Arrowhead Pride
Kansas City lost one of its best defensive players in a trade — but it still might be wise to avoid taking a CB in Round 1.
Earlier this offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs traded their star cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans for a 2025 third-round pick and a swap of 2024 seventh-round selections.
Considering Sneed’s value to the team, many mock drafts will have the Chiefs drafting a first-round cornerback — and that would make sense. Sneed and Trent McDuffie served as multipositional lockdown players, giving Kansas City good matchups with any passing offense. I would even argue that their presence is the main reason the team won back-to-back Super Bowls.
But after watching the film of cornerbacks available in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chiefs’ best value could come after the first round. Here’s why:
Here’s the good news: Kansas City still has good cornerbacks. Currently, the three starters are McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams.
McDuffie is an emerging superstar who can play in the slot or on the outside — but I’ll always prefer him in the slot, which unlocks him as a blitzer and a run defender. Furthermore, his intelligence and ability to get through blocks allows him to routinely destroy screens and run-pass options from that alignment.
Thankfully, McDuffie can be used where he is most effective, because Watson and Williams are both long, physical corners who can play man coverage. Neither has a deficiency in size or speed — and both have shown they can start on the boundary.
If the Chiefs start this trio in 2024, they’d still have a very good pass defense. Losing Sneed will limit their ability to match up with individual receivers — because by having two cornerbacks who can exchange matchups, it’s easier to put other players in good spots. But with just one such cornerback, that’s more difficult.
Still, that element isn’t required to field a great passing defense. Sure... neither Williams or Watson will be able to cover outside receivers as well as Sneed did — but both have shown the ability to play man coverage well.
Even better, both still have room to grow. And if they don’t? The rest of the defense is good enough to make up for Sneed’s loss.
I’m less impressed by the cornerbacks at the top of the class than others. Most big boards and mock drafts identify five legitimate first-round corners in the 2024 class:
Of these five, I have first-round grades for just two: DeJean and Wiggins — and to be clear, I’d be thrilled for the Chiefs to select either in the first round. DeJean is a playmaker who can be used in multiple positions. While he is an outstanding zone cornerback, I have concerns about his length when he plays on the outside. In the NFL,...
