Malik Reaves earns contract from Kansas City Chiefs after rookie minicamp
By Matt Conner
![PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 03: Quadree Henderson #10 of the Pittsburgh Panthers runs after making a catch against Malik Reaves #1 of the Villanova Wildcats during the game on September 3, 2016 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 03: Quadree Henderson #10 of the Pittsburgh Panthers runs after making a catch against Malik Reaves #1 of the Villanova Wildcats during the game on September 3, 2016 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/2ffe0021fd30f7306e9d6e2bcc8553c5642c2ef95ea4f92366b664dc408dd5d9.jpg)
The Kansas City Chiefs have signed Villanova cornerback Malik Reaves to a contract after inviting him to participate in the team’s rookie minicamp.
Malik Reaves just needed an opportunity. He took care of the rest.
Reaves, a former cornerback from Villanova, signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday shortly after rookie minicamp finished up for the franchise.
Reaves reportedly had 7 other teams interested in his services after the 2018 NFL Draft, but he chose to accept a minicamp invitation from the Chiefs instead. The Chiefs were one of nine teams to hold their minicamp immediately the draft, so it’s likely that Reaves had at least one or more invitations to another team’s minicamp ready and waiting if he ever left K.C. without a contract. Brett Veach made sure that never happened.
Reaves is a former teammate of Tanoh Kpassagnon at ‘Nova. He had 58 total tackles, 2 interceptions an 1 forced fumble last season
As for where Reaves will fit, the Chiefs will certainly give him every opportunity to stand out in training camp. Kendall Fuller, David Amerson and Steven Nelson will lock down three of the initial spots on the depth chart but after is anyone’s guess. Tremon Smith is the new drafted rookie, taken out of Central Arkansas in the sixth round.
Beyond that Brett Veach has brought up a couple names before in cornerback Will Redmond and Keith Reaser. Whether or not those players (or someone like Reaves) can climb to claim a roster spot will likely dictate how much more free agent shopping Veach will have to do.