Kansas City Chiefs rookie cornerback Trent McDuffie Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs' trade of Rashad Fenton sends message to rookie CBs

By Thomas Huitt-Johnson | Last updated 11/2/22

There's no turning back now.

The Kansas City Chiefs will rely heavily on three rookie cornerbacks to make a run at the Super Bowl.

Shortly before Tuesday's deadline, the Chiefs sent four-year veteran Rashad Fenton to the Atlanta Falcons for a conditional seventh-round pick.

As NFL Network's Tom Pelissero noted, the move saves the Chiefs $1.4 million. The Chiefs likely will roll that over to next season. But there is a small chance they use it on a veteran signing over the next two months.

Full trade: The #Falcons are trading a conditional seventh-round pick to the #Chiefs for CB Rashad Fenton, per source. It's a cap-clearing move for Kansas City, which saves $1.4 million.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 1, 2022

Fenton played in five games this season, leaving the Las Vegas Raiders game with cramps. He had missed the past two games and was passed on the depth chart.

First-round pick Trent McDuffie, who has missed all but the Week 1 game, was activated to take Fenton's spot.

With the rookies playing so well, and with McDuffie returning, the Chiefs saw the need for saving the money rather than Fenton's veteran presence. Fenton likely would have been fifth on the depth chart, with L'Jarius Sneed locking down the nickelback position.

Seventh-round selection Jaylen Watson has started six games, making 32 tackles. His 99-yard pick-six helped beat the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2.

Fourth-round pick Joshua Williams has come on strong recently. In Week 8 against the 49ers, he intercepted Jimmy Garoppolo in the end zone with the Chiefs leading 14-13.

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