2017 NFL mock draft: Chiefs linked with Adoree Jackson
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs have loaded up the secondary this offseason, but they could truly make it an elite unit if Will Brinson’s latest mock draft plays out.
The Kansas City Chiefs already boast one of the NFL’s elite young cornerbacks in Marcus Peters. The team has also recently signed Eric Berry to an extension that will make him a Chief for life. The team also has Ron Parker, Daniel Sorensen, Phillip Gaines, Steven Nelson, Terrane Mitchell and other young players in the secondary, each and every one of whom should be better in 2017. Yet CBS Sports’ Will Brinson thinks they can afford to add one more top-shelf player.
In Brinson’s latest mock draft, he projects the Chiefs to stay at No. 27 and take cornerback Adoree’ Jackson from USC. He writes:
"The Chiefs have a pretty loaded roster and won’t be drafting for need. Which means they can be a little luxurious with their pick, and they do just that by grabbing a young kid who wowed at the combine with his athleticism to only make a great secondary better."
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Jackson would immediately slide into the starting outside spot opposite Peters and give the Chiefs perhaps the best young starting tandem in the NFL. Mitchell and Gaines would compete with Jackson on the outside, and Nelson will hold down the slot corner spot, while D.J. White and newly signed Marqueston Huff would also offer an option in dime packages. If that sounds like a loaded young core of defensive backs, well, it is.
Jackson recently ran a 4.42 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and his elite athleticism translates to the field. He might seem a bit small for the Chiefs at 5-10, 186 lbs., but Jackson’s instincts and closing burst make up for what he might lack in physical stature. He’s an incredible talent who continues to get much better with every season, and he’s also a special teams freak as a sizzling returner on a team that already has Tyreek Hill.
It would be easy to see the Chiefs employing Jackson on special teams and defense immediately, maybe bumping Nelson if Jackson can’t play the outside after all, and perhaps even on offense. He played offense and defense both mostly during his junior season and he had some success as a receiver. The Chiefs would likely find creative ways to utilize Jackson’s overall talents if they selected him.