Chiefs cut former first-round pick Deandre Baker after two seasons in Kansas City, per report

The Kansas City Chiefs are cutting ties with some depth in the secondary as cornerback Deirdre Baker was released. per ESPN. Baker has been with the Chiefs the last two seasons, playing in 10 regular season games with two starts and recording 21 combined tackles, one sack and two passes defensed.

Baker was originally drafted by the New York Giants with the No. 30 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Georgia. The Jim Thorpe Award winner recorded 61 combined tackles and eight passes defensed in his rookie season, but ran into off-field issues that quickly changed the course of his career.

In May 2020, Baker was charged with armed robbery. While the charges were eventually dropped after the attorney for his alleged victims was arrested on racketeering charges, Baker was released by the Giants and placed on the Commissioner’s exempt list. The Chiefs then decided to deal him in November 2020. At just 24 years old, it’s possible another NFL team will take a chance on Baker.

The Chiefs had the luxury of making a cut in the secondary as they added a few pieces this offseason. Kansas City picked up Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson, and traded with the Houston Texans for versatile Lonnie Johnson.

The Chiefs statistically had the sixth-worst defense in yards allowed per game last season, but they also allowed just 21.4 points per game — which ranked No. 8 in the league. This unit is expected to improve in 2022 and will certainly be needed if the Chiefs want to retain the division title.