2017 NFL Draft: 8 players Chiefs could target in first round
By John McCarty
Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State (6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Junior)
Ohio State has possibly the greatest defensive backfield I’ve ever seen. Safety Malik Hooker may be the first safety off the board, fellow cornerback Marshon Lattimore may end up in the bottom of the first round, and Gareon Conley could be an interesting addition to the Chiefs.
Big, physical, and fast, Conley appears to have the potential to be the whole package and what you look for in a corner. It’s hard to find specifics he does better one way or another, as he appears to have an complete understanding of the game on the corner.
Looking for a corner that can tackle and take on the run, Conley can do it. Turn and run with the receiver? He can do that as well. The best way I can describe Conley is that he appears to be a combination of both previously mentioned Sidney Jones and Marlon Humphrey.
If he’s that good, why talk about him? Well, as I mentioned, Ohio State’s secondary is insanely talented. Depending on teams wants and needs, Conley could join safety Hooker in the top 12 picks.
The only reason I can see why Conley could be available would be that teams choose needs, such as quarterbacks early. The 2017 NFL Draft appears deep at cornerback and Ohio State is so good, a team may discount his skill as simply being surrounded by talent.
He certainly would be a nice compliment to Peters on this defense. I will say, since taking over as general manager, John Dorsey has yet to use a draft pick on a player from the Big Ten. That, as bizarre and irrelevant as it truly is, certainly works against the Chiefs drafting a Buckeye corner.