Who should be the Kansas City Chiefs number two cornerback?
Who should occupy the outside cornerback slot opposite Marcus Peters for the Kansas City Chiefs? Let’s explore the options.
Entering the 2016 season one of the only questions about the Kansas City Chiefs defense was if they had enough cornerback depth after Marcus Peters. They had lost their former starter Sean Smith to a big contract with the Oakland Raiders, and they were relying on a very young and inexperienced group to fill his spot. The job was up for grabs for returning players like Phillip Gaines and Steven Nelson as well as rookies KeiVarae Russell, Eric Murray, and D.J. White.
Unfortunately, Gaines struggled, Russell didn’t even make the roster, Murray looks like his future is at safety, and White (while showing some promise) battled injuries. The only player from that group that came close to filling the role K.C. may have envisioned for them was Steven Nelson. It could have been a major problem for the Chiefs down the stretch. However, the emergence of a former seventh round draft pick on his fourth team in three seasons really helped stabilize the position.
That player was Terrance Mitchell.
When the Chiefs started using Peters, Nelson, and Mitchell exclusively at cornerback down the home stretch of the season, it was a turning point for the defense. The numbers back this up. Look at the passing numbers that the Chiefs allowed during the first eleven games of the season compared to their last six games (the final five regular season games plus their playoff game).
First 11 games: 259.2 yards/game, 61.9% completions, 7.0 yards/attempt, 20 touchdowns, 13 interceptions
Final 6 games: 221.8 yards/game, 53.2% completions, 6.1 yards/attempt, 3 touchdowns, 6 interceptions
Those numbers are even more impressive when you factor in that the Chiefs faced some of the best quarterbacks and passing games in the NFL during those final six games, including Matt Ryan with Atlanta, Derek Carr with Oakland, Phillip Rivers with San Diego, and Ben Roethlisberger with Pittsburgh. If the Chiefs had averaged what they did in those final six games over the entire season they would have led the entire NFL in completion percentage allowed, finished second in yards per attempt allowed and sixth in yards per game allowed. Basically, the Chiefs had one of the best pass defenses in all of the NFL when they played the trio of Marcus Peters, Steven Nelson, and Terrance Mitchell at cornerback.
So what does that mean going into 2017? Are the Chiefs set at cornerback? On one hand, it seems foolish to change things up when they were doing so well with that trio of players. On the other hand, is it wise to trust such a small sample size? Should the Chiefs invest a high draft pick at the position to help push the players currently on the roster? Let’s take a few minutes and look at three possible options to start at the number two cornerback for the Chiefs in 2017.
Before we do let me be open about who is not on this list of options. Phillip Gaines, D.J. White, and Kenneth Acker didn’t make the cut. Gaines was given ample opportunities last season and simply wasn’t good enough. You add that to the fact that he can’t seem to stay healthy and I think he has lost his opportunity. D.J. White has some long term upside, but I think he’s clearly behind Nelson and Mitchell right now. Of the three, he likely has the best shot at a real future in K.C. Acker is just a depth and special teams guy.
Now let’s get to the real contenders.