The Kansas City Chiefs were looking to improve a defense that cost them a trip to the Super Bowl last season. With key additions through free agency and the 2019 NFL Draft, it looks like the plan is in full motion.

The defense isn’t the lone reason the Kansas City Chiefs missed the Super Bowl. For the whole first half of the AFC Championship Game, the offense was nonexistent. But it was the defense that didn’t show up when it counted the most. And it was the defense that got the most attention during free agency and the NFL draft.

Tyrann Mathieu

On March 11, 2019, word started coming out that the Chiefs had signed free agent safety Tyrann Mathieu.

Kansas City MVP QB Patrick Mahomes even tweeted a gif that included a honey badger, which is the nickname for Mathieu.

On March 14, the Chiefs made it official. They signed Mathieu to a three-year $42 million contract that included $26.8 million guaranteed.

The pro bowl safety is a much-needed addition to the Kansas City secondary that ranked 31st in passing. He is a versatile safety that can play in the box, up top, and in the slot position.

Mathieu has already taken the role of Jon Snow for the Chiefs. This clip of him welcoming Frank Clark after his introductory press conference speaks volumes.

Frank Clark

The next major move in the offseason came on the defensive line. After cutting Justin Houston and Dee Ford, the Chiefs traded for defensive end Frank Clark who was on the Seattle Seahawks franchise tag.

The trade included Kansas Cities 2019 first round pick(29), 2020 second round pick, and a swap of the teams third round picks.

Clark got a five-year $105 million contract with $63.5 guaranteed. The Chiefs got a 25-year-old bully on the line who has 35 sacks in four seasons with Seattle along with 136 tackles. He led the Seahawks in sacks in each of the last two seasons.

I didn’t know too much about Clark but after watching this interview by BJ Kissel I really fell in love with this trade.

One of my favorite interviews that I’ve done in my five years with the #Chiefs…had a chance to sit down with @TheRealFrankC_ earlier today. This is worth your time.https://t.co/hk0LPlSriO — BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) April 27, 2019

Juan Thornhill

After trading up to pick Georgia wide receiver Mecole Hardman at 56th overall, Kansas City picked Virginia S Juan Thornhill at 63.

Thornhill was the safety the Chiefs wanted all along according to general manager Brett Veach.

“This was a guy that, actually, (defensive backs coach) Dave Merritt had number one on his free safety list,” Veach said, according to Chiefs.com. “We were excited and ecstatic when he was still available and we wasted no time to turn his name in.”

Thornhill makes perfect sense for Kansas City as it has long been the thought that Mathieu will play close to the line of scrimmage. With Thornhill’s experience as a cornerback and his ballhawk ability, he will pair perfectly at free safety.

We got ourselves a ballhawk ? pic.twitter.com/aOJ3bZ8sRI — Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 30, 2019

Khalen Saunders

One word can describe the 83rd overall pick for the Chiefs-explosive. Khalen Saunders is a 6 foot, 324-pound wrecking ball. His first step is something of beauty.

While he will most likely be a rotational player for Kansas City at first I would not be surprised if he got enough play time to be considered a starter.

One area that he will dramatically help improve the Chiefs D-line is against the run. This beast shreds blockers like a hot knife slices butter.

If you don’t believe me let the tape do the talking.

Khalen is going to be a handful. ? pic.twitter.com/VZUZJRu1br — Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 2, 2019

Overall grade

I’d have to give the moves thus far a solid B.

I would have liked for the Chiefs to have addressed the cornerback position a bit more. While they added Bashaud Breeland in free agency it is still the area that concerns me the most.

Overall I would say I liked the direction this defense is going. They have added young versatile players who are not afraid to get dirty and attack the ball. That was something that was definitely missing last season.

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