Although the Kansas City Chiefs defense of old is no longer and Steve Spagnuolo's unit appears to be playing well in year one, NFL teams can never have too many cornerbacks. Secondary help is hard to come by, so it would be wise of the Chiefs to continue looking for it as the offseason grows near.
As things currently stand, the Chiefs have four cornerbacks set to hit the free agent market. These names range from depth pieces such as Keith Reaser and Morris Claiborne, all the way to starters like Bashaud Breeland and Kendall Fuller. Standout boundary corner Charvarius Ward and rookie Rashad Fenton are the only notable names set to return in 2020.
That's where Florida State cornerback Stanford Samuels III comes in. A junior for the Seminoles, Samuels has been a mainstay in the FSU secondary for three years now. In 2018, he recorded 58 tackles, intercepted four passes, and added another four passes defended. He's gotten even better this season. Despite seeing his interception total drop to two in 2019, he's made 60 tackles (1.5 for a loss) and defended seven passes.
Florida State's active career leader in interceptions is following in his father's footsteps by playing for the university. He'll be looking to take his game from Saturdays and transition to playing on Sundays at the next level. Mock drafts mentioning Samuels' name are scarce, but a recent one for the Arizona Cardinals pegged him as a sixth-round selection.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 185 pounds, Samuels certainly isn't undersized for a boundary corner at the NFL level. He brings plus athleticism to the table and is able to keep up with some of college football's top receivers. A lengthy corner capable of playing both man and zone, Samuels' skillset is solid.
With that said, he's far from a perfect player. Despite his size, Samuels lacks good strength. This could be a problem in run support and/or against bigger receivers. No prospect is perfect, but this could lower his floor in the NFL a little bit. Perhaps a professional weights/nutrition program will do him good.
The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the best teams in the NFL. Their offense has always been a strong suit, but with Steve Spagnuolo calling plays, the defense improved immensely in 2019. The future of the Chiefs' secondary is up in the air, so it's critical that general manager Brett Veach nails this upcoming draft. Should Florida State's Stanford Samuels still be available on day three, Kansas City should consider taking him.
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