2021 Projected KC Chiefs Defensive Starters Post-Draft

Our defensive scheme is a 4 - 3 (4 Down Linemen, and 3 Linebackers) base 7 man front with a 1 gap Under Front alignment (Defensive Line shifts to the weakside, and the Strong Side Outside Linebacker moves up on the line of scrimmage. That makes the defense look like a 5-2 with 43 personnel. Sometimes, the Strong or Free Safety will drop down close to the line of scrimmage, and the defense becomes an eight-man front, or what’s known as the 46 (Brian Dawkins in Philadelphia, and probably Tyrann Matthieu in KC). Now everybody in the NFL does a little bit of everything because it’s the pros and a copycat league. But our defensive coordinator comes from the Jim Johnson tree (‘99 – ‘08 with the Philadelphia Eagles) and prefers a 2 High Safety alignment with Press Man Coverage, mixed in with Man Blitzes, Double-A Gap Blitzes, and Zone Blitzes depending on the situation also.

2021 Projected KC Chiefs Defensive Starters in my opinion after the draft:

LDE: Taco Charlton
LDT: Jarran Reed
RDT: Chris Jones

RDE: Frank Clark
LOLB (SLB): Willie Gay Jr.

MLB: Anthony Hitchens
ROLB (WLB): Nick Bolton

LCB (CB1): Charvarius Ward

RCB (CB2): L’Jarius Sneed

FS: Juan Thornhill
SS: Tyrann Mathieu
 
In the Nickel (5 DBs) against a spread offense, take out Anthony Hitchens, and replace with a Slot Corner. Rashad Fenton.
 
In Dime (6 DBs), take out Willie Gay and Anthony Hitchens. Add another Safety, Armani Watts, along with Rashad Fenton.