The Kansas City Chiefs face losing several cornerbacks through free agency next offseason, including Nazeeh Johnson, Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams. Those three players contributed more than 1,450 defensive snaps across the regular and postseason in 2024. The Chiefs should prioritize adding at least one new cornerback early in the 2026 NFL draft.

Steve Spagnuolo’s defense features two quality coverage options in Kristian Fulton and All-Pro Trent McDuffie. McDuffie plays both outside and in the slot, but deploying full-time in the nickel draws out his full potential. That leaves a revolving door at the second outside cornerback position.

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Watson and third round rookie Nohl Williams should see the most snaps opposite of Fulton in 2025, but 2026 prospects like Arizona State’s Keith Abney II offer a way to upgrade the position permanently.

Abney is undersized at 5’11”, 185 lbs., but his frame doesn’t have a significant negative impact on his performance. He’s a potential true lockdown cornerback thanks to twitchy footwork and exceptional instincts. Abney decelerates and breaks for routes at the same time as the wide receiver, allowing him to smother throwing lanes.

Abney allows some separation over the middle of the field on posts and slants but recovers quickly to contest catches or close throwing lanes. He remains poised and doesn’t bite on double moves, limiting the number of clean losses on his tape.

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Abney’s speed isn’t elite, but he doesn’t suffer from significant issues in downfield coverage. His calm approach and masterful use of leverage limit opportunities for quarterbacks to test him downfield. He compresses outside releases along the sideline to eliminate the passing window and threatens to undercut inside releases.

Abney also excels in zone coverage. His awareness of routes developing at different depths helps him recover to or sink under routes crossing into his zone downfield. He also knows when offenses try to disguise shorter routes with window dressing. Abney’s processing speed and instincts make him a big-play threat in zone coverage.

Abney fires downhill in run defense, but his size limits his ability to stack and deconstruct blocks. He has stretches of quality play as a tackler but occasionally defaults to throwing a shoulder instead of wrapping up the ball carrier.

Abney projects as a top 40 prospect in the 2026 NFL draft and could secure a spot in the first round with a strong showing in 2025.

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This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2026 NFL draft scouting report: Arizona State CB Keith Abney II