PFF says biggest offseason need for KC Chiefs is depth at cornerback
The 2019 season hasn’t come to an end yet for the KC Chiefs, but it’s still fun to look at what the offseason could have in store for them. What positions do the Chiefs need to address when this season wraps up?
Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus wrote an article outlining the positions that all 32 teams need to address the most this offseason. For the Kansas City Chiefs, his primary need was depth at cornerback.
Linsey wrote,
"Charvarius Ward and Rashad Fenton have both shown they can provide solid play at cornerback, but neither is a proven, lockdown defender at this point in their careers. Outside of those two, Bashaud Breeland seems unlikely to return with the team in 2020 after picking up a 43.9 PFF coverage grade in 560 coverage snaps during the regular season. Kendall Fuller has also struggled, posting a 55.3 coverage grade and a 131.4 passer rating allowed on his 33 targets. The Chiefs could stand to add a couple cornerbacks to improve the competition there this offseason."
Linsey certainly makes good points in his blurb, mentioning that Bashaud Breeland has played well enough this season to justify getting a good deal with another team. Kendall Fuller, who is also hitting free agency, hasn’t been great as a corner and the Chiefs actually saw the most success from him when he was transitioned into more of a safety role.
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He’s also not wrong about Charvarius Ward and Rashad Fenton. Yes, both of those guys have been great, but neither is a guy who can put receivers out on islands like the best cornerbacks in the league are able to do. The Chiefs will most certainly need more outside of Ward and Fenton moving forward.
Linsey also touched on some secondary needs for each team and for the KC Chiefs, he listed linebacker and running back. I doubt many Chiefs fans would argue either of those needing some fine-tuning this spring.
While there had been a few mock drafts circulating that had the Chiefs grabbing a running back in the first round, I think we’ve officially seen that that would be a crazy move. This team can score just fine without a strong running game, so waiting until the third round or later would suffice when it comes to adding a running back.
As for a linebacker, that is something the Chiefs will most certainly want to look into this offseason and it should come via the draft rather than in free agency. Linsey notes that the Chiefs could look to replace Anthony Hitchens, Ben Niemann, and Damien Wilson before the 2020 season begins.