The Kansas City Chiefs signed some much needed secondary help in corner Bashaud Breeland.
A struggling secondary was the story of the Kansas City Chiefs defense in 2019. The unit as a whole was ready to be revamped. It started before the season with acquiring Kendall Fuller from the Redskins in the Alex Smith trade. Now they’ve added another former Redskin in corner Bashaud Breeland. The former fourth round pick was ready to sign with the Panthers after becoming a free agent last offseason. Instead he failed a physical and was at home on his couch before the Packers brought him in mid-season last year.
Breeland will join a unit with Fuller, and fellow newcomer Tyrann Mathieu. It is still a unit in need of upgrades, but those will likely come via the draft. Kansas City’s defense is going to be vastly different than the product they put on the field in 2018.
National Reaction
Green Bay’s ProFootballFocus account highlighted how well Breeland played down the stretch last year for the Packers.
Lowest passer rating allowed when targeted among CB's, weeks 10-17 (min. 100 snaps in coverage):
— PFF GB Packers (@PFF_Packers) March 18, 2019
Xavien Howard 38.0
Bashaud Breeland 39.8
Malcolm Butler 40.4
Marcus Peters 45.1
Ahkello Witherspoon 48.6
Chiefs Daily thinks the additions on defense are going to improve the unit as a whole next season.
With the acquisitions of:
— Chiefs Daily (@chiefsdaily15) March 18, 2019
- Tyrann Mathieu
- Alex Okafor
- Bashaud Breeland
Is the defense going to be better than last year?
Contract Details
According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, who broke the story, Breeland is signing a one year deal worth $2 million dollars. Demovsky also points out that he can earn up to $3 million in incentives.
Bashaud Breeland's deal with the Chiefs includes a $1.15 million signing bonus, an $805,000 base salary and a $45,000 workout bonus. In addition to that $2 million, he could earn up to $3 million more in incentives. Last year, he took home $608,823 in... https://t.co/2xJn1Hpvqj
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) March 19, 2019
Grade
Kansas City needed help in the secondary. With Patrick Mahomes leading a high-powered offense they are going to have to slow down opposing passing attacks. Breeland played very well down the stretch for the Packers last year. His one year deal allows the team to get immediate help and groom any replacements they take in the draft. It also does not handcuff the Chiefs from keeping adding via free agency or the draft.
Breeland is a solid corner that can play on the outside in this new look defense. Kendall Fuller and Tyrann Mathieu will handle the inside work. He’s not an island corner but can hold his own against some of the best receivers in the NFL. This was a smart signing for the Chiefs with very little downside.