Daniel

Sorensen

The longtime Chiefs safety spent part of the 2022 season with the Saints. At 32, Sorensen profiles as a special teams player and a part-time defensive player for a strong New Orleans secondary.

Sorensen, 32, spent his first eight seasons in Kansas City but is now going elsewhere for the first time in his career. Sorensen was a versatile sometimes-starter for the Chiefs but made a bunch of forgettable plays that proved he shouldn’t be on the field on defense. He’s best left on special teams and in a reserve role.

Sorensen, who started 11 games for the Chiefs in 2020, recorded three interceptions, five passes defensed, and had two forced fumbles. He also played nearly 40 percent of the team’s special teams snaps in 2020. He’ll return to his versatile role in the KC secondary, which Pro Football Focus graded as the league’s 13th best last year.

The surgery took place in Dallas. Thornhill enjoyed a productive rookie year prior to getting hurt, registering 58 tackles and three interceptions over 16 regular-season starts. Daniel Sorensen has spelled Thornhill at safety since the latter tore his ACL in Week 17.

OLB Nate Orchard was waived in a corresponding move. Sorensen has been out since fracturing his tibia and tearing his MCL in early August. A 14-game starter last season, Sorensen could step right back into the starting lineup.

The tender is worth $2.746 million and should ensure Sorensen is back in Kansas City. Sorensen played 544 snaps last season, the third most for a Chiefs safety behind Eric Berry and Ron Parker. He operated in a bit of a hybrid safety/linebacker role and also contributes on special teams.

The Chiefs gave Sorensen a second-round tender, but can spread out his cap hit on a multi-year deal. He should return in a hybrid safety/linebacker role after playing 544 snaps last season. 27-year-old Sorensen shouldn’t cost much to extend.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports almost half of the deal is guaranteed and another $2 million is available via incentives. It is a good contract for a player who had primarily been a special teamer before taking on a bigger defensive role last season. Sorensen just turned 27.

Sorensen had surgery to repair a tibia fracture and is also recovering from a torn MCL. He’s going to be sidelined into the early part of the regular season and may be a candidate for injured reserve. With Leon McQuay dealing with a hamstring injury, Armani Watts should continue to see starter reps.

It’s not a season-ender — the team initially feared a torn ACL — but Sorensen could be sidelined into the “early part of the regular season.” Sorensen was not effective as a first-time starter last season, but the Chiefs’ wafer-thin defense can ill afford any losses. Second-year pro Leon McQuay is probably the next man up opposite Eric Berry.