Artie Burns: ABBR – 59.6
Kendall Fuller: ABBR – 65.3
Firstly, Artie Burns. This is a true boom-or-bust prospect, and I envisage a more bust than boom. While his athletic ability is freakishly good, the tape tells the true tale. He stands stiff and upright, his hips are slow, his center of gravity is way too high, and he grabs receivers once he’s beaten giving away ample penalties. A team will take a chance on his measurables, and while he could develop into a top top player, I would rather the Raiders be that side than Kansas City.
I stated earlier in this piece that cornerback is the biggest need of this Chiefs team, as I’m sure everyone will agree. Well, I’d be quite happy for John Dorsey to pass on a cornerback in the first round. That is because of Kendall Fuller, who could well be available in the second round. Tearing his meniscus in his right knee during preseason camp, effectively ruling him out of the 2015 season, has hurt his draft stock. This, however, could well help John Dorsey and the Chiefs.
Fuller is a first-round talent, but is a risk. He is coming off a year long injury for a start, but also plays on the edge. His anticipation reminds me of Marcus Peters, as evidenced by his eight interceptions in 2013 and 2014. He has good ball skills, soft hands and is a real ballhawk. While this leaves him susceptible deep, and he will get beat on double moves every now and then, he is a corner with wonderful ability.
I would rank Fuller in the same class as Eli Apple and William Alexander, and yet, he may well be available 10-15 picks later. At time of writing, the Chiefs are yet to have rightfully recuperated their lost third round pick and trading back into the second round could net a couple of decent picks. While I fully expect the NFL to return the third round pick to Kansas City, following in New England’s footsteps, trading out of the first round and collecting picks later in the draft is something I would totally be on board with.
Clearly this all depends on what happens on draft night. A run of corners in the first round will see Fuller and Burns fly up draft boards and Dorsey would be taking a huge risk in trading back. However, if the opportunity arises, I would love to see Dorsey trade back into the early stages of the second round, pick up a few more draft picks and draft Fuller.
That’s what I see with the very best corners in this year’s draft? Who would you like to see Dorsey draft, either in the first or second? Would you be happy with him trading up for Mackensie Alexander or trading back for Fuller or Burns? Who do you see as the best of the lot, or would you be happy with Dorsey not drafting a cornerback in either of the first two rounds? Thanks for reading. Let me know in the comments below, and as always… GO CHIEFS!!