Artie Burns, Teez Tabor could join free agent cornerback market

The latest rumors from around the NFL insinuate that two young cornerbacks could become free agent soon—in case the Chiefs are interested.

If the rumor mill churning this week ends up becoming reality down the road, the Kansas City Chiefs and other teams needy for some secondary help—especially at cornerback—might have some new entrants to choose from sooner than later. Both Teez Tabor of the Detroit Lions and Artie Burns of the Pittsburgh Steelers were high draft picks in recent years, but they’re also on the roster bubbles of their respective teams and could be set free in the near future.

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press observed Lions minicamp on Tuesday and came away impressed with some of Tabor’s moves. Yet he also lays out the facts that the Lions are already pretty well-stocked at the position and that it might be too little too late for the former second-round pick. The Lions have starters already locked in place and young prospects coming up that deserve a chance to show what they can do, including this year’s pick of Penn State cornerback Amani Oruwariye.

Ed Bouchette of the Athletic believes Burns is much more likely to come loose than Tabor and it could happen much sooner as well. Burns is due $800K in the form of a roster bonus if he makes it to training camp, so even that’s not a given for the Steelers, a team that added former Chiefs starting cornerback Steven Nelson in free agency. Burns has all the physical talent in the world as a former first round pick, but it’s the mental side that got the best of him in 2018—forcing him to the bench in Pittsburgh.

While neither player would be an overwhelming upgrade, it’s also true that a change of scenery (or coaching) can sometimes work wonders for a young player who has yet to realize his supposed potential. And, as they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has taken a keen interest in such picks before, having traded for linebacker Darron Lee earlier this offseason and linebacker Reggie Ragland and offensive lineman Cam Erving in recent years.

Burns, who just turned 24, in particular is very intriguing as a player who might just need some different voices in the room to turn the corner. Then again, Tabor, who is only 23, is bouncing back a bit and might be plenty motivated if shipped out of the Motor City. The youth, talent, and draft investment make both players more interesting than a few already on the Chiefs roster at the position.

If Burns and Tabor are both released, it will be interesting to see if either player can make it to free agency. Those characteristics should draw plenty of interest among waivers, which could keep the Chiefs from ever having a chance without a trade of some kind.