2021 Senior Bowl prospects for the KC Chiefs to watch
By Thomas Welte
Safety/Defensive Back
National Team
- Rodarius Williams, CB, Oklahoma State
- Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan
- Divine Deablo, S, Virginia Tech
American Team
- Hamsah Nasirildeen, S, Florida State
- Richie Grant, S, UCF
- Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF
- Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB/S, Syracuse
Brett Veach has managed to turn the Kansas City secondary from their biggest weakness to a strength in record time. Unfortunately, some of those coverage players that have excelled will likely depart in free agency in the next season or two. The Chiefs value size and versatility in their defenders and Steve Spagnuolo has shown he is willing to move pieces around interchangeably between safety and corner.
Rodarius Williams is an intriguing prospect as the younger brother of 2019 NFL Draft pick and current Cleveland Brown Greedy Williams. Rodarius is smaller than his brother and lacks the ball production that his older brother had. The younger Williams may not be the high profile prospect that his brother was coming out of college, but he showed flashes of strong man coverage skills and could improve his draft stock considerably with a strong Senior Bowl.
Ambry Thomas opted out of the 2020 season, so the Senior Bowl is a valuable opportunity to showcase his skills for NFL front offices. The former Michigan Wolverine showed steady development through his collegiate career and should hear his name called on day two. Thomas has good size and appeared to be a well-rounded player on tape, but he is a polarizing prospect in terms of his professional projection.
Divine Deablo, who wins the award for best name in the Senior Bowl, is a bigger safety who could be a valuable box defender in the NFL. Similar to Thomas, Deablo is polarizing and has some who are concerned about his overall athleticism. However, Deablo has shown steady development, and as long as a team has a plan for him should develop into a productive role player in the NFL.
Aaron Robinson from UCF fits the bill for what the Chiefs value in their perimeter corners, although he is a little light for his size. Robinson has versatility in the secondary but plays with competitive toughness across the board. The UCF product is likely a day three prospect but could develop into a starting corner.
Robinson’s teammate Richie Grant was much more productive and showed electric potential in deep coverage. Grant has great size and has natural instincts in coverage. While he projects as a free safety, as a deep coverage player, he has no fear about coming downhill and playing the run. Grant is my candidate for a riser who, with a dominant Senior Bowl who could climb into the first round.
Hamsah Nasirildeen is an exciting athlete with the size that may remind people of former Florida State Seminole Derwin James. Nasirildeen showed flashes but missed time with a torn ACL so there isn’t as much available to evaluate. The Senior Bowl will be a huge opportunity for Nasirildeen who could cement his status as a day two prospect. The oversized safety has the versatility and high-end athleticism that will allow teams to deploy him as a hybrid defender all over the field.
Saving the best for last, Ifeatu Melifonwu (brother of Obi Melifonwu) is a big, physical, and athletic defensive back who could turn heads at the Senior Bowl. The younger Melifonwu played corner for Syracuse but has the versatility to play safety. Melifonwu is a tone-setter, he blankets pass catchers with his size and length, and is physical in every aspect of his game. Melifonwu is one of my favorite prospects in this draft and deserves an intentional look during Senior Bowl week.