How the Chiefs can tackle cornerback after buying and selling L’Jarius Sneed

On Friday night, the deal lastly occurred: the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs traded franchise-tagged cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans.

With this transfer, Kansas Metropolis’s cornerbacks went from arguably being the crew’s strongest place to being a strong (however younger) group with no veteran presence. Whereas All-Professional cornerback Trent McDuffie is now the headliner, all of his returning teammates have been at their finest when slotted into the third cornerback spot — not the second.

That’s why the place has all of a sudden grow to be one for which basic supervisor Brett Veach can be contemplating an replace in both free company or the draft. He needs to be thought-about more likely to be focusing on an out of doors cornerback who can begin in 2024, which might enable McDuffie to maximise his playmaking by staying within the slot.

Let’s take into account the crew’s choices.

Free Company

In a veteran, Kansas Metropolis could be in search of a participant with a stronger resume (and extra beginning expertise) than cornerbacks Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams. These would come with:

Ahkello Witherspoon

The previous Los Angeles Rams’ cornerback led the Rams’ protection in cornerback snaps final season — primarily by manning the skin. The 29-year previous nabbed three interceptions and set a profession excessive with 14 passes defended.

After coping with accidents all through his stretches with the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers, Witherspoon arguably had the perfect season of his profession in Los Angeles. Together with strong protection stats, he set profession highs in tackles (52) and tackles for loss (3) in 2023.

Spotrac tasks Witherspoon will earn a contract spanning two years that’s price as much as $20 million. (This comes after he performed for simply over $1 million in 2023). He could also be asking for greater than the Chiefs need to spend — however due to how the cornerback market has performed out, that quantity may come down.

Xavien Howard

The previous Miami Dolphins’ cornerback suits the expertise and expertise standards even higher than Witherspoon. Howard is a former first-team All-Professional who has twice led the league in interceptions.

Howard collected just one interception in Miami final season — however nonetheless knocked away 12 passes — when he performed solely 13 video games attributable to an harm to his left foot. The Dolphins truly launched him in the course of the offseason (which implies he wouldn’t depend in opposition to the Chiefs in a comp decide calculation) however the veteran has been showcasing on-field exercises to display his full restoration from the harm.

In an analogous vein, former Buffalo Payments’ cornerback Tre’Davious White would additionally make sense. He’s recovering from a torn Achilles he suffered in final season’s Week 4.

Steven Nelson

Right here’s an previous pal who suits the Chiefs’ present wants. The crew’s former third-round draft decide has been nothing however strong since departing by way of free company earlier than the 2019 season. In 2023 — his second 12 months with the Houston Texans — he was the cornerback room’s snap chief.

The 31-year-old Nelson produced 4 interceptions and 12 defended passes because the starter on the skin, setting himself as much as proceed enjoying strong minutes with a contending crew.

Different skilled free agent cornerbacks who match the Chiefs: The Dallas Cowboys’ former Stephon Gilmore, the Steelers’ former starter Levi Wallace and former Baltimore Ravens nook Rock Ya-Sin.

Draft prospects

If the Chiefs need to proceed creating cornerbacks, this can be a sturdy class to seek out some. The Athletic’s consensus large board options 15 cornerbacks among the many high 100 prospects. The crew might choose a nook as early as the primary spherical, nevertheless it might get one at any time throughout draft weekend.

Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

The previous Missouri Tigers cornerback ranked thirty fifth on the consensus board; in mock drafts, he tends to be chosen within the vary of Kansas Metropolis’s first decide at thirty second total.

Rakestraw’s attacking capacity (and excessive vitality) as an out of doors cornerback suits the Chiefs’ mildew. He can play downhill — blowing performs up on the perimeter — and likewise deny cross makes an attempt down the sideline. He performs large his for measurement, too: he measured 5 ft 11 and 183 kilos on the NFL Scouting Mix.

He suffered a torn ACL in 2021 and missed a number of 2023 video games with an ongoing groin harm. That may play a think about his draft inventory.

T.J. Tampa

This Iowa State nook is one other sturdy match for the Chiefs’ protection. He ranked 57th on the consensus board, making him a second-round risk for Kansas Metropolis.

For the Cyclones, Tampa was a bully on the skin, shutting down fast throws and runs to his aspect with aggressive tackling. That helped him disrupt receivers off the road of scrimmage, suffocating them as they regarded for the ball downfield.

Working via a hamstring harm, Tampa didn’t do any athletic testing on the mix — however he checked in at 6 ft 1 and 189 kilos. His 78 5/8-inch wingspan is within the all-time 89th percentile for cornerback prospects.

Cam Hart

Later within the draft, one other participant within the Chiefs’ mildew is former Notre Dame cornerback Cam Hart. He ranks 98th on the consensus board, making him a Day 3 prospect.

A crew captain for the Preventing Irish in 2023, Hart performed with that confidence on the skin, permitting simply 15 receptions (and no touchdowns) all season — and enjoying sturdy in opposition to the run.

His physicality has led to a string of shoulder accidents all through his soccer profession — nevertheless it’s that very enjoying type that makes him a match with Kansas Metropolis.