Since the start of the Kansas city Chiefs training camp there’s been no signing of an experienced veteran CB (even though I was in favor of Bashaud Breeland returning). The question is, Why? So, what follows is a look at the Chiefs suspects at the cornerback position.
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The Chiefs do not have an ‘old hand’ at the position. Internally, they must be projecting success from the mix of players in house. If this is where things stand, it tells me that HC Andy Reid and DC Steve Spagnuolo has placed great trust in their players and that also has to be due to their faith in the coaching by Dave Merritt and Sam Madison. Sam and Dave are entrusted with the direct, hands-on leadership in bringing along young talent as well as coaching up the veterans. It certainly informs me that they have great faith in L’jarius Sneed to play both outside on the fence, plus, in the slot. It also tells me that they trust Charvarius Ward at one of the outside corner positions.
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Spagnuolo feels that he has the depth as the group is comprised. John Dillon has written a piece for USA Today Chiefs Wire called, “Steve Spagnuolo weighs in on Chiefs cornerback competition” and in it he quotes Spagnuolo:
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I really like watching the guys that haven’t been here (at camp) before,” Spags said. “Mike (Hughes), and I know DeAndre Baker has been here before, but he hasn’t been out there a lot because of the injury. So, it’s all coming together. It’s going to take a while. We’re early in the process, but happy with the way those guys are working.
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Below is my first list: 3 cornerbacks whom I identify as the Chiefs as . Let’s take a brief look at the “Usual Suspects,” three CBs, followed by a focus on Deandre Baker and Mike Hughes.
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The Chiefs Usual Suspects
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L’Jarius Sneed: 6-foot-1, 193 lbs.
Age 23, 1 year of NFL Experience, La. Tech.
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Sneed proved himself with bona fides in year one. We will see him break out in 2021. He can play inside and outside but as observed by DC Steve Spagnuolo, he will be in the slot when it counts. True, there is such as thing as the “sophomore jinx. I do not think Sneed will be affected–He’s that good. He played in 9 games in 2020 and should be considered a starter in week 13. He did not play in week 17. Sneed was injured in week 3 on an interception attempt versus the Ravens. He missed Weeks 4-10 but was back in week 11. Despite the missed games Sneed still made the NFL All-Rookie Team. He ended the season with 31 tackles, 10 assists, 2 sacks, 7 PDs, and 3 Ints. He had another pick in the playoffs. Sneed was also ranked as the 10th best rookie by PFF once the season was over. Which is pretty darn good for a player chosen 138th overall last year. All bets are taken here if you are betting against him.
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Charvarius Ward: 6-foot-1, 198 lbs.
Age 25, 3 years NFL Experience, 2018 UDFA signed with Dallas, Middle TN St.
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Ward set the table for the win in the AFC Championship game in 2018 with an INT but it didn’t count. That would have taken the Chiefs to the Super Bowl if not for an offsides penalty on Dee Ford. The Chiefs had the lead, but a penalty negated the play and the Chiefs lost to Brady’s Patriots(obviously, a loss that galls me still).
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In Ward’s third season — last year — he suffered a broken hand and didn’t have a progressive season. He was drafted by the Cowboys but arrived at KC because Dallas had suffered injuries to their OL and Veach trade Parker Ehinger for him. Ward was not a Combine invitee, but his Pro Day at Middle Tn St opened eyes, plus his 40 time was 4.44, and Veach traded for him.
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Let’s call his 2020 season — a jinxed year — since he suffered a broken hand. Ward Is a decent outside corner who still has upside, but needs to prove it in 2021. His numbers in the 2020’s season were: 38 Tackles, 13 assists, 1 sack, and 6 PDs, but he didn’t have any INTs. Even in what he himself considered a “down year,” he put up respectable numbers: Passer Rating: 67.3, Yards Allowed: 634, Reception %: 47.6%, Yards/Coverage snap 1.00.
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Charvarius Ward needs to increase his performance to be a solid starter for the Chiefs in 2021. However, his performance wasn’t the disaster that many in the Kingdom thinks it was. No doubt about the fact that he has talent. Ward does not have blistering speed, but it’s good enough to stick with most receivers when playing outside, on the fence. I have no doubt that Ward can be a solid outside corner for the Chiefs defense.
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Rashad Fenton: 5-foot-11, 188 lbs.
Age 24, 2 years NFL Experience, K.C. 6th round pick, 2019, South Carolina
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Fenton had 27 Tackles, 8 Asst, 7 PDs, and 1 Int in the 2020 season. Fenton’s play was solid but unremarkable. He was drafted in 2019 and played in a limited number of snaps in his first season and started 3 in 2020. Like Ward, Fenton needs to have a far more functional season to be considered a real starter. I am holding my cards close to the chest about that, largely because of the next two players who were round 1 draft picks in 2019. Fenton’s drawback related to his stiffness and tight hip flex and slow get-off at the snap. I believe coaching by the CHief’s staff has aided him tremendously. His recorded time in the 40 was 4.25. Fenton had 3 starts in 2020. Thus far in training camp, Fenton is showing very well. Two years as a Chief have aided his development and Spags grew to trust him in 2020.
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From the above 3 players, were have a base group established. The exposure exists however since that group of 5 has 40 combined starts among them — Not a great deal of experience. This is the reason that I felt having a solid veteran added to the CB room was needed. But, the Chiefs added two players that need to step up and be solid Corners.
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The Tale of Two Former 1st Round Picks Joining K.C. From Two Cities Crucial to the 2021 Season
From my notes on the 2018 draft, neither Mike Hughes or Deandre Baker were a round one quality player. In my view, they were over-valued in that draft. However, I did have both as preferred players on my draft list, to drafted at the right moment and round of the draft, should they be available. Now, through the “Brett Veach Method” he’s acquired both players — at an economical price as Veach does. Veach does a great job of acquiring players who were high-level draft picks and bringing those men into the fold.
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Deandre Baker: 5-foot-11, 183 lbs.
Age 23, 2 years NFL Experience, 30th overall pick by the N.Y. Giants in 2019, Georgia
When the Giants waived him in September, and Brett Veach signed Baker in November, I was cheering the move to obtain his services. After he came late to the Chiefs he finally got the opportunity to prove himself and did so. Unfortunately, Baker broke his femur at that start and was out of the play until training camp began in 2021. I remain highly optimistic about Baker’s ability to secure an outside starting role in 2021, but that’s just my personal view. It’s a wait-and-see situation.
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Baker’s weakness is that he doesn’t have the speed that you would like to see from a primary defender. His 40 time was recorded to be 4.52. He, like Hughes, has the agility to mirror and match a WR, but on deep routes, his weakness will be exposed and he doesn’t have the top-end speed to mirror a fast receivers on a deep routes. Like Hughes, his best fit is outside so the sideline acts as a fence to aid his coverage. Having a zone hand-off works as long as the player communication is solid. The same notes apply to Hughes below who recorded a bit better time in the 40-yard dash.
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Mike Hughes: 5-foot-10, 189 lbs.
Age 24, 3 years NFL Experience, 30th pick overall by Minn. in 2018, UCF
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Across 2 seasons, Hughes has 67 Tackles, 3 FF, 13 PDs, and 2 INTs. One of his INTs was a pick-6. The numbers are not what you would expect from a former high-level draft pick, but he had limited snaps across the two seasons. His skill-set was not a fit with what the Vikings were doing, which was the reason for his departure. I did have Mike Hughes on my CB draft list, as I did Baker.
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Hughes’ fit for the Chiefs CB room setup is favorable, and he is a very good player. He reacts instinctively to the plays, whether it is run defense support or if it is a pass play. Hughes must keep his positioning on receivers and stick like glue off the line of scrimmage — in press-man coverage. Physicality is the word. His 40 time was 4.53, so like Baker, it’s far from ideal while at the same time, analysts viewed Hughes as being able to stick with speedy receivers. Hughes will be far better deployed in a situation where he can hand off coverage to the player in the top of the zone, or if laterally, a hand-off to another Cornerback when the play crosses the middle zone, regardless of depth.
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Both Baker and Hughes are very nice additions to the CB room, but it’s up to Spagnuolo and his coaches to determine how to best utilize them. I’m anxious to see them in preseason games.
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For expanded thoughts on the Cornerbacks, see “Chiefs Strange Brew: Bubble DBs in the Blender.” As things stand at present, I have a list of 5 CB’s as the base group on the 53-man roster. We await further developments.
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David Bell – ArrowheadOne
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