Chiefs Free Agent Focus: Cornerback Bradley Roby

 

 

 

Chiefs Free Agent Focus:

Cornerback Bradley Roby

 

by Paul Pulley | February 21, 2019

 

 

The cornerback position is a definite need for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019. There are currently only three CBs on the roster, Kendall Fuller, Charvarius Ward and Tremon Smith. While Fuller and Ward finished the 2018 season as starters, Smith has a ways to go to even be considered good depth. Being able to draft a starting corner would be ideal. However, picking late in round one and with so many needs, it’s far from a sure thing, therefore finding a good corner in free agency should be a priority. The problem here is the free agent market for corners isn’t exactly bountiful.

 

Nevertheless, the Chiefs can’t ignore the defensive secondary if they want their defense to stop dwelling in the NFL cellar.

 

Introducing Cornerback Bradley Roby

 

Bradley Roby was a first round draft selection by the Denver Broncos in 2014. Roby served as the Broncos third corner behind Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr for his first 4 years and in 2019 became a starter after Talib was traded to the LA Rams. Roby’s first year as a starter left a lot to be desired, as it was filled with inconsistencies. However, playing for a team that appears directionless, for an embattled head coach that seemed lost most of the time, possibly had a negative effect on his performance. Those same inconsistencies are likely to keep is value below top level for a cornerback.

 

With Denver going through another round of coaching changes and their offense looking to regress even further, Roby will likely be looking for a new team.

 

When searching for a free agent corner, it’s hard not to compare any FA to Steven Nelson, the cornerback of the Chiefs who they will most likely be replacing. Bradley Roby is slightly taller, with longer arms, larger hands and is faster… all needed upgrades. Roby has only missed one game in 5 seasons, week 9 of 2019, due to an ankle injury sustained while playing the Chiefs in week 8. So Roby passes the durability test quite well.

 

 

 

Good stuff by Bradley Roby. Receiver is already outside the numbers and takes a speed release.. ppssh.. go ahead and ride him down the sideline.. good job looking THROUGH the receiver and making a play on the ball.. pic.twitter.com/8ClpZ9LNy2

— CrockTIME (@eric_crocker) October 19, 2018

 

 

 

 

With Kendall Fuller the only proven CB on the Chiefs roster, adding an experienced player should be a priority. Roby might enjoy playing for a team that the only time he sees Tyreek Hill is during practice. New defensive coordinator for Kansas CIty, Steve Spagnuolo (it sure is nice not to write that, other name), uses a corner blitz at times and Roby does have 3 sacks in his career so that wouldn’t be something completely foreign to him.

 

Bradley Roby’s Value to the Chiefs

 

Roby will turn 27 years of age on May 1st. I don’t think his play will put him in the conversation of a 8 figure corner — $10M or more — but with decent CB’s always at a premium, Roby won’t be a bargain basement player either. Estimating what a contract without added incentives could look like, I came up with a 4 year deal for a total of $34M, a $7.2M signing bonus and $18M in guarantees. Broken down it would look like this: