The Atlanta Falcons seem fairly set at the top of their cornerback depth chart with Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford and the recently-drafted Jalen Collins.
Depth may prove to be a concern for 2015 and moving forward though, if new Falcons head coach Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff aren't able to develop some young talent on Atlanta's back-end.
Former TCU cornerback Kevin White, added by Dimitroff during the post-draft free agency period, could be in a prime position to lock down a roster spot, despite concerns which dropped him off draft boards.
"Sources say there were a few reasons why White went undrafted," writes Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com. "For one, the 5-foot-9, 183-pounder is undersized and could be limited to slot-cornerback duties in the NFL. The same sources also said that White's tape and skill set were just average. Teams felt that, by far, his best game was against West Virginia and his other performances weren't of that caliber. Thus, teams didn't feel compelled to select White."
While White has physical dimensions which will likely pigeon-hole him during NFL career, the increased preponderance of the passing game and the need for slot defenders able to stick with smaller, quicker receivers likely means White very well could carve out a niche for himself with the Falcons.
Ironically though, White's best game of the 2014 season for the Horned Frogs came against none other than former West Virginia Mountaineer and No. 7 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, wide receiver Kevin White.
The Windy City White, who absolutely tore through the opposition in his final season at WVU, was held to just three catches for 28 yards by the man who shares his name, if not his lofty draft status.
Now with the Falcons, the combination of a lack of defensive depth and his own tough demeanor could have White courting a roster spot behind the top three by training camp's end.
"After those three, White should have a fair shot to win one of two roster spots. With a new coaching staff, White is landing in Atlanta at a good time, and it wouldn't be surprising if he sticks on the roster," writes Campbell.
The Falcons also drafted Ricardo Allen out of Purdue in the fifth-round after taking Collins in the second. Allen shares a similar physical makeup to White and dimensions very much unlike the lengthy Collins - it seems as though Quinn is focusing on smaller, more battle-tested corners for depth purposes and inside-specific duties and longer, taller players for patrolling the outside.
The team also added nickel-back Phillip Adams this offseason, but the former seventh-round pick of the 49ers seems little more than a stop-gap - he has just 90 tackles and four interceptions in a five-year NFL career.
White finished his senior season at TCU with 51 tackles, two interceptions and 11 passes broken up.
While the numbers aren't phenomenal and he may never be a playmaker at the NFL level, if White can continue to hone his technique and develop his skillset, he could become an important piece for a rebuilding Falcons secondary.
Allen, as a draftee is likely assured a roster spot for this season, but if White is able to open some eyes during training camp, he could push Allen for a spot in the Atlanta lineup or, at the very least, join him on the 53-man roster.
Also working in White's favor is the presence of secondary coach Raheem Morris, who has a track record of turning undrafted free agents into contributing members of an NFL defense.
