Arizona Cardinals: 2022 NFL Draft Late Round Targets

Chase Lucas, CB, Arizona State

Despite inking cornerback Jeff Gladney to a two-year $6.5 million contract, the Arizona Cardinals still need to improve their depth at the position. They could look to do so without venturing outside of the Grand Canyon State by picking Arizona State cornerback Chase Lucas.

Lucas played five years in Tempe and made second team All-Pac 12 in 2017 and 2020. His sophomore year, 2018, was Lucas’s best season. He compiled 62 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, three interceptions and five passes defended.

Chase Lucas isn’t particularly big (5’11” 180) and lacks elite speed, but he has a number of skills that could be helpful to any team. Lucas has good length and superior ball skills, as evidenced by his six career interceptions at Arizona State. He’s also a physical player both in coverage and in run support. Chase Lucas has demonstrated a willingness to come up and make the tackle on running backs, and he often uses his length to get his hands on receivers when they release off the line at the snap.

Lucas has noticeable closing speed, particularly when the ball is in the air, and this allows him to break up his share of passes. He also excels in zone coverage because he’s smart enough to diagnose plays and route combinations that are developing both in front of and behind him. He has a tendency to peek into the backfield and this can be a good thing if he’s able to read the quarterback’s eyes, but a bad thing if it causes him to bite on play action run fakes.

The reasons he’ll probably be available in the latter two rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft are his inconsistent tackling form, his lack of freakish speed or athleticism and his raw tendencies and technique. With some coaching though Chase Lucas could be eased into a nickel or dime role on obvious passing downs to offer the Arizona Cardinals some help in the back end of their defense.