Kansas City Chiefs continue to show confidence in cornerbacks on roster
By Matt Conner
The lack of any movement during or after the NFL’s supplemental draft shows that Brett Veach means what he says about his cornerbacks.
Brett Veach doesn’t seem to be worried in the slightest.
The Kansas City Chiefs general manager has had the last six months to prepare his roster for training camp. He’s been given the keys to the NFL Draft, waiver wire players, free agency and another supplemental draft, not to mention trades, to make his roster in his image—or that of his staff. And despite perceived holes at cornerback, Veach seems to be quite comfortable with the lot.
For the sake of review, that lot has a ”lot” of holes—at least according to most fans. Last year the Chiefs couldn’t find anyone to start outside opposite Marcus Peters and now they’ve traded Marcus Peters. They also flushed every competitor on the roster besides Steven Nelson away, which means they’re basically starting over even down the depth chart. Phillip Gaines, Darrelle Revis, Kenny Acker, Terrance Mitchell are all gone.
Even the newer players bring some questions along with them. Kendall Fuller broke out last year, but it’s not a straight swap for Peters who was a star playmaker outside, given that Fuller plays inside. David Amerson was let go by the Oakland Raiders who need serious help in the secondary, and he’s only in town on a one-year contract. Tremon Smith earned some buzz as a draft prospect, but in the way that says, “hey, this small-school guy could be promising.”
Through it all, Veach has added a single player here and there without ever all-out renovating a position like he did at inside linebacker. The slow drip of incoming talent seems like enough for Veach, who has been confident while simultaneously mentioning players most fans would overlook—e.g. the Keith Reasers and Will Redmonds of the world.
Even recently the Chiefs were connected to both top prospects in the NFL’s supplemental draft—Sam Beal of Western Michigan and Adonis Alexander of Virginia Tech—and yet the Chiefs failed to acquire either. They didn’t even land a safety in Brandon Bryant after the draft. They let the day slip by without adding anyone else. The table, it appears, has been set.
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From the outside it looks as if the Chiefs have major question marks and a need for further talent. From Veach’s lectern, he’s saying that’s not the case. Maybe it’s time we start to believe him—at least until the need shows itself to be true on the field.