One more trade has been reported just before today’s deadline. The Chiefs have dealt cornerback Rashad Fenton to the Falcons (Twitter link via ESPN’s Field Yates). Tom Pelissero of NFL Network tweets that Atlanta is sending a conditional seventh-round pick in return. 
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Fenton had taken on larger workload with each passing season during his first three years with the Chiefs. That continued early this year, as he saw a snap share above 90% during Weeks 2 through 5. His spot in the starting lineup has since been usurped, however, making him a logical trade candidate. The Chiefs will save $1.4MM as a result of the move.
The Chiefs invested heavily at the CB position during this year’s draft, including first-rounder Trent McDuffie. As Yates notes, the effectiveness of Kansas City’s youth movement made Fenton more expendable. Set to hit free agency in March for the first time in his career, he will have the opportunity to see significant playing time once again. Kansas City will move forward with the likes of Joshua Williams and L’Jarius Sneed at the top of the depth chart, with McDuffie set to return from IR.
Atlanta, meanwhile, is certainly set at the position in terms of having a No. 1 corner. That distinction belongs to A.J. Terrell, but Fenton will now, at a minimum, provide depth behind fellow starters Darren Hall and Isaiah Oliver. If he shows the form of his previous Chiefs campaigns, he could land himself a new deal in Atlanta come the offseason.
The 4-4 Falcons find themselves atop the underwhelming NFC South, despite ranking last in the league in passing yards surrendered (over 306 per game, on average). A move to shore up the secondary therefore comes as little surprise, as they look to return to the postseason while the Chiefs now have some financial breathing space.
Only a seventh seems like a forced trade for Kansas City for a starter/high snap backup player. I realize that Kansas City’s corner signings have gone well, but for a seventh rounder and less than $2 million in savings, I think that I would have kept Fenton around in case of injury for this year.
I agree. In a defense that shines one week and sucks another week , he was a solid contributor.
I agree, doesn’t make much sense overall.
Underrated trade for the Falcons, who have clearly been having issues in their secondary.
I’m sure Fenton doesn’t mind either, as he should get every opportunity to see the field and work on improving his stock come time for him to be a free agent..
Looks like a win-win, unless the Chiefs suffer an injury and McDuffie isn’t quite ready to return.
I can’t imagine the Chiefs making this trade without them knowing that Trent McDuffie is going to be coming back soon completely healthy…
If not, they could end up regretting this deal later down the line, but I think they’ll be fine with their depth and without Fenton..
Fenton is going to a backup and not sure how he is going to get more playing time. I am sure he isn’t happy to go to the Falcons with he same conditions as with the Chiefs and have Zero chance of winning in the playoffs. He is worth what he is worth and moving teams isn’t going to raise his value, if anything a signing team will see the Chiefs dumped him for nothing what do they know we don’t when they need players.
You don’t think he will start over Hall or Oliver??
Or at least get more playing time than he was recently getting in KC??
The Falcons secondary has been pretty bad, at best. I’d think he’d at least get an opportunity to play and show them what he’s got.
Honestly, I doubt he can be any worse than most of the guys they’ve been trotting out there..