Kansas City Chiefs: Who is new Chiefs cornerback Rashad Fenton?

Despite obvious depth concerns, the Kansas City Chiefs waited until round six of the 2019 NFL Draft to address the cornerback position. Was Rashad Fenton worth the wait?

After the Kansas City Chiefs had issues in all phases of defense last season, an overhaul was anticipated and it has certainly happened.

Surprises such as Dee Ford, Justin Houston and Eric Berry were let go while the corner position remains relatively the same as last season. Other than Orlando Scandrick being replaced by Bashaud Breeland, it basically looks the same.

In the draft, offense and the defensive line depth were addressed before a corner was added, as the Chiefs, without either a fourth or fifth round pick, waited until pick 201 in round six to add South Carolina’s Rashad Fenton. With experience both returning kicks and lining up at various spots along the defense, the Chiefs certainly appear to have added some versatile depth at corner.

David Cloniger covers South Carolina athletics for the Post and Courier in South Carolina and helped provide some insight into the newest Chiefs defensive back

What does Rashad Fenton do best?

Speed and versatility. He played corner, nickel and safety last year with USC’s secondary so beat up and did well at all of them, although his best spot is corner.

Where does Fenton most need to improve?

Get better with his recovery. If he gets beat on a pass, he’s not as fast as he could be to catch up and often gets caught dogging himself instead of trying to go make the play.

What was Fenton primarily asked to do? Man coverage? Zone?

Well, Will Muschamp likes to play man but with all of the injuries, they were forced to play zone. So he played both. He was better in zone, as he often struggled to handle his man as they got fully into their stride.

Can/Will Fenton tackle?

He’s more physical with the receiver coming off the line than making the tackle. He’ll do it, but he’s not great at it. I guess the best way to say it is his effort is fine but the execution isn’t.

Would you consider Fenton to be a leader?

I would have until the bowl game. He was one of the oldest guys back there and was in charge of communicating the most with the linebackers. But he sat out most of the game, and he said he was hurt. Muschamp said “it was his decision.”

Apparently, some coaches thought he could have played with a minor bangup but Fenton didn’t, so he sat. One of his teammates said that Fenton pulled his groin.

What kind of player are the Chiefs getting?

Lot of room to grow. He’s quick, likes to get out front on coverage and has been keen to jump a route that he knows is going to be a short pass instead of sticking with his man in downfield coverage.

He gets a few good plays in a row and gets really confident (his three picks last year came in three straight games). He needs to be a better tackler, better at closing speed, better at playing by NFL interference rules (which are, granted, subjective at best).

What kind of person are the Chiefs getting?

Never a whiff of trouble at USC until the Belk Bowl, when his absence was mysterious at best .(I think he had a minor injury he could have played through but elected not to. )

Always very polite and composed in interviews, never standoffish.

My Thoughts

Rashad Fenton is a nice piece of depth, but I’m not sure he’s much of anything to be counted on early if at all. He looks the part and has five career interceptions while at South Carolina.

While the addition of depth is important, the Chiefs needed someone that could contribute early and Fenton is certainly not that guy. Was he drafted to replace 2018 draft pick Tremon Smith?

Next. Winners and Losers from 2019 NFL Draft. dark

I’m as curious to see an undrafted player such as Clemson’s Mark Fields, as I am to see Fenton. It will be interesting to see if the Chiefs have anything with this South Carolina product.

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