2022 NFL Draft: Cornerbacks who could complete KC Chiefs’ secondary

The Kansas City Chiefs have solid options in each area of the draft in order to improve their secondary with one or more of the draft’s top corners.

The Kansas City Chiefs depth chart features Rashad Fenton, Deandre Baker, and L’Jarius Sneed as the starters in the cornerback room if the 2022 season were to start today. The depth beyond that core—as well as the overall strength of the core itself— is concerning. There is less than half of an NFL season worth of experience among the rest of the corners on the current roster, and although Stephon Gilmore is still available as a top-tier free agent, the Chiefs are probable cornerback shoppers in the draft.

The departure of Charvarius Ward in free agency all but committed that plan into action, but now that most of the desirable corners who were in the free-agent market are gone, it is time to consider the best fits available in the draft.

There are generally two schools of thought in regards to the usage of the Chiefs’ draft capital. One suggests that Brett Veach hold onto all 12 picks, and take a shot at sticking five or six core pieces; the other calls for being advantageous, and using the rare volume of picks to move up into an early first-round position to take a talent that would never be available at 29/30. In either case, there are a number of prospects that could round out the Chiefs’ secondary—here are a few from each tier of the 2022 class.

First Round Favorites

Much of the chatter in favor of trading up for an elite talent suggests Kansas City taking a wide receiver or edge rusher, but both the edge and wideout classes are historically deep in this year’s draft. The defensive back class, on the other hand, is rather top-heavy. If Veach were to trade up in the first round, it is possible that he would try to get inside the top 12-15 in order to get one of the top three cornerbacks off the board. Most rankings have Ahmad Gardner and Derek Stingley as the top and second-ranked prospects, with Trent McDuffie and Andrew Booth Jr. as the third and fourth.

With Gardner emerging, for many, as CB1 following Stingley’s limited 2021 season at LSU, it is likely that “Sauce” will be off the board in the first ten picks. Stingley, however, while still likely a top 15 prospect, is more imaginable to slide into a position that Veach could trade up into. The Texans 13th overall selection is probably as far as he will fall, but that would present an interesting opportunity for the Chiefs’ brass. The Texans roster is in desperate need of general improvement, which suggests that they may be more interested in quantity rather than the quality of draft positions. Some combination of one or both first round and a couple of middle-round selections could get the Chiefs into the 13th overall position and have a shot at Stingley should he slide that far.

His addition would be excellent in Kansas City. He would likely immediately move ahead of Deandre Baker as he arguably has the best ball skills as a cornerback in this class. The only reason he would slide is the limited film on him. As far as going up to get a guy in the first half of the first round, this is as good as it could get for the Chiefs unless they are willing to enter the top five for Gardner; a move likely too pricey with the other pressing needs to address later on.

Should Veach elect to stand pat with the 29th and 30th overall picks, the odds of one of the aforementioned top four cornerbacks sliding, are slim, but not zero. However, if they were all to be off the board, there are still a couple of stellar options that would likely be available.

One of which is Kaiir Elam from the University of Florida. Elam is a sub 4.40 runner with good overall size and length. He is often described as strong, balanced, and patient and is expected to be an impact player at the next level. He was often a bit too handsy in college and was called for seven penalties in 2021. However, in three years of defending SEC caliber receivers, he allowed only 619 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns.

Another potential option is Kyler Gordon from Washington. He is also speedy and long, but as a converted corner, he lacks some technical skills at the moment. It is likely that Gordon marks the greatest project rookie that the Chiefs would be willing to take in the first round, but depending on how everything shakes out, he might be the best available.