Breaking down Chiefs' best options to improve their cornerback room after 53-man roster cuts

The Kansas City Chiefs have completed their 53-man roster cuts, but they might not be done looking for ways to improve the team. They've already added DE Cam Thomas and TE Peyton Hendershort via trade, but they still have opportunities to get better at another position group on the defensive side of the ball. No cornerbacks have exactly run […]

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor

Aug 28, 2024 8:30 AM EDT

The Kansas City Chiefs have completed their 53-man roster cuts, but they might not be done looking for ways to improve the team.

They've already added DE Cam Thomas and TE Peyton Hendershort via trade, but they still have opportunities to get better at another position group on the defensive side of the ball. No cornerbacks have exactly run away with the opportunity arising after the L'Jarius Sneed trade, which opens an opportunity for new blood in Kansas City.

The Chiefs have until 11:00 a.m. CT on Wednesday to submit waiver claims, and while they're last in the waiver claim order, that didn't stop them from claiming a defensive back last season. They claimed now-Steelers CB Darius Rush after he was waived by the Indianapolis Colts.

Should the Chiefs not make a waiver claim, several vested veterans have been released and will become free agents. That's an entirely different avenue that Kansas City could take to improve the cornerback room.

Here's a breakdown of some names to know for Kansas City:

Waiver claims:

Keenan Isaac: Among players with at least a dozen coverage snaps, Isaac had the fifth-highest coverage grade (90.2) among all cornerbacks this preseason according to PFF. He allowed a single reception on two targets for just one yard after playing 57 coverage snaps this preseason. The Buccaneers inexplicably waived Isaac, opening up the chances he could be claimed on waivers.

Tre Swilling: Another preseason standout, Swilling was targeted five times this preseason and allowed just one reception for three yards. He had one pass broken up during the preseason and allowed just a 39.6 passer rating into his coverage on 37 coverage snaps according to PFF. He's got good size and speed for the outside corner position in the Chiefs' scheme.

AJ Green III: Green is another young player who had a solid preseason with the Vikings. With 36 coverage snaps, Green was targeted twice and allowed no receptions according to PFF. He also had a forced incompletion. He played over 20 snaps on special teams with most of his work coming on punt return and kick coverage units.

Other names to know: Cowboys CB Kemon Hall, Lions CB Steven Gilmore, and Ravens CB Bump Cooper Jr.

Free agents:

CJ Henderson: A former first-round draft pick (No. 9 overall in 2020) who hasn't lived up to the hype? Brett Veach is salivating at the chance to fix him. Henderson didn't have a good preseason, playing just five snaps for Houston. This feels like a situation where you could bring him on the practice squad and get him acclimated to improve the depth for later in the season.

Tre Flowers: The Jags released the veteran Flowers after he had a super-solid preseason in 2024. He was targeted seven times and allowed just four receptions, he forced two incompletions and the third was a near-interception. He'd certainly raise the floor of the cornerback room and he also plays special teams.

Xavien Howard: Admittedly, the off-field drama will probably keep the Chiefs out of this one. Howard is also two years removed from his best play at the cornerback position. However, this is probably the closest they could get to adding a true CB2 option opposite Trent McDuffie.

Rashad Fenton: The Chiefs already reunited with one former player, could another help solve some things on defense? Fenton has the versatility to play nickel and outside corner and he already knows the system. This could be a bandaid-type solution that the staff would likely be comfortable with.

Other names to know: Falcons CB Kevin King and Bears CB Greg Stroman Jr.