Super Bowl 54: Drafting the best starting roster from 49ers and Chiefs
By Samuel Teets
Nickel: K’Waun Williams (SF)
Kendall Fuller made a strong push for this position, but K’Waun Williams narrowly inched out the victory. Williams intercepted two passes and forced four fumbles in 2019.
During the regular season, the 49ers finished with the best passing defense in the NFL, only allowing 169.2 passing yards per game. Quarterbacks completed just 61.3% of their pass attempted against San Francisco, and the team’s cornerbacks deserve a lot of credit.
Strong Safety: Tyrann Mathieu (KC)
After tearing an ACL in 2015, Mathieu took a few years to get back on his feet. He played well with the Texans last season, but his play went overlooked. The 2015 First-Team All-Pro signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Chiefs last offseason and never looked back.
On his third team in three years, doubters began questioning if Mathieu could stay healthy and return to his pre-injury form. Mathieu responded with the second-best season of his career. The Honey Badger intercepted four throws, defensed 12 passes, made two sacks and racked up 75 tackles. The Associated Press designated him a First-Team All-Pro as a defensive back and Second-Team All-Pro as a safety.
Mathieu’s exceptional instincts and aggressiveness make him one of the most versatile defensive backs in the NFL. He can change the course of games with big hits, sneaky sacks, or clutch interceptions.
Free Safety: Juan Thornhill (KC)
Kansas City is taking home the two safety spots. Juan Thornhill tore his ACL in Week 17 and will miss the Super Bowl, but he’s eligible under our rules. After all, he’s head and shoulders above the other options. An injured Thornhill is worth more than the other available starters.
The Chiefs selected Thornhill in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He became an immediate starter and played like a first-round talent. Thornhill tallied three interceptions, five passes defensed, 57 tackles and a defensive touchdown in 2019. The Chiefs will miss him in the Super Bowl, but the veteran Daniel Sorensen does restore some hope at free safety for Kansas City.