Author’s note: this post can also be seen at the Bleacher Report.
It likely won’t draw the same exuberance from fans as landing Eric Winston or Peyton Hillis did, but the Chiefs re-signed an important veteran on Wednesday, coming to terms with defensive back Travis Daniels.
Daniels, originally a fourth-round pick of the Dolphins in 2005, has been with Kansas City since 2009. He has played in the league for seven seasons, including a year withCleveland in 2008. In Kansas City, he’s maintained a reserve and special teams role, playing in the slot and on the perimeter for the Chiefs in sub-packages.
He’s also seen spot duty at safety, highlighting the sort of versatility that head coach Romeo Crennel savors in his defenders.
Daniels is a borderline average athlete for the position, with sufficient quick-twitch movements for a cornerback, but he makes up for his athletic deficiencies with instincts and savvy.
He’s picked up three interceptions and 43 tackles in 41 games as a Chief and will likely serve in a similar backup role in 2012. The Chiefs will start Brandon Flowers and likely Stanford Routt, while Daniels, Javier Arenas and Jalil Brown will likely contribute to the various sub-packages Crennel devises.
In a division that includes Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers, it’s important to possess a secondary with playmakers and role players to prevent them from exposing a defense. Daniels is no star, but he’ll make a positive contribution for the Chiefs once again in 2012.
