Chiefs: Current Needs and the New Bump Method – You may recall that back on New Year’s Day I offered a piece called, “A First Look at the Chiefs 2020 Draft: The Bump Method” in which I wrote,
“In the Bump Method of predicting what player, or players, will be available, I look at what positions are loaded near the top of the draft, and then use that to bump other position players down to the Chiefs.”
That Bump Method was of course referring to the draft and the Chiefs came away with a terrific haul based upon their draft needs, which if you may recall, were: CB, LB, RB, OL. Although General Manage Brett Veach and his band of merry men didn’t take those positions in exactly that order, they did manage to come away with significant upgrades at each of those positions by drafting: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LB Willie Gay Jr., OT Lucas Niang, CBs L’Jarius Sneed and Bopete Keyes.
As I had predicted, 4 QBs were taken in the first round helping to Bump other prospects — positions player they needed –down the the Chiefs at #32. In a bit of a surprise move, instead of taking a cornerback, as I had thought they might, Veach pulled in the best RB on his board. Someone who fits the Chiefs to a T.
The draft was filled with so many excellent CBs I was sure they’d take one in the first because so many other position players would be taken and consequently… Bumped down… to where the Chiefs were selecting (if they chose to stay put at #32, which they did). However, six CBs were taken in the first round prior to the Chiefs picking and so we can assume that selecting the best runnign back on their board was a much more appealing idea than taking the 7th best CB.
Why re-hash al this now? Because that draft was indeed loaded with cornerbacks, so much so, that another kind of Bump will be happening in two months, at the end of August when cuts are made for the season by all the teams in the league who selected a CB and must now face balancing out their rosters so they can keep the rookie corners they just drafted.
Which means… the New Bump Method will be set in motion. Why is that so important? Mainly because of Bashaud Breeland.
Breeland could be unavailable for and extended part of the 2020 season and the idea of relying on Antonio Hamilton, Rashad Fenton, and two rookies to fill in while he’s gone makes the CB position a position of continued need. At least for the beginning of the 2020 season.
Tradeable Assets?
No one wants to see DT Chris Jones in another uniform, especially me. That being said, if CJ could net a top CB and a draft pick to go along with him in a trade, I’d be open to it. The Chiefs are stacked along the DL and while CJ has made himself into perhaps the second best interior pass rusher in the league, he’s not very good against the run and PFF ranks him as the 7th in the league on rushing downs and 20th vs the run. DL Line Coach Brendan Daly has won Super Bowls rings with two different teams in the past two seasons and I trust he can help generate enough pass rush to offset the loss of CJ… if they chose to move him.
It also looks like the Chiefs will have a couple of RBs who may end up being released if they aren’t traded. If Veach can get Martinas Rankin for Carlos Hyde… he should be able to swing a deal, swapping a RB for a veteran corner.
Free Agents Now Available
Darqueze Dennard, Logan Ryan, and Eric Reid are all out there right now. They may cost more than what Veach is willing to pay but they could help solve an immediate need. Sure, Reid is a Safety but he’s a good one adn would free up Juan Thornhill or Tyrann Mathieu to step up and play the slot more while Breeland serves his suspension. Both Dennard and Reid are 28 years old and Ryan is 29.
New Bump Method: Moving Chess Pieces
The Minnesota Vikings may be a team with too many CBs to keep. They drafted three: Jeff Gladney, Cameron Dantzler, adn Harrison Hand. On hand they have: Mike Hughes, Kris Boyd, Holton Hill, Kemon Hall and a name you may recall for last year, Mark Fields.
The Tennessee Titans added CB Kristian Fulton to an already loaded CB room with: Malcolm Butler, Adoree’ Jackson, Johnathan Joseph, Tye Smith, Kareem Orr and Chris Milton. If the Titans cut any of these CBs I can see Veach jumping on them like wet on water.
Some will say the Chiefs signed two solid UDFA corners in: Javaris Davis and Lavert Hill. Once again, Ill say, it’s tough to rely on a rookie right out of the gate. If it was the last four games of the season… maybe, but not in September.
Get ready… I can see them comign to Kansas City before the season begins. Figure on a corner and maybe another position like linebacker as well.
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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