The Chiefs despite the down year they had last season still had a very good to a great defense that was top 10 across the board in all the major metrics/grades of defensive play. If they plan on maintaining/improving upon their defensive form from this past season heading into 2026 then not just their coaching but their personnel will need to be strong. Here I will go into detail assessing the secondary personnel of the Chiefs heading into the 2026 season.
Set to start at the first cornerback spot is newly acquired former Chief L’Jarius Sneed, Sneed spent the first four seasons of his career in Kansas City playing very well before having an injury riddled abysmal two-year stint with the Titans. Sneed has since rejoined the Chiefs and can be expected to recapture the strong form he had previously.
Starting at the strong safety as of now is 2023 4th rounder Chamarri Conner who has had an up and down career and may be better suited in a reserve role. Conner played in a reserve role at both safety and corner in each of his first two seasons and graded in the well above average range both years. Conner then transitioned to a starting role for the first time in the 2025 season but struggled grading in the well below average range. Perhaps as Conner heads into year 2 as a starter, he can recapture the strong form he had to begin his career as a backup.
Currently listed as the free safety starter is veteran Alohi Gilman who has an electric ceiling but struggles to remain consistent. Gilman in five seasons where he has taken extended snaps has graded below average twice, but the remaining two times he graded well above average and elite in terms of an overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus among players at his position. If Gilman is on his A game, he is potentially a borderline elite to an elite starter, but he is very inconsistent.
2026 1st rounder Mansoor Delane is set to start at the other primary cornerback spot going sixth overall which is rare for a defensive back to be taken that high. Delane earned first team All-SEC honors and unanimous All-American honors during his last season in college. Delane will be expected to become a star in the NFL but will perhaps see his rookie struggles and almost certainly will not be in his prime form in year 1.
Kader Kohou rounds out the Chiefs’ starting secondary lineup as of now and is set to start at the nickel cornerback spot. Kohou consistently hovers near the middle of the pack in terms of an overall defense grade among players at his position and may be better suited as a backup for now. Perhaps he will transition to a reserve role at some point next year given some of the high-end talent the Chiefs currently have in their reserve secondary unit.
Speaking of the reserve secondary unit of the Chiefs they have numerous players who can provide strong depth and multiple players who could even step into the starting lineup given the concerns the Chiefs have in their starting lineup as of now. 2025 3rd round cornerback Nohl Williams had an astounding rookie year grading among the premier cornerbacks in the NFL taking only roughly 450 reserve snaps, however. While cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace has looked elite in limited snaps outside of his rookie year. Those two players remain prime candidates to move to the starting lineup given their elite play albeit in limited NFL action. While the likes of Kristian Fulton, Kaiir Elam, and Jaden Hicks are all potential high-end backups who could be starters as well. The Chiefs have a lot of talent but a lot of question marks in their starting secondary as of now, a breakdown of the unit for the Chiefs can be found below.
Projected 2026 Chiefs’ Starting Secondary
LCB – L’Jarius Sneed – C+ to B-, B+ in first four NFL seasons with Chiefs, two abysmal injury riddled seasons with Titans since
SS – Chamarri Conner – C+ to B-, very good taking reserve snaps in first two NFL seasons, struggled in first year as starter in 2025
FS – Alohi Gilman – C+ to B-, elite ceiling very inconsistent
RCB – Mansoor Delane – 2026 6th overall pick
NB – Kader Kohou – C+ to B-
Notable 2026 Chiefs’ Secondary Reserves
CB – Nohl Williams – A as rookie in 458 snaps, 2025 3rd rounder
CB – Chris Roland-Wallace – A to A- in 190 total snaps outside of rookie year
S – Jaden Hicks – B-
CB – Kaiir Elam – C+, former 1st rounder, high ceiling but inconsistent
CB – Kristian Fulton – B-, former 2nd rounder
