This is a second visit regarding Bryan Cook, the Chief’s new safety drafted in round 2. He has many superlatives but the latest has been Chiefs OTA and Minicamp mentions for his play on the field. It is good to hear his name called several times over the course of the last 3 weeks or so.
Metrics:
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 206 lbs.
Class: Senior
School: Cincinnati
Arm length: 31 ⅞”
Hand size: 8 ½”
Cook was not recruited out of HS and spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Howard University. At the time of his transfer, due to NCAA rules, he had to sit much of the 2019 season. Cook’s transfer was a good move as Cook performed well as a SS for the Bearcats. The Chiefs coaching staff as well as Brett Veach and the scouting staff have a close relationship with the Bearcat HC Luke Fickell. Fickell and his coaching staff have produced some fine NFL Players and are now, as I understand it, being pursued as an HC by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. There is no news on that front at this time but I can see the attraction of the lofty and historic ND program to Fickell. In an article recently, Cincinnati Enquirer Sports writer, Keith Jenkins interviewed Luke Fickell who indicated there is “no speculation” and his focus was honed in on Bearcat football. Be that as may be, Fickell has been a great source for the Chiefs. Fickell was on the OSU staff when their HC was suspended and later resigned. Fickell took over on a one-year contract but it didn’t last because the Buckeye program went with Urban Meyer. Fickell reverted to his former role as DC until he was offered the HC role at Cincinnati in 2016. Fickell took over for the departing Tommy Tuberville, a HC with whom the Chiefs also had a good relationship. Tuberville returned to Alabama and entered a new era in politics and is now a US Senator(R-AL). Cook Merit’s a deeper look by fans and observers around the Kingdom.
At Howard, Cook recorded 93 tackles, five tackles for a loss, five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 17 PDs, and 2 FF. His 2021 season was outstanding as a Bearcat. He recorded 78 tackles, 35 Stops and allowed a catch percentage of only 59%. He had 2 more INTs and 7 PBUs. passes defended, and two forced fumbles. There is more: he played Single-High, Nickel and man-up coverages with aplomb and won recognition as an All-ACC for 2021. He was invited but could not attend due to having off-season shoulder surgery. In 2022 he participated in the combine, but only on a limited basis due again to off-season injury rehab. This apparently, caused his ranking by the pundits and analysts around the NFL to have lower expectations which provided Brett Veach the opportunity to draft Cook late in the 2nd round.
He was a first-team All-AAC selection in 2021. Cook accepted his invite to the Reese’s Senior Bowl but couldn’t attend because of the offseason shoulder surgery; the same went for the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, but he did measure in at the event.
Let’s fast forward to 2022.
More to the Cook Picture
Meanwhile, Cook has moved on to the Kingdom. ArrowheadOne’s Laddie Morse, was excited when he learned that Veach had selected Cook with the 62 Pick in round 2. This pick demonstrated how highly the Chiefs regarded Cook. I recall the video of Spagnuolo taking to Cook at the time of his selection and I believe S coach Dave Merritt and CB coach Donald D’Alesio will have a very good player with whom to base part of the Chief’s rebuild of the secondary. The Chiefs’ overhaul of the secondary continues with the second defensive back of their draft, McDuffie being the first pick in round one. Consider the fact that before the draft, the Chiefs signed former Houston Texan Safety Justin Reid and they had Juan Thornhill locked up. Then, also in the draft, Brett Veach added Joshua Williams(Fayetteville St) in round four, followed by CB Jaylen Watson(Washington St) and Nazeeh Johnson(Marshall). Of course, there are other players in the secondary mix such as S Devon Key but the youth movement is on in the Kingdom, a factor that Key fits as well.
Cook is “Cookin'” to which did allude above. Laddie’s article is a must-read, so slip back in time and review that piece, here: https://arrowheadone.com/chiefs-bryan-cook-be-cookin-by-laddie-morse/
Final Words?
Cook is a prototypical SS, a hard hitting, physical player with good speed for the safety role. He fits the direction that the team has headed: Youth, physicality, speed and a bit of “nasty” thrown in. I look forward to Cook’s Training Camp at St. Joe. Cook is a fit for the Chiefs in every category, including the construct of “team persona”.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne