Bargain Bin Shopping at Cornerback
How Brett Veach built an entire position group with minimal assets.
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Brett Veach’s approach to roster building necessitates that he finds places to remain lean and cost-effective.
With a top-heavy approach — paying stars and filling players in around them — he’s been able to invest minimally at the cornerback position to help offset some of the larger contracts he’s handed out in his time as general manager for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs haven’t tendered a contract worth more than $5 million dollars at cornerback since Veach took over. Bashaud Breeland’s deal last season was worth up to $4.5 million and he didn’t hit those incentives last year.
The highest draft pick for the Chiefs at the position is their best player in the room — 2020 fourth-round pick L’Jarius Sneed.
It’s a credit to the organization that the Chiefs have found so much success identifying and developing players at the position.
The Chiefs enter 2021 with a position group made up entirely of players acquired from the bargain bin. Surprisingly, however, there’s a lot of talent on paper. Veach has used a lot of creativity to acquire nearly every cornerback on the team in a variety of different ways.
It’s a fascinating group with unique stories and real abilities. I’m not sure what is more interesting: the potential outcomes of the players themselves or how they got to Kansas City.
L’Jarius Sneed
Last year’s fourth-round pick played safety his final year at Lousiana Tech in 2019. The Chiefs moved him back to cornerback — where he played well in 2018. Sneed shined both in the slot and on the boundary for the Chiefs. In a re-draft, Sneed would see his way into the first round of the 2020 class.
He’s the clear-cut best player at the position. How the rest of the position shakes out could determine where he lines up the majority of the time in 2021.
Charvarius Ward
The elder statesman and most experienced player in the cornerback room. A former undrafted free agent for the Cowboys was acquired in a trade for guard Parker Ehinger — who hasn’t had much traction to his career since the transaction.
Ward has provided serviceable, unremarkable play at the position — but has largely been available. Getting that out of Ward has been huge for as little as the Chiefs invested to secure him.
The ceiling isn’t particularly high for the fourth-year cornerback, but if he can play to his ability and provide league-average play, that’s a big win.
Ward will be an unrestricted free agent in 2022 and needs a good year to help his contract bargaining power.
DeAndre Baker
Andy Reid and Veach gave the former first-round a pick a shot after a tumultuous stint with the New York Giants.
The Chiefs added him to their practice squad in the middle of last season after some legal issues were cleared up. He broke his femur in his week 17 audition — and hasn’t been able to participate in off-season practices.
There is talent in Baker that warranted a high selection. He was one of the most productive college cornerbacks in the draft in 2019. He’s had a rocky start on and off the field — already on his second organization.
It would be a big help for Baker to find success in 2021 as the Chiefs have multiple years of club control over him if he plays well.
Mike Hughes
A late-round pick swap in May netted the Chiefs another former first-round pick in Hughes.
The story on the former Minnesota Viking is health — appearing in only 24 games his first three seasons. Despite not being available for half his career games, he has the second-most career defensive snaps of all the cornerbacks on the roster (915) — again highlighting the inexperience of the roster.
Hughes boasts game experience, some stretches of above-average play, and one of the better athletic profiles of the group. He’s only been here a short time, but if he can remain healthy he could be a quality depth piece in the secondary.
Hughes is in a contract year — and a full season of capable play would go a long way in helping his chances at a nice payday.
Rashad Fenton
There are typically low expectations for a sixth-round pick, but the former South Carolina Gamecock has performed admirably on defense and special teams. Fenton has the most normal story of all the players in legitimate contention for the 53-man roster.
BoPete Keyes
The Chiefs were out of picks in the 2020 draft when they traded back in to acquire Keyes — a hot name at the end of the draft with teams lining up to pay him guaranteed money should he hit undrafted free agency.
Veach gave up a 2021 sixth-round pick to get back into the draft in 2020 — and grabbed the Tulane produce.
Keyes has the requisite length, athleticism and physicality both at the line of scrimmage and in the run game to play for Spagnuolo. It’s an uphill battle at this juncture with a crowded room, but he could be in the mix still on the 53-man roster or practice squad.
Bargains in the bin
There are some high ceiling players on this list. The Chiefs have players that can easily exceed the investment the team has made to secure their talents. It’s unrealistic to expect all of them to hit, but a few of these players finding success in 2021 would be massive for the outlook of the defense.
Sneed’s continued growth will be critical for the outlook of the roster. He’s already hit and is one of the best moves of Veach’s career. The other corners in the room will determine the strength — or weakness — of the position.
Ward and Hughes are looking for their next contract — and also the two most experienced players in the room. They’re the closest things to seasoned veterans this team has at the position — and both of them have good contract years is best for both the team and the players.
It’s a risky proposition to roll with a variety of unknowns at a critical position in a passing league, but Veach must like the swings on talent he’s given his coaching staff to work with. They are yet to add a veteran and appear to let a lot of young players battle for opportunities.
The great cornerback experiment starts in earnest this week at training camp. I can’t wait to see it shake out over the remainder of the summer.
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Now its time to flip ward and a third for Xavien Howard.