Stacking up the Chiefs new options at slot defender
Who will win the slot defender spot in Training Camp this year?
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When defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo arrived in Kansas City in 2019, he had to find a suitable option to play in the slot — a role that received ~75% of the defensive snaps for his squad. He utilized Kendall Fuller initially, but was forced to make a change after injury and utilized All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu in the slot with great results.
In 2020, Mathieu again found himself in the slot initially — due to Bashaud Breeland’s suspension putting L’Jarius Sneed outside — but had to move around to cover for injuries, ceding the spot to Rashad Fenton in the middle of the year. However, when Sneed returned from his early-season injury, he held down the slot defender role — once again, with great success.
While Sneed, Mathieu, and Fenton are all returning to the squad in 2021, there are question marks about where everyone will line up. Mathieu has been increasingly successful as a trap defender that moves all over the field, rather than being locked into the slot defender role. Sneed was able to play effectively in the slot, but was also excellent on the boundary — a role the Chiefs currently need a consistent presence.
Fenton (who also projects well as a boundary cornerback) looks to have the inside track on the slot defender position as it stands, but the Chiefs added a group of young players who also have an opportunity to get some snaps in the slot. With that said, today we’re going to look at the new additions and the likelihood that they challenge for the Chiefs slot role in 2021.
Mike Hughes
Hughes was a low-asset addition after the draft this year by Brett Veach and company, and he just might find a home in the slot for the Chiefs. We already covered what he can bring to the table when the trade was made, noting his ability to play the run well from the slot. He also brings an ability to play well as a top-down zone defender — a common ask of the slot defender in deep rotations for Spagnuolo.
The former first-round pick was a strong boundary cornerback in college, but his skillset might be best suited for the slot in Kansas City. The Chiefs perused the slot cornerback market pre-draft with Sneed and Charvarius Ward penciled in on the outside. After not landing one in free agency or the draft, taking a swing on Hughes in the slot makes a lot of sense.
If the Chiefs can get a healthy, locked-in version of Hughes in 2021, it’s hard to argue that he’s not the best option in the slot of this bunch — and one of the Chiefs best five defensive backs.
The Verdict: Strong challenger to win the slot defender role
Devon Key
Key is another intriguing player that has surprised with some first and second team reps already this offseason. A former safety with an excellent athletic profile, Key flies around the field in sub-packages against the run, consistently making plays behind or near the line of scrimmage.
His coverage ability still needs some work — particularly in his route recognition and reaction — which is why he went undrafted in 2021. However, he showed growth and development at the CGS All-Star game during the offseason and has obviously picked up the calls to be getting early reps at Chiefs camp.
There is still a learning curve that will need to be overcome to hold down this role at the NFL level — especially reading route distributions from the slot. However, he projects well as a Dan Sorensen backup/box dime defender that could creep into a slot defender role if he can unlock his natural athleticism as his game progresses.
The Verdict: Future box safety/matchup-slot defender
Dicaprio Bootle
Bootle played all over Nebraska’s secondary during his collegiate years, and not just in a rotational role. He started games as a deep safety, on the boundary, and followed receivers in the slot as the Cornhuskers top defensive back. That versatility certainly appealed to the Chiefs defensive coaching staff, and they added him as an undrafted free agent this offseason.
Bootle has the requisite physicality to play from the slot in Spagnuolo’s scheme and is unafraid to stick his nose in the pile in run support. He’s also at his best in zone coverage, using his vision to keep multiple receivers in check while still reading the quarterback. He’s an intelligent player in the mold of Fenton that makes a lot of sense on this squad.
Unfortunately, Bootle doesn’t possess the size/length/speed combination that Spagnuolo seems to want at his slot defender when compared to Sneed and Key. If the Chiefs ask their slot defenders to handle more vertical routes one-on-one in heavy blitz scenarios, that athleticism becomes more important to the team and something to watch for in the preseason for Bootle.
The Verdict: Quality slot depth and strong special teamer
Marlon Character Jr
Another CGS All-Star game participant, Character is another versatile defender that can play all over the secondary. He also is a physical defensive back that is a downhill force against the run, and — unlike Bootle — has the size and length that Spagnuolo covets.
However, Character needs quite the step forward in development to play at the next level. He struggles with his route recognition and finding the ball in air, and also lacks the long speed to carry vertical routes from the slot. Spagnuolo needs his slot defenders to be smart and capable of handling a versatile coverage package, and Character will have to show that he’s capable of that in training camp.
His explosion and size will definitely make him a candidate to make the bottom of the roster — and almost certainly as a practice squad candidate — but he’s got big steps to take to carve out a role ahead of some others on this list.
The Verdict: Practice squad with chance to make 2022’s 53-man roster