Defending the Corners

Most Chiefs fans are familiar that Stanford Routt recently visited the Chiefs. The free agent cornerback came to Kansas City on Tuesday, and then stayed an additional day on Wednesday. Sources are unsure if this was originally scheduled with Routt or if talks between the Chiefs and Routt got serious. Either way, it brings about an interesting and perhaps necessary question:

Who do the Chiefs value more?

Kansas City wasn't the only team that showed interest in Routt, and he has already visited other teams since leaving on Wednesday. But why bring in Routt for a visit at all when they have an impending free agent cornerback of their own in Brandon Carr?

An article via SB Nation Kansas City broke the reasoning down into three options that I tend to agree with:

1. The Chiefs are doing their homework and Routt is fine with the procedure
2. The Chiefs are posturing themselves for negotiations with Carr
3. Carr is already out the door

The first option is probably the most likely. Teams like to do their due process when it comes to free agents. Bringing in Routt for a workout doesn't hurt anything. Carr is a professional and I doubt he was offended in the slightest by the Chiefs making this move. 

The second option is a little more dangerous. Anytime that you attempt to show a player that he is not irreplaceable, you're playing with fire. I know this isn't unheard of when it comes to negotiation tactics with players, but it is still potentially problematic. 

The third option is the one that keeps Chiefs fans up at night. Carr is going to be a highly coveted free agent, because of his position, his performance and his age. He has spent his career as the second fiddle to Brandon Flowers, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if he is ready to try his luck as a team's number one CB and get paid like one. That might explain why the Chiefs and Carr have yet to get a deal done. 

Let's assume for a moment that third option isn't right, and the Chiefs are weighing their options, they have quite the decision between Brandon Carr and Stanford Routt. Both players have been solid during their careers, and either would offer a great complement to Brandon Flowers. So who would be better?

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said of the Chiefs' choice: “I would prefer Carr to Routt, but not by leaps and bounds, both Carr and Routt are high end No. 2 CBs,” Williamson said. “I trust Romeo (Crennel) to coach up Routt, who has a ton of ability. I could see Routt thriving across from Flowers.”

According to this, there is no disparagingly large difference between the two players. Routt, who took over as the Raiders number one corner when Nnamdi Asomugha left to the Eagles in free agency following a weirdly worded contract that only Al Davis could have envisioned released him, had his best seasons as a number 2 corner, and could become that player again with Flowers on the other side. 

But why purchase Routt when you can retain Carr? Carr is younger, is one of the best cornerbacks in pass breakups in the league, is homegrown so already knows the system, and is a proven commodity as a Chief. Loyalty and advanced statistics tell me that the Chiefs would do well keeping Carr.

But what if Carr doesn't have that same sort of loyalty? What if Carr is option three and is prepared to leave as soon as free agency starts? I made the case a while back that the Chiefs would be better off franchising Carr over Dwayne Bowe, but what if the Chiefs decide otherwise and Carr gets a mega-contract from a team in desperate need of a secondary?

Then bring in Routt; but not a moment sooner.