5 targets for Chiefs in 2022 NFL free agency

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 30: Head Coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs leaves the field after the Bengals overtime win against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 30, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 03: Ahkello Witherspoon #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after an interception during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field on January 03, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

4. CB Akhello Witherspoon (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Only five teams in the league gave up more passing yards per game than Steve Spagnuolo’s unit this past season. Some of that was a product of a less-than-potent pass rush that produced just 31 sacks in 17 regular-season games and a combined five quarterback traps in three playoff games vs. the Steelers (2), Bills (2) and Bengals (1).

But perhaps the most damning statistic when it came to the Kansas City secondary was this fact. Including the postseason, there were 285 games played in the NFL in 2021. There were only four occasions in which a player totaled at least 200 receiving yards.

Two of those came against the Chiefs in the form of Bengals rookie Ja’Marr Chase (266 yards in Week 17) and Bills wideout Gabriel Davis (201 yards in the AFC Divisional Playoffs).

Andy Reid’s team gave up 27 touchdown passes during the regular seasons and eight more in the postseason.

Could the team lose talented cornerback Charvarius Ward to free agency? He led the Chiefs with 10 passes defensed and totaled two interceptions this past year. He also knocked down three more passes in the playoffs.

Akhello Witherspoon had a strong stretch run for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He wound up leading the team with three interceptions and tied for the club lead with nine passes defensed.

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