NFL Notes: Draft, Cornerbacks, Chiefs

Draft

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Media has already been taking a look at some of the notable players who could enter the 2018 NFL Draft in his “first look” series. Jeremiah offers great breakdowns of each player and includes NFL comps based on what he sees and has heard from others.

Here are some of Jeremiah’s NFL comps for these prospects:

• According to Jeremiah, UCLA QB Josh Rosen is a “graceful passer” when given time and possesses the size, arm strength and intelligence to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL. Jeremiah sees some similarities to Giants QB Eli Manning in terms of their playing style.
• Jeremiah writes that LSU RB Derrius Guice belongs in the same group as Penn State’s Saquon Barkley, as he’s an explosive runner with excellent balance and a tenacious style. According to Jeremiah, Guice has more “wiggle and elusiveness” than Leonard Fournette, but isn’t as powerful as him. In terms of an NFL comparison, Jeremiah is reminded of a young Frank Gore when watching Guice, but also sees a little LaDainian Tomlinson in his running style.
• While Jeremiah admits that LSU LB Arden Key “isn’t a perfect player“, he believes Key has all of the tools to “dominate” as a pass rusher. Jeremiah says that Key has similarities to former Dolphins DE Jason Taylor, as they both have a similar frame/length and great instincts as a pass-rusher.

Cornerbacks

A former NFL defensive coordinator tells Bucky Brooks of NFL.com that the ability to have two cornerbacks that are capable of balancing each other based on their respective skill sets is really what NFL teams are looking for right now.

“In a perfect world, you would like to have a pair of cornerbacks with a diverse set of skills as your No. 1 and No. 2 corner,” the defensive coordinator explained. “You would like one of the guys to be a more physical player with the size and length to match up with the big wide receivers on the perimeter. If he can excel in press, that would be ideal, but I would like to match big on big on the outside whenever it works. The other corner should be able to shadow the smaller, quicker receivers that play on the outside or in the slot. If he is able to play from distance or use a backpedal in man or zone, it is an asset because you’re able to do more things when it comes to combo coverage.

“You don’t need to have two No. 1s, but if they can balance each other out, it makes the overall unit better due to the flexibility and versatility that they give the coordinator.”

Brooks takes a look at his top-five cornerback tandems in the NFL right now, including:

1. Broncos: Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr.
2. Chargers: Jason Verrett and Casey Hayward
3. Patriots: Stephon Gilmore and Malcolm Butler
4. Giants: Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
5. Jaguars: Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye

Chiefs

Chiefs free agent acquisition DT Bennie Logan explained that he felt like he was in need of a change of scenery and to do something different.

“I just felt like it was time for me to have a change of scenery,” Logan said, via Chiefs.com. “I just wanted to go out and do something different. I enjoyed my time there but I just felt like it was time for me to branch off and try to establish myself somewhere else.”

Logan says he spoke with Spencer Ware about the team’s chemistry before agreeing to a one-year, $8-million contract with the Chiefs this offseason.

“I talked to Spencer (Ware) through my free agency, and he was telling me just the chemistry they have here, how tight they are, the family and just the scheme,” Logan said. “I played with Spencer at LSU, so he’s a guy I trust and everything. I have seen the things that Kansas City has been doing over the years, and I want to be a part of it to help them go farther than they went last year. Offense, defense, special teams, they’ve been a great team all around, so it’s something I saw myself being a part of.”