How Will Veach View Prospects for the Cornerback Role?

Some time after the Super Bowl fail, Brett Veach gave us his positions of focus for this draft: OL, DL, and LB. For the OL he’s completely restructured the Front Five on the OL by signing Free Agents: Joe Thuney, Kyle Long, and Austin Blythe. He then traded for LT Orlando Brown. Mitch Schwartz made a significant observation about the Chiefs Offensive Line on Sports Radio 610 in Kansas recently, saying: “The O-line is in a really good situation. The Super Bowl really enforced [the idea that] you need your offensive line at a certain level” then added that this aided Veach in his approach to the 2021 draft.

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We can check off the OL and DL, which leaves LB. However, possibly add back in a DE for maximum team effect. Due to what Brett Veach has accomplished before the draft, we can take OL and DL off the list of needs. Which means the focus on positions of need has shifted to WR and CB.

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Here I am, reading the Tea Leaves under a South China Sea Moon… again. Several CBs that I see the Chiefs having high on their draft board follow. Corners, Patrick Surtain II and Jayce Horn are the only two that I’m sure will be drafted in round one. Caleb Farley was on that list but he has had a second back surgery and might well drop into round two. Veach could be considering moving up in round 2 to take Farley. At any rate, other CB’s will have moved up in front of him quite possibly so I’m keeping that as a cat’s eye on a prize.

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Here is a list of CB’s who I would think might fall into a range to be selected by Brett Veach at pick #58 or #63. Each of these players has high merit. The Chiefs will scrutinize these DB’s for Speed, Versatility, Football IQ, and the right answers related to “love of the game” and their fit for One Arrowhead Way.

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The Chiefs made Newsome their first virtual interview. He’s risen in the draft appraisal since that talk occurred and is oft said to be a round one talent. In Mock’s that I peruse, he is always gone before the Chiefs make their selection, so there’s some value to both what the pundits and analysts see. I tried to range those I profile for round 2 and then round 4 or 5.

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Note: If Caleb Farley does indeed collapse into round 2, Veach will consider grabbing him I am sure.

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Greg Newsome II, Northwestern

Newsome is 6-192, with 31 1/8 Arm length and fairly large hands for a CB at nearly 9″. His metrics are very good: 4.31-40(Pro Day). Greg was commented about by an NFL analyst to Jordan Reid of TDN: “he just flew”. Jordan Reid. Newsome’s head coached heaped some compliments about Newsome the day of Northwestern’s Pro Day, saying ““They(Who ever drafts him) are going to get the best corner in the country. I’m biased, but there’s no doubt in my mind that’s who he is.” Newsome’s 3-cone time was 6.90, Vertical 40″ and long jump 10’03” with 18 reps with the weights.

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One of things that his personal story tells is is that he is studious, humble, religious and polite. Contrast that with his know game playing attributes which you hear told as a player who plays the game with a chip on his shoulder and bit of nastiness or as if he has a chip on his shoulder. That sounds to me like he is a good fit for what Veach and Spagnuolo look for. I cross-reference that to a personal indicator which relates to the Packers, the team that drafted his father. The Packers have a large interest in Newsome as well. I have written before that the Packers seem to pick players the Chiefs would dearly love to have if their pick precedes that of the Chiefs.

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NFL draft profile: Greg Newsome II of Northwestern - Chicago Tribune
Greg Newsome II – Chicago Tribune Photo

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A downside to what I understand about him is that he suffered an injury and missed games in 2019 and missed the Big 10 Championship sitting the game out in 2020. I suppose another view would say his experience is limited as he only played 21 games for the Wildcats. Still, Newsome has all the attributes that are attractive to the Chiefs. for a CB he is of desired length, he has very good feet, backpedals among the best of the CB’s measured, he can make quick cuts from the backpedal indicating great SAQ. He plays with balance and is not a grabby type CB — he moves his feet. He can mirror fast receivers sho his speed is very good. He can play zone well and press man coverage at the same time and his drive when tackling is very good, an attribute that is extremely necessary in the KC defense for Steve Spagnuolo. One critique that I saw was that he could get caught hesitating to commit when a player takes him deep and he did have 15 career penalties across those 21 games. That part is something am concerned about.

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Cory's Corner: Go Get Greg Newsome II
Greg Newsome Photo – Cheesehead TV

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Tape: When I looked at video for Newsome, I could see why the Chiefs had early interest. Greg has an NFL Pedigree and that I always pay attention to. His father is Craig Newsome II, who was also a CB, drafted by the Packers in the first round of the 1995 draft. That always catches my attention. The tape that I saw demonstrated a player who will succeed at the NFL level. Coaching can alleviate weaknesses. The penalty consideration among the defects. Newsome is a solid round 2 draft selection.

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Marco Wilson, Florida

Wilson is 6-foot-0, 190 lbs., ran 4.35 – 40 yards dash, including a 6.80 3-cone, a vertical of 43.5 and a long jump of 11′ 04″. Wilson propels aggressively in pursuit of the ball and possesses attributes to play, inside and out in press-man coverage or a zone.

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Marco Wilson: Florida Gators class of 2017 signee | GatorCountry.com
Marco Wilson – Gator Country Photo

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There is a lot to like about Wilson and one big thing is that he can play both outside and in the slot. His physicality has range and versatility and he plays with great balance, playing off the back pedal with smoothness. Compare that to a higher ranked player such as Greg Newsome as I outlined about. This is the type of player that the Chiefs look for. Another key attribute is his football IQ – he reads plays as they unfold quickly and is adept at being in the right place to play the ball. He plays the off ball or weak side role well. He struggles with his hand usage and that is a trait that must be coached out ASAP when he arrives at the NFL. Marco plays the run aggressively and is very good at the CB blitz both of which bring a lot to the table. It informs us that his timing is good under both conditions and Wilson possesses good closing speed as well. When looking at game returns, He shows he is a very capable pass defender so I have made him my later addition example He is usually rated about 15th in a list of CB’s. To prove his closing speed, his Pro-Day number was 4.30-40, unofficial and ranged to 4.35 seconds. That is excellent speed.Wilson is also strong for CB with 26 reps off the bench while his SAQ is very good demonstrated by his 3-cone time. To be truthful, It is difficult to see why his rated as low as he is so he has been one of my mock targets frequently.

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Florida defensive back Marco Wilson intercepts a pass in the fourth quarter of last year's game against Auburn at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Marco Wilson – INT! – Doug Engle, Ocala Star Banner Photo

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With a look at the RAS scores among the top CB’s? Marco Wilson ranked second to all the players in the draft. He has the tools and the physical athleticism to be a solid CB in the NFL. From outward appearances I have found that Wilson has a religious background, communicates with respect and has a philosphical bent as well. Quoting him it shows these attributes: “Actually, I just start embracing change. It’s safe to say that growth is an uncomfortable process And pain is a necessary investment for progress. I stress that if you ever get ill or hurt against your will. It’s just a quiz from God, this is our test, ah, yes2020 goin up!” It is my view that Wilson would be a good fit for the mix at the CB position.

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Shakur Brown, Michigan State

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Brown is 5-foot-11, 190 lbs., with a 4.6 – 40 yard dash, vertical 35.5, 3-cone 7.08 and his athleticism rating was above average. What I wonder here is how this RAS comparison and numbers were compiled. Brown is a rising entity on mocks and ratings so something is wrong with the published RAS. I could not spot it though.

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Shakur Brown - Football - Michigan State University Athletics
Shakur Brown – Michigan State Photo

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I chose Brown as the bottom end of my selections because he has “something” and it shows in game stats. I see him as a developmental player for perhaps round 5. The game photo tells us something about the RAS as well.

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Here is a pic of one of Brown’s INT’s: the Vertical looks pretty powerful to me:

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How Shakur Brown became the player who will extend MSU's draft streak
Shakur Brown INT V the Illini – Lansing St. Journal Photo

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Shakur Brown may be one of the most underrated corners around. In 2020 in the Virus shortened Big 10 season, Brown had 5 INT’s in seven games. That is saying something. Brown has a nose for the ball. Even saying that, compare his games played to the other highly ranked players… who played a whole season… and Brown finished 3rd overall. As with Newsome and Wilson, Brown’s aptitude for the game is highly versatile, playing in the slot or on the perimeter.

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Whatever you say about him, Brown had a breakout 2020 season playing for the Spartans during a year where the team was not highly successful. I think Brown is a fit for the Chiefs. He’s tough and can be nasty, but due to limited game experience (he only had 12 starts in his career) and youthful mistakes. His tape shows some of the errors as well. What I see is all corrections that can be coached out.

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Brown may have come out a season too soon, but his INT numbers tell more. One NFL evaluator indicated that Brown’s versatility will appeal to most every NFL scheme. The tape shows his man-press and mirror capability. He backpedals, reacts off the pedal quickly and has closing speed. He’d be a later round pick that the Chiefs could develop.

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Personal views of his character or verbalizations about football were unavailable, but he only had the one year of game experience across two seasons and he was still a Junior in 2020. Still? There is something that captures your attention when he finds the ball and takes it away in the Big 10. Brown is rated among the top 15, or so, and that capsulizes his potential to be a Rounds 2 through 5 selection.

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David Bell – ArrowheadOne

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