Charvarius Ward emerged with Pro Bowl-caliber season to anchor Chiefs’ pass defense
As the Chiefs prepare for the NFL Scouting Combine and 2020 NFL Draft, we’re evaluating each of the team’s position groups. Previously, The Star looked at the quarterbacks, running backs, defensive line and linebackers.
Here are the cornerbacks.
2019 FINAL ROSTER: Charvarius Ward, Bashaud Breeland, Kendall Fuller, Morris Claiborne, Rashad Fenton, Alex Brown
INJURED RESERVE: Keith Reaser (Achilles)
2020 FREE AGENTS: Breeland, Fuller, Claiborne, Reaser
Position review
The Chiefs entered the 2019 regular season with question marks at the cornerback position.
There was a new scheme to learn under first-year defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who nixed the 3-4 scheme and installed a 4-3 base defense, and the Chiefs came off a 2018 season ranked 31st against the pass.
But as the season progressed, any early concerns were cast aside as the cornerback group rose to the challenge to finish eighth in the league against the pass, a remarkable turnaround.
How improved was the pass defense? Only four players totaled an individual 100-yard receiving effort in a single game against the Chiefs during the 2019 regular season. And of that quartet, just one wide receiver in the Jaguars’ D.J. Chark found success with a 100-yard game in Week 1.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the Chiefs’ pass defense was that good.
Charvarius Ward led the charge with a Pro Bowl-caliber season. He appeared in all 16 regular-season games and totaled 74 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and 10 passes defensed, which ranked as the second-most on the team behind safety Tyrann Mathieu’s 12.
Ward also proved highly durable with 1,062 defensive snaps, which trailed only Mathieu’s team-high 1,095 snaps, while contributing 110 snaps on special teams.
Breeland, who joined the Chiefs on a one-year deal in March 2019, more than held his own opposite of Ward. On the season, Breeland appeared in 16 games with 15 starts and totaled 48 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and eight passes defensed on 927 defensive snaps, which were the fourth-most on the team.
Fuller missed five games while recovering from hand surgery before returning for the stretch run of the season. And Fuller’s ability to play nickel cornerback and safety proved invaluable after rookie safety Juan Thornhill injured his ACL in the regular-season finale. Fuller finished the regular season with 49 tackles and two passes defensed on 507 defensive snaps, and he recorded the game-sealing interception in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win.
Claiborne and Fenton saw action in a rotational role on defense. Fenton and Brown also contributed on special teams.
Reaser had a season-ending Achilles injury in training camp.
Looking ahead
With Ward entering a contract year in 2020, at least one spot is in good hands for another season and he’s a player the Chiefs should look to lock up with an extension.
The Chiefs, though, have decisions to make at cornerback when considering Breeland, Fuller, Claiborne and Reaser are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents on March 18.
The Chiefs’ cap space, which Spotrac projects to be just $16.5 million in 2020, likely signals the team can’t afford to bring back all four cornerbacks.
Still, it more than makes sense to secure Breeland or Fuller if the price is right. In a perfect world, the Chiefs can keep both to ensure the improved pass defense remains intact. But if both leave for other teams in free agency, the Chiefs must address the position group either in free agency or through the draft.
The Chiefs signed Chris Lammons, who spent time on the practice squad in 2019, to a reserve/future contract.
On the chopping block?
Claiborne, who joined the Chiefs as a free agent in the wake of Reaser’s training camp injury, served a four-game suspension to start the season, and then couldn’t crack the starting lineup on his return with Ward, Breeland and Fuller playing well.
The veteran cornerback injured his shoulder in Week 13, and then was inactive for the final four games of the regular season. He didn’t suit up during the Chiefs’ three-game postseason run to the Super Bowl title.
Of the four pending unrestricted free agents, it wouldn’t surprise if the team elects to go a different direction on Claiborne.
