Kansas City Chiefs 2015 Team Needs: Some issues the same

Oakland Raiders wide receiver James Jones (89) carries the ball as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Chris Owens (20) and free safety Husain Abdullah (39) tackle in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

4. CB

Marcus Cooper was one of the revelations of the first half of the 2013 season, and his downward slide since then has been disheartening to watch. I still have faith that he can be a good cornerback in this league, but the Kansas City Chiefs can’t count on him to be that player for them. Sean Smith is a true No. 1 cornerback in this league, rookie Phillip Gaines has promise, and it seems like the Chiefs have found a way to resurrect Jamell Fleming‘s career, as he looked impressive in limited action for this team.

That said, it would make sense for the Chiefs to add an established veteran to the mix, since even Smith has been known to show some inconsistent play and get burned a bit more than a team would like. Of course, he’s been a massive success with the Chiefs, and I think he’s earned “shutdown” status after his 2014 campaign, showing none of the up-and-down issues that plagued him as a member of the Miami Dolphins; he was money all season long.

Unfortunately, neither Chris Owens nor Cooper played well, and that makes cornerback a position of need in my book. I mean, the Chiefs can’t bank on Cooper bouncing back, Fleming continuing his resurgence, or the young Gaines breaking out in his second season. There are some intriguing players at the cornerback position for the Chiefs, but the best way to minimize risk is to sign a quality veteran; they don’t have to break the bank here, though.

Next: 4.7 YPC unacceptable even considering injuries