Darqueze Dennard will re-sign with Cincinnati Bengals over Kansas City Chiefs

Free agent cornerback Darqueze Dennard has decided to return to the franchise that drafted him rather than leave for a new team in the open market.

Darqueze Dennard took some time to check out his options, but ultimately the free agent cornerback has reportedly decided to return to his native NFL home with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Dennard hit the open market for the first time after playing out his rookie contract with Cincinnati, and the Kansas City Chiefs roped him in for a free agent visit earlier this week. Around the time of his visit, the Chiefs also signed cornerback Bashaud Breeland to a one-year deal, making it uncertain whether they had continued interest in both corners or whether it was a move in response to a potentially bad visit.

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However a report by Ian Rapoport made it clear K.C. still had interest until the very end. Instead the home team won over the Chiefs and a mystery team, likely due to the money involved, although no one will know for sure.

Dennard is a slot corner which means the Chiefs were likely interested in playing him in the middle while pushing Breeland and Kendall Fuller to the boundaries in the base defense. The signing would have kept the team from having to rely on young guys like Tremon Smith or Charvarius Ward from day one, although the NFL Draft could certainly deliver a known product.

Will the Chiefs continue to look in free agency for further cornerback help? They already brought in Dennard and Ronald Darby and lost to the home team in both circumstances. Perhaps the Chiefs have a set price limit and both parties got more than that to stay at home. Still it’s not a good look as another wanted party leaves K.C. for greener (read: richer) pastures.

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