Kansas City Chiefs Ransom Hawthorne

Chiefs Secondary: Primary Concern

Ransom Hawthorne March 4, 2020 No Comments Gallery

 

 

Chiefs Secondary: Primary Concern – the NFL combine is over and teams are wrapping up their draft prep heading into free agency. While priorities could change, as the Kansas City Chiefs look to fill holes on the roster, we’ve got a fairly good idea of what their needs are. With just five picks, it’ll be impossible for them to address every position of need. However, by tapping into the strengths of this class, they should, once again, be able to get major contributions from 2-3 rookies, while stockpiling some developmental guys, for the future. If Veach doesn’t move around here’s what the Chiefs’ draft could look like:

 

Pick 32: WR Denzel Mims, Baylor 6’3” 207 lbs: Mims explodes off the line and devours space with elite athleticism. Tall, with long arms and strong hands, when his focus is dialed in, there’s no ball he can’t catch. Route running is a work in progress but, once he gets it, Mims will be an elite receiver who can threaten at all levels of the field. He should offer value right away as a slot receiver, a deep threat, and a YAC machine in the screen game.

 

 

Pick 63: CB Damon Arnette, Ohio State 6’ 195 lbs: Arnette spent four years at Ohio State, and it shows. He’s smart, aggressive and physical. He lacks the elite athleticism common to CBs, from that university, but he’s an adequate athlete. Arnette should appeal to the Chiefs as a CB who can come in and play right away. He’s got versatility to play outside or in the slot. While he’s best as a zone CB, he’s also capable of playing man, if you don’t ask him to carry receivers too far down field. His skill set fits Steve Spanuolo’s defense really well. Opposite of a boom or bust prospect, Arnette is a sure thing, but he will probably never be an elite player.

 

 

Pick 96: DB Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois 6′3” 221 lbs

Give Steve Spagnuolo good players and he will figure out how to use them. Jeremy Chinn is a better athlete than guys 20 lbs lighter than him. Coming from a smaller school, it will take him some time to adjust to NFL competition, but he showed, at the Senior Bowl, that the game is not too big for him. Chinn can play as a big CB, against taller receivers. He can be an enforcer, as a strong safety. Perhaps his best fit, for the Chiefs, would be in Sorenson’s role as a nickel LB. Chinn has all the tools to be successful, at the NFL level, but Chiefs will need to settle on a spot for him early. Moving him around, too much, may slow his growth.

 

 

Pick 128: OG Jonah Jackson, Ohio State 6′3” 306 lbs: Chiefs take a 2nd Buckeye here, this time, for the offense. Jackson isn’t flashy, but he’s very solid in pass protection. Smart player who recognizes stunts and twists. Consistently stays in front of his man, even on reps where he loses some ground, and rarely gives a free run to the QB. Jackson is not a good run blocker. He won’t generate much push, at the point of attack. That will be a problem for a lot of teams, but not the Chiefs. This is exactly what they should be looking for in a backup with starter upside. Jackson could get on the field, right away, if necessary, but Chiefs will have to understand his limitations, and scheme around them.

 

 

Pick 159: CB Javaris Davis, Auburn 5‘8” 183 lbs: Five years ago a player like Javaris Davis might have gone undrafted. However, rule changes, made to improve safety, are changing the type of WRs that flourish, in the NFL. With more and more teams looking at players like Tyreek Hill, Hollywood Brown and Andy Isabella, defenses must begin to look at smaller CBs, as well. Davis is a small player, but he’s lightning fast and fluid. Davis’ athleticism will serve him well on Special Teams and give Steve Spagnuolo a good 4th CB to deploy in certain situations.

 

 

With a lack of either quantity, or quality, at CB, the Chiefs should look to take advantage of a deep Defensive Back class. Arnette and Davis are both game ready CBs. They have limitations, but Spagnuolo generally does an excellent job of highlighting players strengths, while obscuring their weaknesses. Chinn and Mims are elite athletes who may take some time to realize their full potential. That said, K.C. is in win now mode, and should be able to get significant contributions from both, in limited roles, right away. Jackson won’t be turning many heads, but he’ll keep Mahomes upright. He’s NFL ready, as a pass protector and can learn run blocking, on the job, if necessary. With his football IQ, he should be able to provide depth at both Guard and Center. With only five picks, Chiefs will have to avoid reaching to fill a need. Providing more OL and LB depth would be nice, but this draft is very deep at WR and CB. If Chiefs can come away with a good mix of elite upside and instant production, they should be well set up to build on their dominance of the AFC moving forward.

 

Ransom Hawthorne — ArrowheadOne

 

 

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