It’s been a rough week and change for former Kansas City Chiefs safety Mike Edwards — a veteran player who just won his second career Super Bowl ring with KC in February.
The Buffalo Bills decided to release Edwards on November 5 after stealing the rotational cog away from the Chiefs on a one-year deal that included $1.6 million in guaranteed money. Exactly eight days later on November 13, the veteran safety was cut by the Tennessee Titans according to team reporter Jim Wyatt.
Keep in mind, the Titans only signed Edwards on November 6, and he was inactive for Tennessee’s Week 10 outing against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Edwards appeared in just three games for the Bills this season after suiting up for all 17 with the Chiefs in 2023. Pro Football Reference only credited him with 1 total tackle in Buffalo off 20 total snaps (7 on defense, 13 on special teams).
Does a Chiefs Reunion Make Sense for Mike Edwards?
Whenever an ex-Chiefs player is released, you have to consider the possibility that Kansas City will ponder a reunion. Head coach Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo love bringing in veteran players that are familiar with their system, and Edwards served as reliable depth last season — starting in all four playoff contests after the injury to Bryan Cook.
Having said that, KC is looking pretty well-stocked at the safety position at the moment.
Rookies Jaden Hicks and Christian Roland-Wallace have shown real promise behind starters Cook and Justin Reid, and let’s not forget that nickel specialist Chamarri Conner is also a member of this roster. That gives the Chiefs five potential options at safety, should they need them, and it’s hard to see Edwards swiping a roster spot from a member of this group.
Of course, one could never rule out a practice squad signing — assuming Edwards is willing to take on such a role.
Veteran defensive back/special teamer Deon Bush is the only reserve safety that’s currently on the Chiefs practice squad. Edwards could join him, bolstering the room even further, but KC’s real secondary need is at cornerback.
In 21 total appearances with the Chiefs last year, Edwards recorded 1.0 sack, 7 pass breakups, 2 tackles for a loss, 4 turnovers (2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles) and 1 defensive touchdown. One of his two KC interceptions came during the postseason off of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Chiefs Rookie Jaden Hicks Plays Career-High 16 Defensive Snaps vs. Broncos
After impressing throughout the summer, Hicks has been eased in over the course of his rookie campaign. In fact, his 16 defensive snaps against the Denver Broncos were a career-high, while an undrafted prospect like Roland-Wallace has already logged three weekly snap counts of 15, 31 and 22.
The majority of that difference in usage seems to come down to role and circumstance, however.
Roland-Wallace has served as a backup nickel in 2024 more often than not, while Hicks has been used at safety and on special teams. Defensively, that’s led to more opportunities for the former, although Hicks’ overall usage has been more consistent.
There are simply just less snaps to go around on the back end with Reid and Cook rarely leaving the field.
But that’s just the immediate hierarchy at the position. Long-term, there is a lot to like for the Chiefs at safety between Cook, Conner, Hicks and Roland-Wallace. So much so, that it might make sense to let Reid walk in free agency next spring.
The veteran team leader has done nothing but win since arriving in Kansas City, but he carries a cap hit of $14.25 million in 2024. If the Chiefs wanted to bring that number down, they could have done so by extending Reid and spreading out his cap hit into future seasons.
That didn’t happen, and that could hint that general manager Brett Veach is contemplating parting ways.
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