NFL Draft 2015: Grading The Kansas City Chiefs
Feb 23, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon State Beavers defensive back Steven Nelson catches a pass in a work out drill during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Round 3 – Pick 98 – Steven Nelson – Cornerback – Oregon State
I love this pick.
I know a lot of Chiefs fans were caught off guard when KC took a second cornerback after spending its first-round pick on Peters. However, Nelson was completely worth it and like Peters, may have truly been the best player available at that time.
What I love most about Nelson is his style of play. I think the word that best describes him is “scrappy”. The guy has absolutely no fear even when taking on wide receivers that are a good five to six inches taller. He’s like the chihuahua that runs right up to the pit bull barking like he doesn’t even realize that he’s at a physical disadvantage. His game against Jaelen Strong was a perfect example of this.
Many Chiefs fans overlooked Nelson while scouting corners because he doesn’t have the size that they look for on the outside. However, in today’s NFL, the inside nickel-corners are becoming almost equally valuable. This is where Nelson is going to be a perfect fit. Not only will he be fantastic in coverage against slot receivers, but according to Pro Football Focus, he was one of only two corners in college football to not miss a single tackle last season. So having a corner that can line up inside and both cover and tackle will be a huge plus.
The additions of Peters and Nelson have completely changed the dynamic of the Chiefs secondary. They have gone from a team that needed a good pass rush because they didn’t have enough good corners to keep up with receivers to a team that is deep at corner and should make receivers miserable when they face the Chiefs. Plus, having corners that can cover for a split second longer should only help Kansas City’s dominant pass rush.
I love this pick.
Pick Grade: A+
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