Chiefs Training Camp Preview: Cornerback
By Andrew Jones
Marcus Cooper
Cooper is that guy who just keeps hanging around. He hit it big in 2013 with solid play in the first half of the season. Many were thinking that the Chiefs hit gold with a possible rookie of the year candidate in an undrafted free agent. Then the wheels fell off when he met Peyton Manning and the Broncos.
He has played sparingly over the last two years but didn’t record any stats in 2015. Cooper will make the roster on his experience and because it is usually a good idea to have a big corner to make plays in the run game and on special teams.
Jamell Fleming
Fleming may spend time at both safety and corner but for this article I am going to assume that he will be on the outside for most of camp. The Chiefs have a lot of young players on this defense and though he may not be world class, those rookies will benefit from the experience of Fleming. Fleming works deep and on the outside but is occasionally asked to move to the slot where he tends to struggle.
Fleming doesn’t have the speed to keep up with slot receivers and it shows when accurate quarterbacks pick on him. He will be on the Chiefs final roster as a hybrid for the defensive backfield.
Shakiel Randolph
There are many players who have an opportunity to make this team but I am giving the edge to Shakiel Randolph because of his size. This guy is 6-foot-5, 201 pounds and he can play safety, linebacker and corner. There is value in a player that can do everything but command two gaps on the line.
The Chiefs would love for him to develop enough to rush the passer and cover tight ends possibly named Gronkowski. Obviously he’ll need to make major strides as he went undrafted but versatile is versatile.