The recent signings of a couple of veteran backups didn’t eliminate the possibility the Kansas City Chiefs would draft a safety in the first round of the upcoming draft. But it would seem unlikely, given that the Chiefs have added veterans Stevie Brown and Jimmy Wilson to a collection of safeties that includes starters Eric Berry and Ron Parker.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has the Chiefs selecting a safety, Ohio State’s Vonn Bell, with their first-round choice in his latest mock. Bell seems to have good value where the Chiefs are selecting, which is 28th in the first round.
But the Chiefs have a lot invested at safety already. Berry, unsigned as the franchise player, is counting about $10.8 million against the cap for now and will receive a lucrative contract whenever he signs his new deal. Parker, signed to a new contract last year, counts $3.6 million against the cap this season.
Bell wouldn’t come at a prohibitive price tag. But there are more prudent places for the Chiefs to spend that money. The Chiefs should be able to find someone already on their roster to do the job Bell would do.
Whether that’s Brown, Wilson, Daniel Sorensen, Jamell Fleming, or someone else, that player would do it at a lower cost than Bell would.
