What is the issue between Bashaud Breeland and the K.C. Chiefs?

For the entirety of the present offseason, fans of the K.C. Chiefs have been waiting for news that the team was going to re-sign cornerback Bashaud Breeland. While he’s been a year-by-year rental, so to speak, he was undoubtedly a vital part of an overly sticky secondary for the last two seasons that allowed the team to climb to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances and the team’s first championship in 50 seasons. Now, however, it looks as if another team might be stepping into the picture instead of the Chiefs.

Nate Taylor of The Athletic has word that Breeland spent Thursday with the Minnesota Vikings on a free agent visit, a move that indicates a lot more interest than the Chiefs have shown thus far, despite rumors that K.C. was somehow still interested.

The tension has been an interesting turn between the Chiefs and Breeland this spring. Typically if there is interest on both sides, then it’s not that hard to do the math and make something work. However, it seems as if there’s a sticking point for one or both parties that have made it difficult to seal the deal. Like a couple where one party doesn’t want to have children or refuses to live in a certain spot, there might be mutual interest in making something work but the hurdles could prove to be too much.

The road back to K.C. is littered with hurdles for Bashaud Breeland.

It’s irresponsible to read too much into the situation, but at some point, Breeland cannot be too happy with a series of one-year deals in free agency despite proving that he’s one of the stickiest corners in football. That’s exactly the sort of coverage that Steve Spagnuolo asks of his secondary and Breeland is one of the NFL’s best. Even if it draws the occasional penalty, wideouts are never going to receive an unearned catch with Breeland in coverage. Breeland himself knows this and was keen to share the statistics that back him up.

Perhaps it’s here that we see the hurdle in the way of a reunion in 2021. If Breeland is insistent that he’s already done the prove-it route once and then again in 2020, even with a four-game suspension to start last season, he has every right to be irritated. On the flip side, the Chiefs have all the leverage given that Breeland is still sitting there available, as no one else seems to be lining up to offer the security that the Chiefs are also not presenting.

In addition, while Breeland has shown himself to be a valuable member, the Chiefs have an intriguing amount of young cornerbacks on the roster at present. Chavarius Ward is in a contract year and has every reason to show up strong in ’21. Deandre Baker and Mike Hughes are both former first round picks who should be motivated to also prove something with the best team they will ever play for. L’Jarius Sneed is coming back after a stellar rookie campaign as well, and BoPete Keyes is also on the roster as a second-year player ready for more reps.

Have the Chiefs already crowded out the possibility of Breeland’s return? Are the bridges already burned? It’s possible that Breeland could sign with Minnesota by the time I’m even finished writing this and the book will be written. However, at the very least, it seems that the path back to K.C. isn’t as simple as the mutual interest should make it and that there are very real hurdles (and other partners) now in the way.