KC Chiefs: Morris Claiborne arrival should help out secondary

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 24: Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Morris Claiborne (20) covers San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19)in the third quarter of an NFL preseason game between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs on August 24, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 24: Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Morris Claiborne (20) covers San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19)in the third quarter of an NFL preseason game between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs on August 24, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The KC Chiefs’ defense has been a little bit better than a season ago, but it still has a ways to go. Fortunately, Morris Claiborne’s four-game suspension is up and he’s free to join the team for their week five battle against the Colts.

The Kansas City Chiefs secondary hasn’t been the worst performer as far as the defense goes (that most definitely goes to the run defense), but it’s still not quite up to par. Through four weeks, the Chiefs sit 20th in the league in pass defense, allowing an average of 258.8 yards through the air per ESPN.

In these first four games, it’s been Bashaud Breeland, Kendall Fuller, and Charvarius Ward in the three starting cornerback spots.

Breeland has been a sneaky good signing, as we saw his contributions front and center in the win over Detroit, picking up a fumble and taking it 100 yards to the house. Agree with the call or not, it was a heck of a play by Breeland.

Fuller has been fine, but still has his fair share of struggles. Ward has not been good, however, and that’s why Morris Claiborne‘s return to the team will be great for the secondary, as he can slot in there and take over for Ward.

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Claiborne spent the last two seasons with the New York Jets after having been drafted by the Cowboys sixth overall in 2012.

When the Chiefs initially brought in Claiborne, I wrote that the signing was a low risk-high reward because he’s only on a one-year deal. If he plays well, cool, perhaps that’s the difference between a Super Bowl title, and if he doesn’t play well, he’ll be out the door at season’s end. Low risk-high reward.

The Chiefs have problems on defense for sure and Claiborne is a major upgrade over Ward, who hasn’t been very good through four games, posting a 62.2 overall grade on Pro Football Focus. The secondary hasn’t been as bad as it was last year and Claiborne’s arrival should give this unit a boost.

If KC wants to go toe-to-toe with the Patriots come January, their secondary needs to be better, and Claiborne hopefully helps with that. If he comes in and plays well, the Jalen Ramsey trade talks could for sure die down (even though they already appeared to have died down), but with the Chiefs being thin at cornerback, they’d be wise to still add depth at the position even when Claiborne does join the team.

Either way, it’ll be nice to have another experienced veteran in the secondary as the Chiefs enter the second quarter of the season!