart player.”
Last year, a season in which the Bearcats played in the College Football Playoff, Cook recorded five tackles for losses, 11 passes defensed and two interceptions. He was one of just four FBS players to record 95 tackles and 10 passes defensed.
“As a safety you have a lot of things you have to get done,” Cook said. “But once the ball is snapped you have a trigger. As a safety you have to able to do what a corner does, what a linebacker does.”
Cook was a four-unit special teams player for Cincinnati in 2020 and could see similar responsibilities with the Chiefs.
The Chiefs’ safety room will have a new look this season. The team signed Justin Reid to a three-year deal in March and bid farewell to veteran Daniel Sorensen.
And star free agent Tyrann Mathieu remains unsigned but is unlikely to return.
This story was originally published April 29, 2022 at 8:54 PM.