Chiefs camp preview: After Charvarius Ward, unanswered questions remain at cornerback
With the Chiefs’ first padded practices of training camp arriving this week, The Star is previewing each position group on the Super Bowl champions.
We previously looked at quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, defensive line and linebackers.
Here’s an assessment of the Kansas City cornerbacks.
2020 CAMP ROSTER
Charvarius Ward, Bashaud Breeland, Rashad Fenton, Alex Brown, Antonio Hamilton, Chris Lammons, L’Jarius Sneed, BoPete Keyes, Hakeem Bailey, Lavert Hill
POSITION PREVIEW
The Chiefs answered some questions about their cornerbacks group in 2019 by finishing eighth in the league against the pass — a pretty a remarkable turnaround for a unit that ranked 31st in 2018.
Led by Ward and Breeland, the Chiefs’ defense allowed just one opposing wideout to top 100 yards receiving in a game during the regular season.
But for all the good that came out of 2019, the Chiefs’ cornerbacks must rise to the occasion again in 2020.
Ward returns as one of the more underrated defensive backs in the league. He is coming off a Pro Bowl-caliber season in 2019, with 74 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and 10 passes defensed.
Aside from Ward, though, a rather large concern looms on the opposite side of the field given some uncertainty surrounding Breeland’s availability.
Breeland, who re-signed with the Chiefs via a one-year deal this offseason, was arrested on multiple charges in late April and faces a possible suspension to start the season. The Chiefs are allowing the legal system to work its course for now, but they’ll use training camp to prepare for potential time without him.
Last summer, the Chiefs had a veteran presence among their corners thanks to Kendall Fuller. But he signed with Washington during free agency and the Chiefs’ depth of experience behind Ward and Breeland is thin.
Fenton and Brown are entering their second professional seasons, while Lammons spent time on the Chiefs’ practice squad.
Hamilton joined the team on a one-year deal during free agency, and the Chiefs used the draft to add Sneed and Keyes. Bailey and Hill signed as undrafted free agents.
KEY BATTLE
With Breeland’s situation up in the air for now, an obvious battle awaits on the depth chart behind Ward.
Fenton, who played on a rotational basis in 2019, makes the most sense to receive the first shot at either replacing Breeland, in the event of a league-imposed suspension, or seeing time at nickel cornerback.
The 5-foot-11, 188-pound Fenton totaled 169 defensive snaps, mostly in a nickel role, in 12 games during the 2019 regular season and remained active during the postseason by seeing action on 82 snaps. He finished the regular season with 15 tackles, an interception and four passes defensed.
After Fenton, a spirited battle awaits between Hamilton, Brown, Lammons, Sneed, Bailey and Hill. Hamilton, it should be noted, is regarded as one of the league’s better special teams players.
Because the Chiefs incorporate a lot of nickel-coverage packages, a must in today’s pass-happy NFL, it wouldn’t be surprising if they choose to keep at least six cornerbacks on the roster.
Still, the absence of organized team activities (OTAs) could produce two side effects when it comes to determining the look of their opening-game roster. Brown and Lammons have an advantage — familiarity with the scheme — having spent time on the Chiefs’ roster last year, while the newcomers, especially this year’s rookies, will need to show they can quickly pick up the defense.
Keyes, the Chiefs’ seventh-round pick in this year’s draft, was recently placed on the non-football injury (NFI) list for undisclosed reasons.
PLAYER TO WATCH
The Chiefs could elect to fortify themselves at cornerback with a veteran free-agent signing during training camp. In the absence of such a move, Sneed, their fourth-round pick this year, provides arguably the most intrigue.
At 6-foot and 192 pounds, he possesses the flexibility to play both cornerback and safety. He considers cornerback his natural position and runs a blazing 4.37, an attribute he put to good use in a press-man college scheme. The Chiefs also like Sneed’s intelligence and are hoping he can grasp the scheme quickly this summer.
Brown is a dark-horse candidate worth monitoring. The Chiefs elevated him from their practice squad late last season; he appeared in three regular-season games, seeing most of his action on special teams.
Previous installments, and remaining schedule, for our two-week Chiefs training camp preview series:
Monday: Quarterbacks: We know who No. 1 is, but what about the backups?
Tuesday: The defensive line: It will be a strength again.
Wednesday, Aug. 5: Sizing up the running backs depth chart
Thursday, Aug. 6: At linebacker, Hitchens anchors the corps
Friday, Aug. 7: Plenty of targets for Patrick Mahomes at WR
Monday, Aug. 10: After Ward, Chiefs have corner questions
Tuesday, Aug. 11: Among the tight ends, it’s Kelce and ...
Wednesday, Aug. 12: Safeties
Thursday, Aug. 13: offensive line
Friday, Aug. 14: special teams
This story was originally published August 10, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
