Before the Kansas City Chiefs go to training camp in St. Joe, let’s review the view of our CB room. The good news is that there is a lot of youth, as far as any position is concerned. Basically, the group is 25 years old or younger, but that is also the reason I’ve been concerned about this crew in my prior ramblings. Consequently, if additions are to be made to the roster, they should probably be for a Cornerback, and/or a Defensive End.
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Do I like the mix of young CBs? Absolutely. Is inexperience a worry? Also true. What, after Deandre Baker’s injury and ability to return to form, still concerns me? We don’t yet know what his ability is to return fully or by any specific date is, nor how effective he will be coming off the broken femur.
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There’s one abiding CB question: should the Chiefs sign a veteran CB to add experience to the mix of available players? Answer –> Absolutely… if… the right player becomes available on Alchemy Day — August 31, when all teams must get down to the 53-man roster limit, which is four days after the last preseason game — or, if a trade partner provides opportunity prior to that time.
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So let’s take another look-see.
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L’Jarius Sneed: 6-foot-1, 193 lbs.
Age 23, NFL Experience: 1 Yr.
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In his rookie season, Sneed was on the verge of making his 4th interception when he sustained a broken collarbone when he landed awkwardly on the interception attempt and missed games. At first, he started in place of Breeland during Bashaud’s suspension for 4 games. Remember? He played lights-out football with 3 interceptions in those 4 games. In those 9 games, Sneed tallied 3 INT’s and 2 sacks. We are all hoping that Sneed is the “shutdown Corner” that we all want to have on the field of play.
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As DC Steve Spagnuolo observed early in the off-season preps when Questioned about the Secondary and how the Cornerbacks were going to fulfill positions: “A little bit is going to depend upon the next corner that surfaces.” Spags went on to say that the competition for the fourth Cornerback role for the defense has a significant question associated with it: “…Is there a next corner that surfaces? If we need to keep (Sneed) on the outside, we’ll do that. I think until then, we’ll probably work in both and just see where it goes.”
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It is my view that Sneed will play both outside and inside. He is our best cornerback. Covering the slot is more difficult than being outside where you have the sideline to aid in defending a receiver. In the slot, you must cover the WR more on an island – the WR can break to either side and the covering CB must be able to mirror what that receiver does. This’s part of what Spagnuolo is addressing in his remarks.
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Charvarius Ward: 6-foot-1, 198 lbs.
Age 25, NFL Experience: 3 Yrs.
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Charvarius Ward made the interception which would have sealed the AFC championship game in 2018, except for a penalty on Dee Ford. In 2019, Ward showed top level play at cornerback. Denny Medley of USA Today Sports observed this about Ward in 2019. “There were 10 cornerbacks to reach 1,000 total snaps in the 2019 regular season. Charvarius Ward was one.” He then listed these stats:
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Ward suffered a broken hand early in the 2020 season, and as a result, didn’t have a good year. That injury had a huge effect on Ward’s play, but I expect him to return his 2019 form in 2021. With the experience he now has, a 4th season should be his best.
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Rashad Fenton: 5-11, 188 lbs.
Age 24, NFL Experience: 3 yrs.
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Rashad Fenton also has the versatility to play outside or inside, depending on circumstance. This bodes well for the Chiefs due to Sneed being used in the slot when the Chiefs are in the Nickel. If Fenton plays well outside, the Sneed’s use on the interior sets up well and adds versatility of two players who can man the inside on any given snap. Fenton was a late round draft pick by Veach in 2018. He plays tough and avoids his weaknesses. Bleacher Report points to a weakness: “Transition steps look labored and leave him a half-step behind” and while his 4.52 timed speed would indicate he might find himself trailing a WR, or out of a play, nothing has been further from the truth. Teams may continue to target him a lot, but as teams learn that he only allows a 59% completion percentage, they’ll likely look elsewhere.
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Fenton had 1 Int and 7 PBUs in 2020 with a huge INT in the playoff game v the Bills. He does not have shutdown corner numbers by any means, but my hope is that his comfort level in his 3rd season aids in his growth. Fenton was a late round draft choice and has played solid football.
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Deandre Baker: 5-foot-11, 183 lbs.
Age 23, NFL Experience: 1 yr, R 1, pick 30 by NYG, 2019
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Photo: Chiefs Wire
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Deandre Baker was a starter in 15 games as a rookie, playing in all 16 games for the Giants in 2019. While he had good snaps throughout the season, he had no takeaways. Baker fits the Veach profile of acquiring players who were former high rated draft picks and bringing those players to the roster to develop them.
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- Tackles – 61
- TFL’s – 2
- PBU’s – 8
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During his rookie season he sustained a slight injury and was released by the Giants late in the season, but for off-the-field legal problems, which were, in the end, dismissed. He was added to the Chiefs PS in late November of 2020, then almost immediately was elevated to the 53-man roster (about 30 days later). It is from there we got our first glimpse of Baker as a Chief where he played in a single game, recording 4 Tackles and 1 INT. Then… he suffered the broken leg. We haven’t yet seen him on the field in 2021. As I understand it, he will be able to practice in camp. We don’t know yet when he will be able to practice at full speed — in contact drills — during camp or preseason games.
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Although we haven’t yet seen Baker play sustained football for the Chiefs, I expect that the promise that was seen from his play with the Giants and his College days at Georgia, where he played with Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman, will come to fruition. Baker’s single game performance with Chiefs doesn’t prove anything yet, but it is my expectation that he’ll fulfill the outlook of his entry to the NFL as the 30th overall selection in 2019, and the Jim Thorpe Award Winner in 2018 given annually to the top defensive back in college football since 1986. Yes, we’ll have to wait for that to occur after his injury recovery and rehab, but my anticipation is high in Baker’s regard.
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Mike Hughes: 5-foot-10, 189 lbs.
Age 24, NFL Experience: 3 yrs. R 1, pick 30 by MIN, 2018
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Mike Hughes is another acquisition that fits the Veach Profile. Brett traded for Veach using a 2022 6th round pick to bring him aboard. Again, my expectations are high but we need to see what he is able to do in the secondary for Coaches Sam Madison and Dave Merritt. Bringing him aboard for 2021 is what I view as low risk, with potential high return. At the very least he is going to give the defense depth at the Cornerback position.
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BoPete Keyes: 6-foot-1, 202 lbs.
Age 23, NFL Experience: 1 yr.
Keyes was a 7th round draft pick by Brett Veach in 2020. Recall that Veach swapped draft picks in 2022 to get back in the draft so he could be selected. Keyes did get in snaps in his rookie season, but they were limited. I suspect that he has had firm, grounded coaching from Dave Merritt and Sam Madison as well. I am anxious to see him in camp and preseason games. He may have been one of those hidden talents that the Chiefs scouting crew is known for finding. Let’s hope that this is true and he mixes in well with his compadres.
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In the Wings?
This is where it gets difficult to anticipate who will take on a CB role for 2021. From the above, you may gather that I anticipate Hughes and Baker playing significant roles. If you look back over the list of players, there are three Cornerbacks with good length –-> 6-foot-1. Remember years ago when we worried that we only had one corner above 5-foot-11 and that was Ron Parker. Now, the length worry can be laid to rest. Then too we have been concerned about too many gray-beards. This is no longer the case. In the above list of Corners, there is no one over the age of 25. Maybe this is a reason to sign an experienced CB for the group. When you think of the list of players with length and youth we must consider the others whom are not yet mentioned. That list would first find veteran experience if newly signed free agent Will Parks is used at CB.
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Will Parks: 6-foot-0, 200 lbs.
Age 26, NFL experience: 6 yrs.
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I anticipate that Parks will probably play mostly Safety, but he’s another versatile player.
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In addition to Hughes, Baker, Keyes and possibly Chris Lammons, a question remains around the utilization of Will Parks. He’s a savvy defender who can play both Safety and CB. His physical metrics and position flexibility might be key since the Chiefs Safety room is replete with experienced players.
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Still, Parks has played most of his career as a safety. I don’t know how Spagnuolo’s crew views him. He is at least a solid presence as a DB and adds depth to the secondary. He has the ability to satisfy snaps for both Safety and Cornerback. My basic assumption at this point? He’s a safety… with maneuverability.
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Chris Lammons is the, indisputably unknown factor here, but he’s also someone who has 2 years of Chiefs experience. Lammons was around in 2019, so we assume — per the NFL CBA — he also received a Super Bowl ring as a Practice Squad player.
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Three UDFA’s must also be considered: Devon Key, Dicaprio Bootle and Marlon Character, but all three of these young men are on the outside, looking in. However, with 2020 UDFA’s, Tershawn Wharton and Tommy Townsend, playing big roles for K.C. last year, who knows who might breakthrough this season!
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That’s my second look-see into the Chiefs Cornerback room before the 2021 Training Camp, which is coming right up.
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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