Prince Amukamara could be an intriguing cornerback addition for Chiefs
By Matt Conner
We asked a Chicago Bears insider to tell us more about Prince Amukamara and what the veteran corner has left to offer a new team.
The Chicago Bears recently released veteran cornerback Prince Amukamara, and like most free agents who hit the transaction wire, it’s natural for the fan base of every NFL team to question whether or not the player would be a good fit for their franchise.
That said, in this instance, Amukamara has some intriguing elements in play that make this more than just a general interest exercise for the Kansas City Chiefs
First, the Chiefs have a need for multiple additions at the position of cornerback. Rashad Fenton and Charvarius Ward are the only corners with any playing time in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense on the roster if the team allows Kendall Fuller, Bashaud Breeland, Keith Reaser, and Mo Claiborne to all leave via free agency.
Speaking of Spagnuolo, Amukamara played for Spags when he was the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants back in 2015. While it’s been some time, Amukamara has enough experience under his belt that he should be able to make an immediate impact if he does have something to offer.
Last year, Amukamara started 15 games for the Bears and 42 overall games for Chicago over the last three years, meaning he’s dependable and seen as a starter for a defense that has been heralded in recent years. Last year he had 53 tackles and 10 passes defended.
We recently reached out to Lester Wiltfong, Jr., editor of Windy City Gridiron, to hear more about Amukamara’s level of play in 2019 and just what to expect on the open market.
Was his release about money or how much of this was about production concerns?
A bit of both, but if his cap hit wasn’t $10 million the Bears probably would have kept him around. His production did slip, he’s had a nagging injury of two, and he’ll be 31 in June, so all that plus the big price tag meant he was getting cut.
Despite his age, Prince started the majority of games for the Bears. Do you think he’s still worthy of an outside/boundary corner spot?
Maybe? He’s been a press corner most of his career, but if he’s lost a step he might be a better fit in a zone scheme.
What sort of deal would you expect Amukamara to yield now that he’s available on the open market?
Not much more than a couple million, and that’s only if he can find a team that would also value his leadership and locker room presence, both of which are top notch, because corners over 30 rarely get paid.