The Kansas City Chiefs made some big moves to bolster the top of their cornerback position, and now could face a summer battle for the final spot on the depth chart.
The Chiefs moved up in last month’s NFL draft to land Mansoor Delane, the LSU cornerback widely considered the top prospect at his position. While the move helps offset the losses of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, the Chiefs still have some difficult decisions at the position and could end up cutting ties with a former first-round pick.
Kaiir Elam Facing Roster Crunch
In an early projection of the team’s final 53-man roster, SI.com Chiefs reporter Jordan Foote noted how the Chiefs have changed the top of their depth chart almost entirely since last year.
“The Chiefs completely transformed their cornerback room this offseason, and that was even before they used a first-round pick on LSU’s Mansoor Delane,” Foot wrote. “Losing Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the Los Angeles Rams puts added pressure on those who are left in Kansas City.”
Foote added that the Chiefs could face a tough call on Kaiir Elam, the former first-round pick of the Buffalo Bills who has struggled to find his place in the NFL. Foote noted that Elam may need a strong performance to stay on the roster.
“The final two spots are worth monitoring here. Fourth-round pick Jadon Canady is a slot-only piece, albeit an intriguing one,” Foote wrote. “2022 first-round pick Kaiir Elam may not make it through waivers, so the Chiefs might keep him if he shines this offseason.”
Elam appeared in 29 games with 12 starts through three seasons with the Bills, but was surpassed by sixth-round pick Christian Benford and struggled at times. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys, but was released late in the season after appearing in 10 games with seven starts.
Elam finished out the season with the Tennessee Titans, where he played in four games and registered four tackles, appearing in 33% of the team’s defensive snaps.
Chiefs Relying on Manoor Delane
The Chiefs have already made a significant investment in Delane, giving up a package of draft picks to move up three spots to land him in the first round. The LSU standout said afterward that he was thrilled to see the perennial Super Bowl contenders moving up to select him.
“I [got] the phone call and [the Chiefs] traded up; I was like, ‘Damn, I wanted to go to the Chiefs,'” Delane said, via ESPN. “I just wasn’t expecting it. I pick up the phone, and I’m like, ‘Woah, this is crazy.’ That’s when the emotions came to me. I was just so blessed to be on a team like this.”
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said the team was also thrilled that he was still on the board in a spot where they could trade up.
“I thought we did a good job. I think a lot of people thought we might go offensive line there, but this was our guy the whole time,” Veach said.
“He’s super fluid, he’s athletic, he plays [patiently], he’s super aware, and he’s got great ball skills. He’s tough, and he’ll tackle. We think he can play inside and outside. He was the most complete corner. When you’re picking at nine and you’re right there — and you can get the No. 1 corner in the draft — you just go get him.”
Chiefs Could Cut Ties With Former First-Round CB