KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs targeted the secondary with their first selection on day three of the NFL Draft, choosing South Carolina cornerback Rashad Fenton in the sixth round.
The 5-11, 193-pound corner played 48 games with 30 starts for the Gamecocks over four seasons. He collected 23 tackles as a senior with three interceptions and nine passes defended. He posted a 4.52 40-yard time at the NFL Combine.
Fenton views himself as primarily an outside corner but he did play nickel back for South Carolina his sophomore and junior seasons.
The Chiefs wanted to add competition at the cornerback spot, but saw greater value at tail end of the draft rather than early. The club didn't view any corners in this year's draft as sure-fire first-round selections, and did not expect any of their top choices to fall late into the second round. But Fenton offers athleticism and upside with little risk.
Chiefs area scout David Hinson said the club liked that Fenton played multiple coverages in college including off-man and zone in addition to press-man coverage.
"But when you see a team in college that plays a versatile of quarters and cover 2 and cover 3 and works on some different things, usually those corners are a little bit more prepared for the next level and you can work with them to do some zone stuff," Hinson said. "Because that is really the tougher things for them at the next level."
Draft analyst Dane Brugler with The Athletic writes that Fenton possess quick reflexes and a smooth hip turn but sometimes lacks discipline.
“Fenton is a composed athlete with the redirection quickness to stick with any type of receiver, but his grabby hands and questionable mental process are potential road blocks to his pro future,” Brugler wrote.
