NFL Draft 2015: Day 2 Winners and Losers

Kansas City Chiefs

In some ways, each successive team’s draft seems that much more appealing. It’s hard to not love what John Dorsey and Andy Reid have done this weekend with the Kansas City Chiefs. Marcus Peters was a top-10 player in this draft on talent alone, and the best cornerback prospect since at least Patrick Peterson, and they got him at 18.

But again, these grades are primarily about Friday night. Well the Chiefs didn’t disappoint Friday either. While at first blush, it seems they reached on Missouri offensive lineman Mitch Morse, they did so knowing they were moving him to offensive guard. If Morse had been evaluated by the draft community at large as a guard and not a tackle he’d have been more highly projected player. So that’s a win.

But it’s the Chiefs’ third-round picks which really get the liver cranked up. Chris Conley was the 21^st player on my draft board, which I understand is probably high, but I also have moved from a “just-tape” guy to trying to incorporate SPARQ and other useful information to give a more holistic draft grade.

Conley was the best wide receiver athlete at the NFL Combine in February, and when looking at the tape, Conley’s athleticism is not lost on the field. It is there. He just happened to play in a Georgia offense which really put the running game on full display. And yet Conley was still quite the productive player. And he was an academic ace, so that’s a plus too.

Then there’s Steven Nelson, another corner the Chiefs took with the second to last pick of the third-round, a compensatory selection. While Nelson is not the equal of Peters, he doesn’t have to be. But it’s interesting that the tape also doesn’t show a great contrast. He’s physical and tough like Peters.

He is a similar player, though less gifted. If Peters doesn’t work out, Nelson probably will. If both work out, the Chiefs just became a shutdown secondary.

Next: And we head to the Music City