The Kansas City Chiefs are not messing around when it comes to rebuilding their defense.
With the 109th pick in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL draft, the Chiefs selected defensive back Jadon Canady.
Canady is a safety/nickel cornerback hybrid. He played for three different schools throughout his five-year collegiate career, starting out at Tulane in 2021, then transferring to Ole Miss in 2023, and finishing out at Oregon in 2025.
Canady is as experienced as a rookie can be. In 49 career games he has played 999 snaps and recorded 154 total tackles, 23 passes defensed, four interceptions, and one forced fumble. In 2025 he allowed a low 41.8 passer rating against opposing quarterbacks. He also allowed just 17 receptions on 289 coverage snaps.
Kansas City Chiefs Will Likely Utilize Jadon Canady as Nickel Cornerback
The Chiefs are pretty well set on boundary cornerbacks with 2026 first-round pick Mansoor Delane, second-year man Nohl Williams, and veteran Kristian Fulton. Kansas City signed Kader Kohou during free agency, who also specializes as a nickel corner. However, he is coming off a torn ACL that cost him the entire 2025 season, and is signed to just a one-year contract.
It appears Canady and Kohou will compete for snaps in the slot, with Canady being the long-term solution. If he doesn’t play much on defense as a rookie, he almost certainly will on special teams, and could a gunner according to Chiefs West Regional scout Greg Castillo (H/T Matt Derrick).
Here is NFL.com’s scouting report on Canady, which concluded with him projected to be a good backup with potential to develop into starter:
“Canady carries a slender frame with short arms but is brimming with confidence as a sticky slot option. He plays with a rare feel for route breaks, frequently sliding his feet to cut direction in advance. He quickly closes distance with a twitchy burst and well-timed contact upon throw arrival. He’s quicker than fast and best from short zone/off-man alignments, allowing his instincts to do their thing. He gets jostled around by bigger players at the top of the route and will have his tackling tested by opposing run games out of 11 personnel. Canady is worth a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick as a future starting slot corner.”
Chiefs Have yet to Address Offensive During Draft
GettyChiefs general manager Brett Veach.
Kansas City had multiple needs on defense, but it is a bit surprising that each of its first four draft picks have been on that side of the ball. In addition to Canady and Delane, the Chiefs have added defensive tackle Peter Woods and edge rusher R Mason Thomas to the team.
They still have two picks in the fifth round (Nos. 169, 176) and one in the sixth (No. 210). Most believe the Chiefs have a need at wide receiver, but coach Andy Reid recently stated the team is higher on their receivers than outside experts.
They may want to take a flyer on an offensive tackle to give Jalyon Moore and Esa Pole some competition for the starting right tackle job. Kansas City seems set at running back, but could take another developmental tight end.
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