2021 NFL Draft: Late-round prospects Kansas City Chiefs should target

2021 NFL Draft projection: Fourth/fifth-rounder

With the Chiefs’ front office showing little interest in bringing back Bashaud Breeland, it seems more than probable that cornerback will be on the team’s wish list this spring. While the front office did tender defensive back Charvarius Ward and re-sign safety Daniel Sorenson to a one-year deal, a starting cornerback on the far sideline looks to be a need for the Chiefs prior to the start of the 2021 season. However, how early they decide to address that position in the 2021 NFL Draft remains to be seen.

With a large chunk of last year’s secondary unit coming back this season, it is possible they let a few of the depth players try out on the right side. The team drafted two defensive backs in the 2020 Draft: Fifth-rounder L’Jarius Sneed saw starting action as a cornerback last season while seventh-rounder Thakarius Keyes was trusted enough to start during Week 17. With left tackle and edge defender needing serious attention early in the draft, it is possible the Chiefs feel comfortable giving the starting cornerback spot to someone already on the roster.

If that’s the case, then they’ll likely want to bring in a developmental defensive back on Day Three and see if they can find a diamond in the rough. One noteworthy late-round prospect they should explore is Georgia Bulldogs cornerback DJ Daniel. Outshined by a talented Bulldog secondary in 2020, Daniel was no slouch as an outside cornerback: He was responsible for eight pass breakups in 2019, which was second-best of all Bulldog defenders, according to his team profile.

Nationally ranked as the sixth-best JUCO prospect when he transferred from Georgia Military College in 2019, Daniel received plenty of attention from SEC schools before coming to Athens. He had tough competition for the right-side cornerback position but started in 11 games while seeing the field in every game of the 2019 season. Injuries limited how much he saw the field in 2020, but he continued to suit up as a reserve defensive back during eight games last season.

Daniel has plenty of the baseline traits NFL scouts will be looking for in a developmental defensive back. At 5-foot-11, Daniel played well in press-man coverage assignments, preventing separation from his receiver. He was able to stay extremely close to his assignments, maintaining a short distance 20-plus yard down the field without losing much steam. He was able to course-correct efficiently against receiver double moves and rarely lost ground to receiver feints and trickery.

Daniel attacks the hands of receivers at the catch point, maintaining his interference through contact and while falling to the ground. He showed amazing awareness, oftentimes tracking the ball better than his receiver would, allowing him to interfere with receptions often. He’s spry for an outside cornerback, regularly attacking the ball in the air and beating out his assignment on jump ball plays.

Pro Comparison: Jalen Mills on a good day

Daniel has some things he’ll need to work on in the NFL. While attacking the hands of a receiver is an effective way to kill chunk plays, it’s also a great way to draw flags in the NFL. He’s slow to flip his hips on vertical routes and has a tendency to adjust slowly on curls and comebacks. Daniel also has the nasty habit of throwing his whole body against his receiver when the ball is headed their way. It works fine against most college athletes but the more experienced receivers in the NFL will shrug him off, gaining lots of yards after the catch in the process.

Regardless, Daniel showed plenty of promise in college and would be a valuable asset for the Chiefs as a late-round prospect. His skill set equips him to play a wide variety of roles in an NFL secondary, either as a backup cornerback or at safety. The Chiefs will need to find affordable starters if they hope to stay competitive in the future. The front office should seriously consider snagging Daniel if he falls to them in the 2021 NFL Draft.