The Kansas City Chiefs are getting crowded at cornerback. They have what I would call one sure thing in Marcus Peters and then a bunch of questions at the position. The good thing is that the Chiefs have a lot of bodies with some potential so you hope you hit on someone (like Terrance Mitchell).
I divided the Chiefs cornerbacks into those who are locks and those who are competing.
Locks
Marcus Peters: The only question is how screwed are the Chiefs if he goes down.
Steven Nelson: He played a TON of snaps last year. They’ll play him on the outside and inside. He’s a lock to make it. I can’t see them trotting him out there for 16 games last year and then cutting him this year without a proven backup.
Roster Bubble
If there were a “probably going to make it but not a lock” section, Mitchell and White would go in there. Along with our two locks above, that’s four spots. The Chiefs kept six cornerbacks to start the season last year.
Terrance Mitchell: I wouldn’t pencil him into the No. 2 corner job just yet. He was a journeyman until he had a good month with the Chiefs last year. It was only in November that the Chiefs cut him and later re-signed him. Be weary of the sample size. Still, I’d have no problem betting he makes it.
DJ White: Same with Mitchell, he should make the roster. I would toss him in with Mitchell and Acker as those competing for the No. 2 corner job, although a step behind those two because he doesn’t have the same experience. White was a sixth round pick last year who some thought should’ve gone higher so he’ll more than likely make it. We were high on him. He was torched early on in the season against the Steelers and never really fully came back from that.
The rest of this group below is battling for one or two roster spots.
Kenneth Acker: The Chiefs traded for him and kept him on the roster last year. He has as good of a shot as anyone for the No. 2 job.
Phillip Gaines: I like the potential he has but the Chiefs can’t rely on him to stay healthy. He could make the team but they gotta be prepared with his health history.
De’Vante Bausby: The Chiefs liked him a lot when he came out. 6’2 and 190 pounds. He initially signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent, broke his collarbone, went to the Bears and now has found his way back to Kansas City.
Stanley Jean-Baptiste: He’s a former second round pick by the Saints and has the size the Chiefs like. It’s worth giving him an offseason contract to see what he’s got.
Ashton Lampkin: He played in 55 games and started 21 in his final two seasons at Oklahoma State. His experience is his strong suit.
JR Nelson: He has 35 inch arms which likely caught GM John Dorsey’s eye.