NFL player comparisons are one of the most polarizing parts of the pre-draft process. Some people view comparisons as unfair, putting an unachievable ceiling on players before they even play a down in the NFL. Others view them as a useful tool for evaluating where a player could fit in the NFL. One thing most can agree on is that making comparisons is fun and can help people get excited for players ahead of the draft.
Our friend Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire put together a list of player comparisons for the top 50 prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft. Below you’ll find a look at the comparisons for the prospects most often sent to the Kansas City Chiefs at pick No. 32, along with my thoughts on the comparisons.
TCU CB Jeff Gladney — Cardinals CB Byron Murphy
“If you were to superimpose Murphy’s 2018 tape with Gladney’s 2019 tape, the similarities would be illuminating” – Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire
This is one of my favorite comparisons of the bunch. From a physical standpoint (5-10 and 190 pounds), down to the playstyle of the two players, it makes so much sense. They both play bigger than their size and are great in man coverage.
It also makes sense why Gladney is so often sent to the Chiefs in these mock drafts. The Chiefs were interested in Murphy last season, they just didn’t have the ammunition to move up to the top of the second round and get him.
Clemson CB A.J. Terrell — Eagles CB Darius Slay
Terrell isn’t quite as fast or long as Slay, but their playstyles definitely match up. Neither player is the most physically imposing cornerback, but they both do a good job of staying in phase and playing the football. They’re both good tacklers and have a knack for making big plays at the right moments.
I think like Slay, it might take Terrell a season to get up to speed to the NFL game, which actually makes him a great fit in Kansas City. Chiefs fans clamored for the team to trade for Slay when the Lions made him available this offseason. Perhaps Terrell is the next best thing?
LSU LB Patrick Queen — Redskins LB Thomas Davis Sr.
Both of these players are safety-sized linebacker and Davis Sr. even played safety at Georgia in college. Davis Sr. excelled at the seek-and-destroy linebacker role when he entered the league and that’s where Queen also projects at the next level. I don’t know that Queen will ever be as physical as Davis Sr. is, but I think he might be more explosive.
Queen will be lucky to have the staying power that Davis Sr. has seen during his career. 2020 will be his 16th season and he still has something left in the tank. If Queen’s coverage ability is anything like Davis Sr., maybe he will have that same type of staying power.
The Chiefs definitely have a need for a linebacker with coverage ability and Queen appears to be that guy at the next level.
Iowa EDGE A.J. Epenesa — Lions EDGE Trey Flowers
From a size perspective, this comparison doesn’t make much sense. Epenesa has three inches, 10 pounds and a slight arm length advantage on Flowers. As an athlete, Epenesa also edges out Flowers in the explosion factor. I think Epenesa has the better upside to Flowers based on his size and athleticism.
Neither player is bendy as an edge rusher, but they play with a lot of power and savvy. They both have that same type of positional versatility to play a handful of spots on the defensive line as well. That type of versatility has proven important to Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo in the past.
Georgia RB D’Andre Swift — Bengals RB Giovani Bernard
I’ve heard Swift compared to Darren Sproles before and so had Farrar, but he instead likened Swift to Bernard. I think that comparison highlights the big problem with taking a player like Swift in the first round. Is he going to become more than a complementary player in the NFL? I’m not so sure.
If Swift can be the same type of receiving threat that Bernard is in the NFL, he’d be a great choice for the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense. Bernard has averaged 8.5 yards per receptions over his career and has over 100 receiving first downs.
Oklahoma LB Kenneth Murray — 49ers LB Kwon Alexander
Murray is a little bit taller and thicker than Alexander, but they are similar athletically. Both ran a 4.5 40-yard dash and had impressive numbers in the broad jump and vertical jump. These players can cover a whole lot of ground quickly. I think there are a lot of questions about how Murray is prepared for the NFL game mentally, but the Alexander comparison seems like a really good ceiling for what he can be in the NFL.
With Alexander being rumored to be on the trade block, it makes you wonder if an interested team will just target Murray in the draft instead.
Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor — Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander
“As was true of the 2005 NFL MVP, the highly productive Taylor is able to make big plays consistently despite a running style that occasionally has him dancing behind the line of scrimmage when he should be attacking the gap.” – Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire
This underscores one of the problems I mentioned about player comparisons in my introduction. Is it really fair to compare Taylor to an all-time great like Alexander before he plays a down of NFL football? They definitely have a similar boom-or-bust style of play, I’ll give the comparison that.
One area of this comparison is spot on and it’s not a good one. Taylor, like Alexander, has an issue with fumbles. Taylor has 18 fumbles in 41 career games. Alexander had 29 fumbles in nine seasons in the NFL.
Michigan IOL Cesar Ruiz — Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey
“The Steelers took Pouncey in the first round of the 2010 draft in part because he also was impressively free of flaws, and was thus able to have a positive effect right away at a very tough position.” – Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire
Ruiz is a young flaw-free prospect that can have that same type of instant impact on an NFL team that Pouncey had with the Steelers. They definitely both have that same finisher mentality that makes them really fun to watch. Pouncey is bigger, but Ruiz is the better athlete. I don’t expect that Ruiz will be throwing any punches anytime soon, either.
I think you can lean on that instant impact argument as for why Ruiz would be a great pickup for the Chiefs at pick No. 32. Who else are you getting at that spot who can come in and give you that type of impact?
