Are The Chiefs Screwed Without Bashaud Breeland?
Bashaud Breeland hasn't resigned with the Chiefs to this point. There are rumors he may leave the Chiefs. Where does that leave the cornerback room for the Chiefs in 2021?
Kansas City has spent a lot of major resources at certain positions. Even outside of quarterback, Kansas City has spent significant draft capital or money at edge, left tackle, left guard, wide receiver, tight end, safety, and linebacker. When you spend your considerable assets at certain positions, other positions have to take the hit. Since Brett Veach took over in 2017, that position has been cornerback for the Chiefs.
Since 2017, the Chiefs have been 25th, 29th, 27th, 29th, and 26th in cornerback spending. Over that timespan, there also hasn’t been a big push for drafting cornerbacks either. Veach drafted Tremon Smith in the 5th round in 2018, Rashad Fenton with a 6th in 2019, and L’Jarius Sneed and Bopete Keyes in the 4th and 7th rounds. Even though the Chiefs didn’t put a lot of money into cornerback, they didn’t compensate for that with any significant draft capital.
Yet, the model hasn’t been unsuccessful for the Chiefs. The Chiefs have got quality cornerback play from Charvarius Ward, Bashaud Breeland, among others. L’Jarius Sneed looked like a potential star at cornerback last season. Kansas City has routinely done well vs. wide receivers, including being 2nd in WR yards given up last year. The lack of investment in the cornerback position has paid off for the Chiefs so far.
Arguably the best outside cornerback for the past two seasons has been Bashaud Breeland, even though he’s been cheap for the Chiefs. His length, physicality, and ball skills have been a major asset on the outside. Yet, Kansas City hasn’t resigned him. There have been reports that Breeland has considered the Vikings and Bears, and not a ton of interest from the Chiefs side.
Even though Kansas City has gotten away without any considerable cornerback issues for years, is this the year that it finally bites them in the butt? Let’s talk about options on the roster for the Chiefs and whether they need to make a move.
Note: Bashaud Breeland is still a free agent at the time of this piece. If the Chiefs resign him, disregard all of this.
2021 Chiefs Cornerback Room: Charvarius Ward, L’Jarius Sneed, DeAndre Baker, Bopete Keyes, Rashad Fenton, Chris Lammons, Marlon Character, Dicaprio Bootle, Mike Hughes
Without Breeland, there will have to be someone to move to the outside. The obvious candidate is L’Jarius Sneed, who the Chiefs viewed as an outside cornerback when they drafted him. Cornerback coach Sam Madison raved about his length and ball skills and claimed that Sneed was the prototype they wanted on the outside. My guess is he transitions back to the outside after starting there last season.
The guy opposite Sneed will be Charvarius Ward again. Ward has his flaws with consistency and tracking the ball, but the Chiefs have trusted Sneed for two seasons now, and I don’t expect that to change. He’s been a quality starter on the outside for a while now, and that won’t change without Breeland.
Where it gets interesting is in the slot and the depth for the Chiefs. The thing that hurts the most about Breeland potentially leaving is that it leaves the Chiefs with way less versatility. With Breeland, they can play Sneed in the slot and have three quality cornerbacks. We’re now at two.
The Chiefs can always put Tyrann Mathieu in the slot, who was excellent in the slot in 2019. Mathieu wasn’t quite as proficient there on film, but they have that trump card available. The problem with pigeonholing Mathieu into the slot is that you take away from your safety room and don’t get to use Mathieu in the same chesspiece role he’s played for Steve Spagnuolo. Your coverage plan gets way less versatile with Mathieu in one spot.
Kansas City has played Rashad Fenton some reps in the slot, but even in those reps, they usually were bracketing Fenton’s guy. Fenton’s not the quickest guy out of his breaks, and his long speed is average. Yes, Fenton played in the slot, but it’s not the best use of his skillset to stick him in there full-time. Kansas City would have to roll more help to Fenton’s side, which again reduces your coverage flexibility.
So, where’s the answer? The Chiefs recently traded for Mike Hughes, former 1st-round slot cornerback from the Minnesota Vikings.
Hughes was an interesting watch. When things are in front of him - whether a run play or a route breaking underneath him - Hughes is good. His downhill explosive speed is terrific, and he’s a very willing tackler. The issues come in man coverage and reading things behind him. Hughes has struggled with his long speed (like most slot guys do), but he wasn’t keen to route concepts on film. The Minnesota defense was a mess last year, so maybe it’s not all on Hughes, but he’ll need progression there.
Hughes has NFL experience in the slot and fits that prototype of a slot cornerback well. If Kansas City develops Hughes and fixes some of his issues in zone, he’ll be a good slot corner for the Chiefs. The problem with Hughes is that he’s played 24 out of 48 games in his career and only above 20% of snaps in a season once. Our sample size on Hughes is so small that if the Chiefs trust him to be their slot option, that’s a bad gamble based on history.
The other issue you have if Breeland leaves is depth. I mentioned it earlier in the article, but without Breeland, the Chiefs went from having three quality cornerbacks to two. That also impacts depth, as guys need to rise into more prominent roles. Kansas City has built their cornerback room with lower-level depth but without a ton of experience in spots.
One option with talent on the Chiefs is Deandre Baker. Baker had some positives moments in the one game he saw action, but a leg break may limit what Baker does this offseason.
Baker was never a player I was super high on coming out of school (granted, I didn’t watch a ton of tape). He’s a limited athlete without quality size, speed, or agility. I never viewed Baker as a 1st-round talent, but there are still traits you like. He’s a physical cornerback with long arms and strong hands. Spagnuolo tends to prefer press cornerbacks with physicality, and Baker’s another fit there.
I won’t get into Baker’s extensive off-field issues, but I’m not a huge fan of Baker. He had quality reps in limited action, but trusting Baker to play a significant role in this defense is tough. Yes, he was a 1st-round pick, but I would be concerned if the Chiefs went into this season with Baker as their 3rd-cornerback.
Rashad Fenton didn’t have many reps on the outside, but he stepped up in the New England game and played relatively well. Fenton lost snaps to end the season, but now with Breeland gone, he would likely be the next guy up in case of injury.
Bopete Keyes does deserve mentioning, but I wouldn’t expect a ton from Keyes. Keyes was always a longer projection, and I still believe we’re a long time away from Keyes doing much for this team. Baker and Fenton will get shots on the outside before Keyes.
Conclusion: Are The Chiefs Screwed?
No.
After a few years of being limited at cornerback, the Chiefs did build some quality depth at the position. With the Hughes trade, the Chiefs now have 4-5 guys with real NFL snaps at cornerback. That doesn’t sound like much, but compared to how thin cornerback used to be for the Chiefs, we’re in a better spot now.
Even with that, however, I’m not confident in this group. I understand Breeland had issues, but he was a starting-level cornerback for very cheap. Breeland’s outperformed his salary for two straight seasons now. Yes, they have options, but none with a proven NFL track record behind Sneed and Ward. If there’s an injury, where will that leave the Chiefs?
Now, this won’t derail the Chiefs. Steve Spagnuolo has proven to be able to get the most out of his cornerbacks, and with a few former 1st-round picks on the roster (Hughes, Baker), this may be a piece I look back at and admit where I was wrong. For now, I’m deeply concerned about cornerback.
I still believe the Chiefs’ biggest issue is pass rush (I’ll get there soon). However, cornerback depth is something I’m watching very carefully. Maybe Breeland will be back in the fold or even another veteran, but I’m not confident in this group until then.