The Safety position was a major need for the Kansas City Chiefs last year. This year, with Eric Berry’s return and Parker’s departure, that remains true. While I think Sorenson and Murray will be better this year, I don’t think that prevents the Chiefs from making a major investment at Safety in the draft. With a number of intriguing options, I’d be pretty surprised if the Chiefs don’t come away from the draft with at least one new Safety. In a down draft, this is a pretty talented position group.
Pick 54 S — Justin Reid — 6’1” 204
Speed merchant. Fast and fluid. Good ball skills. Should be a starting safety early in his career, with elite upside. Better FS than SS. Great athlete, but not a dynamic hitter. Intincts are ok, but need work, can give up some plays he shouldn’t. Should be a good starter with a chance to be great.
|
40 Time |
Bench |
Vertical |
Broad |
3-Cone |
20 Shuttle |
|
4.40 |
16 |
36.5” |
128” |
6.65 |
4.15 |
Pick 78 S — Ronnie Harrison — 6′3” 214lbs
Sound coverage safety who knows his job and does it. Plays with consistent effort. Taller than average S who uses his to length to his advantage. Doesn’t hit as hard as you would expect, for a guy his size. Can miss a tackle here and there because he likes to lead with his shoulder instead of wrap up. Has the physical makeup to be a good NFL safety.
|
40 Time |
Bench |
Vertical |
Broad |
3-Cone |
20 Shuttle |
|
None |
None |
34” |
120” |
None |
None |
Pick 86 S — Armani Watts– 5′11” 205lbs
Great athlete with solid instincts. Always around the ball, takes good angles of pursuit. Good in coverage. Makes quick decisions and finishes plays well, when he wraps up. Doesn’t wrap up enough though. Tackling is poor. Allows too many players to get away because he’s either trying to make the big hit, or not going all out. Talent is great, but he’ll need coaches and veterans to hold him accountable so he can reach his potential.
|
40 Time |
Bench |
Vertical |
Broad |
3-Cone |
20 Shuttle |
|
None |
13 |
35” |
120” |
7.25 |
4.37 |
Pick 122 S — Terrell Edmunds — 6‘2” 220lbs
Big, fast, super explosive safety. Can cover a lot of ground and is big enough to handle the SS role. Competitive and plays hard, but instincts are a work in progress. Angles are sometimes overly aggressive. Has a lot of potential and he’s a coach-able player, so Chiefs shouldn’t worry that a few parts of his game need some work.
|
40 Time |
Bench |
Vertical |
Broad |
3-Cone |
20 Shuttle |
|
4.47 |
None |
41.5” |
134” |
None |
None |
Pick 124 S — Jessie Bates III — 6′1” 200lbs
Bates is a versatile DB that Chiefs could consider moving to CB. He’s fast and fluid with good hips. Excellent man cover ability and plays physical. Not as strong as he needs to be yet. Young, only two years of college ball. Instincts aren’t quite there yet. Bates needs some polishing, but he’s surprisingly good already, for as little experience as he has.
|
40 Time |
Bench |
Vertical |
Broad |
3-Cone |
20 Shuttle |
|
4.50 |
None |
35.5” |
117” |
6.78 |
4.26 |
Pick 196 S — Troy Apke — 6′2” 198lbs
Height, weight, speed prospect whose production and polish are lacking. Project player whose elite athleticism makes him worth a look. While he’s unlikely to start any time soon, he’ll be a quality addition to STs coverage units.
|
40 Time |
Bench |
Vertical |
Broad |
3-Cone |
20 Shuttle |
|
4.34 |
16 |
41” |
131” |
6.56 |
4.03 |
Pick 233 S — Natrell Jamerson — 6′ 198lbs
CB-sized safety who’s never going to be quite as physical as you want for the position. Strong for his size and very fast. Plays with good instincts and effort. Gets run over by bigger players. Excellent on STs in college. Jamerson will instantly win favor with Dave Toub, but may never be Sutton’s first choice. He’s too stiff to play CB, and he lacks the length to be a great safety, but he’s enough of an athlete to be worth keeping as a depth safety and STs stud.
|
40 Time |
Bench |
Vertical |
Broad |
3-Cone |
20 Shuttle |
|
4.40 |
25 |
35.5” |
120” |
None |
None |
Pick 243 S — Jamar Summers — 6′ 190lbs
Experience at both safety and CB. Had huge 2015 season with 8 interceptions. Hasn’t been especially productive since then. Not likely to start and CB and small to play safety. Summers’ ball skills are worth taking a look at, to see if he can regain his former production, but he’ll probably wind up on someone’s practice squad.
This draft has some pretty interesting options at safety. I really like several of these prospects. I like Edmunds and Apke’s athletic ability and Armani Watts could be a great starter. Even if Chiefs feel comfortable with their top 2-3 safeties, they shouldn’t come out of this draft without adding another. Hopefully a guy who can bring it like Ron Parker did, back in 2015. Go Chiefs.
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