As we begin of the offseason, Tyrann Mathieu has yet to re-sign with K.C. If the Chiefs are to draft a safety at pick 30, Jaquan Brisker may be an ideal fit.
Everyone in the building at One Arrowhead Drive is well-aware of how much Tyrann Mathieu has meant to the Kansas City Chiefs defense. Now entering his tenth year in the NFL, Mathieu is expected to be one of the top paid safeties by the end of the offseason. Whether that is in a Chiefs uniform or not is the question.
If the Chiefs decide that they do not have the money available in the budget, they may turn to the draft to look for a replacement. When pick 30 comes in the 2021 NFL Draft, Jaquan Brisker just might be the player called.
While there is simply no “replacement” for someone as decorated and experienced as Mathieu, Brisker may be able to fill a need playing beside Juan Thornhill for the foreseeable future. Brisker may be available at pick 30, or he may not be. It is certainly not a given, but without Mathieu, the Chiefs should certainly be looking at him.
Here is what you need to know about Jaquan Brisker.
Strengths
Jaquan Brisker is not Tyrann Mathieu, at least not yet. Brisker is instinctive and can make plays by putting himself in the right position before the play develops, but it is not his biggest strength. His biggest strength is his ability to use his length to his advantage. Most defensive backs are not graced with great size, but for Brisker, it is one of his greatest assets. Being able to have a wide radius to make a play on the ball is crucial, especially at safety. Brisker can close on the ball or a ball carrier faster than your average safety. Standing 6’1 and weighing 203, Brisker actually plays larger than his size.
It is unclear how Brisker will perform in athletic testing leading up to the draft, but it is clear that he has turned heads for his incredible combo of size and athleticism. Every year, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic releases a list of “freakish” athletes in college football. In 2021, Brisker made the list. He is undoubtedly explosive and has improved over the course of his college career to make himself better at utilizing that athletic ability.
While Penn State did not give him a ton of opportunity to play in man coverage, when they did, he delivered. He is also very good in zone coverage and adequate in press coverage. All of this to say, Brisker is versatile and is a “do it all” kind of player. In addition to his coverage ability, his tape showcases a very physical play style for a safety. He is unafraid to fly downhill to make a play on a running back.
Above all else, Brisker was a leader for the Penn State defense. While his numbers were never super flashy, he was the “quarterback” of the defense. He would communicate with other players and make sure that they were lined up where they needed to be on any given play. It seems certain that he will be working as a defensive leader at the next level.