Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo is trying to find the best role for a talented defender that has gotten lost in the shuffle

A player that has lost a bit of hype from Chiefs fans as of late is Chamarri Conner.

The former 2023 fourth-round draft pick has been versatile for Kansas City's defense throughout his first two seasons, playing both safety and nickel cornerback. He came on strong down the stretch of his rookie year, helping anchor the secondary en route to a Super Bowl win.

That earned Conner more playing time in 2024, but he didn't quite replicate the level of play he displayed the year before. He wasn't bad by any means, earning an average coverage grade of 64.4 per Pro Football Focus. He graded very well against the run, ranking 31st out of 222 qualifying defensive backs in that department.

As we head toward the 2025 season, DB's such as Jaden Hicks, Kristian Fulton, and Nohl Williams have made Conner a bit forgotten. When you also factor in the Chiefs re-signing veteran Mike Edwards and Trent McDuffie expected to play more nickel, it's tough to peg where exactly Conner fits in.

However, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo had high praise for Conner while he was speaking with the media on Wednesday following OTAs.

"I think Chamarri is having a really good offseason," Spagnuolo said. "This is his fourth year in the system (it's actually his third), and he's doing really good in it. I think he's valuable. I mean, he's been playing nickel, he's been playing both safety spots. You saw today, every once in a while Trent (McDuffie) slips inside (the slot) there, and Chamarri will go in there too. He's one of those guys I think that needs to be on the field for us. We'll just have to find out, based on the other pieces, where he most of his snaps will be."

Conner's versatility will definitely keep him relevant within K.C.'s secondary. Splitting time with McDuffie in the slot and rotating in at safety is probably how he will be utilized. With Justin Reid now gone, there could be more opportunity to make an impact at safety. Conner is also a factor on special teams, playing 517 snaps for the unit over the past two seasons.