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Can Charvarius Ward put all the tools together for Kansas City Chiefs?

By Travis Steffen

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 23: Charvarius Ward #35 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during warms ups before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 23, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 23: Charvarius Ward #35 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during warms ups before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 23, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 12: Eric Ebron #85 of the Indianapolis Colts is tackled by Charvarius Ward #35 and Jordan Lucas #24 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter of the AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 12, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 12: Eric Ebron #85 of the Indianapolis Colts is tackled by Charvarius Ward #35 and Jordan Lucas #24 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter of the AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 12, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

The cornerback group for the Kansas City Chiefs remains to be the biggest question mark in 2019. Can Charvarius Ward improve from where he left off?

Despite another offseason to work on the position, cornerback remains a group that has seen little attention for the Kansas City Chiefs. Outside of a couple underwhelming free-agent signings and a sixth-round pick, general manager Brett Veach has largely left it alone while completely overhauling other position groups.

While fans are desperately talking about trading for cornerbacks, they don’t grow on trees. Given the way this passing league is heading, teams are unwilling to give up good cornerback play without tremendous compensation.

The truth is, this offseason had very little to offer when it came to cornerbacks in both free agency and the NFL Draft. Yet general manager Brett Veach still attempted to look at players in an attempt to address the problem with talks about Darqueze Dennard and Ronald Darby. The signing of Morris Claiborne, who will serve a four-game suspension to start the season, helps a bit but he’ll likely be a quality backup. Remember, former Chiefs cornerback Steven Nelson was one of the top candidates available on the market.

There have been up and down reviews from fans and media about second-year cornerback Charvarius Ward and what he will be able to do in the new defensive scheme under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Fans have been hurt before with cornerbacks looking good down the stretch and then falling off a cliff the following season with guys like Terrance Mitchel and Marcus Cooper.

Probably the most interesting thoughts around Ward and the questions that seem to keep coming up surrounding him in 2019 stem from the AFC Championship game. If linebacker Dee Ford would have not lined up offsides and Ward‘s interception late in the game that was taken back for a touchdown, Kansas City is likely in the Super Bowl. Would we still have the same questions surrounding Ward if that play wouldn’t have been called back?

When doing this film review, we look at the traits that are needed to be a successful cornerback in today’s NFL. Based off of those traits, we will discuss the position and try to project what Ward can be in 2019 with more playing time and what we want to see from him in a new defensive scheme. Let’s take a look at Ward’s strengths that he’s already shown in just four games.

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