Atlanta Falcons acquire Rashad Fenton from Chiefs before NFL trade deadline

There was one last deal to go down just before the NFL trade deadline. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Atlanta Falcons have acquired Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Rashad Fenton.

Fenton, a former South Carolina Gamecocks stand-out, was the starting cornerback for the Chiefs to start the season. Unfortunately, recently, he was replaced in the starting lineup for Kansas City’s fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, rookie Joshua Williams. In seven games, Williams has recorded 11 total tackles, eight solo, has one interception, and has defended four passes. Fenton, in five games, has 24 total tackles, 18 solo, and two passes defended.

The Falcons are getting a quality corner to help out in their secondary, and as a bonus, he is still currently on his rookie contract. Fenton will finish out the season with the Falcons before likely testing his value on the market as a free agent in 2023.

In return for Fenton, Kansas City will receive a conditional seventh-round pick. The move will also clear upwards of $1.4 million in salary cap space. The former Gamecock departs from the team that selected him in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft after three seasons with the Chiefs. Over his three years in Kansas City, he started in 16 of the 47 games he appeared in, recording 123 total tackles, 95 solo, 28 passes defended, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. Fenton will now join an Atlanta secondary that features AJ, Terrell Jalen Hawkins, and Richie Grant. He is expected to compete with Darren hall for the other starting cornerback position.

Along with that move, the Falcons have also traded away safety Dean Marlowe to the Buffalo Bills for a 2023 seventh-round pick. With that move, that gives the Falcons just three safeties currently on their active roster to go along with their now seven cornerbacks.