The Chiefs’ corner group is coming together nicely.
They’ve added Bashaud Breeland and Keith Reaser via free agency thus far. It’s clear that even with the new additions they need to continue investing at the position through the draft. They have plenty of competitive depth on the team, but if they don’t take a corner in the draft they might be leaving too much to projection.
Here’s a look at some of the pieces they could consider adding in each round of the 2019 NFL draft.
Round 1: Amani Oruwariye CB Penn State
There are tons of players at the corner position who are riding the border between first and second round talent in 2019. Penn State’s Amani Oruwariye has been one of those guys, but I think on draft day it’ll become clear that teams value his skill set.
At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds he has great length to play the position. It lends itself to his ability to play physical man coverage and disrupt receivers at the catch point. He’s also not afraid to come up and play in run support.
Oruwariye took advantage of the on-field workouts at the combine. He had a perfect gauntlet drill which really helped put his ball skills on display. Right now he’s in contention for the corner with the best ball skills in this draft class. He possesses eight interceptions and 20 passes defended throughout his career at Penn State.
If the Chiefs are looking for an instant starter at the corner position, Oruwariye could certainly be that guy late in the first round.
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Round 2: Rock Ya-Sin CB Temple
If you’re familiar with the Temple Owls, you’ll know that single-digit jersey numbers are awarded to the toughest and most hard-working members of the team. Rock Ya-Sin earned a single-digit jersey number in just his first season with Temple after transferring from Presbyterian.
Ya-Sin’s hard work and commitment has been prominent throughout the pre-draft process. He was a standout performer during the Senior Bowl, showing off elite instincts and athleticism on the regular. Ya-Sin built on that performance during the next leg of the pre-draft process. He posted a 4.5 40-yard dash, 17 repetitions of 225 on the bench press, and a 39.5 inch vertical jump at the combine. His on-field workouts showed off his footwork, hands, and smooth hips.
The Chiefs don’t only need talent infused into the secondary, but they need leaders. Ya-Sin will bring both of those things to the defense immediately.
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Round 3: Michael Jackson CB Miami
Michael Jackson worked his way up through the roster at Miami, and he’s earned a lot of respect for it. He started off as special teams player, then he got some run at safety, and during his final two seasons he earned a starting gig for Miami as a cornerback.
Jackson is a press-man corner who thrives when he can jam a receiver at the line of scrimmage. He has the tendency to get a little grabby sometimes and he’ll need to work on that in the NFL. He’s shown tremendous ability in run support, likely because of his time as a special teams player and safety. Additionally he has some value as a blitzer from the corner spot with 3.5 career sacks.
Steve Spagnuolo likes to bring pressure from all areas of the defense, so there’s value in a corner who can blitz for the Chiefs. Ultimately I think the NFL might be a bit higher on this player than media and fans give him credit for.
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Round 4: Kris Boyd CB Texas
Kris Boyd is a Texas native who has been playing against Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for his whole life and succeeding. He’s a solid athlete with good speed, boasting a 4.45 40-yard dash time. He has a ton of experience, playing in 55 games during his career at Texas.
Boyd excels in man coverage situations because he has a great competitive edge to his game. He plays with a lot of physicality, especially when it comes to making tackles in run defense. He’ll fight through blockers with unrelenting force to get to the ball carrier.
Call me selfish, but I don’t want to chance this player landing on another team with his history of success against Mahomes. If the Chiefs miss out on a corner earlier in the draft, this is a guy that I could see the Chiefs taking. I also wouldn’t be shocked to see him find more success at the next level.
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Round 5: Corey Ballentine CB Washburn
You never want to miss out on the talent that’s in your own backyard. That’s the sentiment that Brett Veach echoed at the Chiefs’ local pro day on April 5th. Corey Ballentine grew up and played football in Topeka, Kansas and he’s been gaining notoriety throughout the pre-draft process. While he wasn’t at the Chiefs’ local pro day, the team did have a formal with Ballentine at the combine.
Ballentine shined in his opportunities at both the Senior Bowl and the combine. He was one of the defensive backs that the Raiders coaching staff raved about following the week of practice at the Senior Bowl. At the combine he had a performance that placed him among the top corners in this class. His scores in the 40-yard dash, both jumps, and the 3-Cone drill stood out in particular.
On the field Ballentine brings lighting-quick burst, a physical presence in his coverage, and the tackling ability of a linebacker. Ball skills aren’t his strong suit, but he still managed three interceptions in 2018. He also has some experience as a special teams player which is a huge bonus for the Chiefs.
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Round 6: Jimmy Moreland CB James Madison
At 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, Jimmy Moreland doesn’t exactly have the prototypical size for the NFL. He’s going to be at a disadvantage before the ball is even snapped, but that doesn’t stop him from competing and winning.
Moreland plays man coverage well, staying in phase, and sticking in the hip pocket as good as anyone in this class. He’s got tremendous ball skills, and somehow always seems to be around the football, with 18 interceptions to his name during his career at James Madison. He also plays every interception with the intention of taking it for a touchdown.
Moreland isn’t afraid to go against guys who are bigger than him in coverage or even when he’s coming up to make a tackle. He’s been known to have a few hit-stick worthy moments throughout his career. The Chiefs could do much worse in the late rounds than adding a guy like Moreland.
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Round 7: Stephen Denmark CB Valdosta State
Sometimes corner prospects will sneak up on you late in the pre-draft process. Last year it happened with Central Arkansas CB Tremon Smith, who had a standout pro day, and the Chiefs ended up drafting him in the sixth round.
Another guy who is having a similar rise following a great pro day is Valdosta State Blazers CB Stephen Denmark. He measured in at 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds at his pro day. He also ran 4.46 40-yard dash and posted a 43 inch vertical jump. Denmark is a converted WR and has only been playing CB for just two seasons. He’s raw as a prospect, but the physical tools are intriguing enough to warrant a selection in the final round of the draft.
So far Denmark has taken top-30 visits and private workouts with a handful of teams and he’ll likely have some more on the schedule before the 2019 NFL draft.
Honorable mention late-rounders/UDFAs: Chris Westry (Kentucky), Jamalcolm “Jay” Liggins (Dickinson State), and Dylan Mabin (Fordham)
Potential Chiefs prospects
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