Kansas City Chiefs: Not So Obvious Top 10 Chiefs Of 2013, Part 2

Oct 13, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Cooper (31) intercepts the ball during the second half of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

NUMBER 3: CORNER BACK, Marcus Cooper

Yes, we know he got burned by Peyton Manning and the Denver receiving corp, but, Cooper had one hell-of-a season for a rookie. Coop’s back story is just as good as the season he just had. The former Rutgers Scarlet Knight, Cooper played wide receiver his first two years of college.

After limited playing time and a lack of production, Marcus made the switch to corner back in his final season with Rutgers-immediately having success. After his final season of college, scouts saw Cooper as a middle-to-late round draft pick where he was eventually drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 7th round.

Cooper struggled to find a spot on a very stacked 49ers defense and was eventually cut. Again, John Dorsey found a diamond in the rough, seeing something in this kid and making him one of his 7 waiver claim players- completing the 53 man roster before the regular season started.

Cooper didn’t see much time until Brandon Flowers battled some injuries and he found himself playing for the first time in the New York Giants game. Once Coop entered the game, Giants reciever, Victor Cruz, was shut out after having a huge first half. Cooper got his first start the next week in Tennessee where he came up with a huge special teams play in which he recovered a fumbled punt in the end zone for a touchdown. He also snagged the game clinching interception late in the 4th quarter.

Cooper finished the season with 44 tackles, 3 ints and 1 forced fumble. At one point, Cooper was the highest rated corner according to Pro Football Focus and was a tremendous upgrade over Dunta Robinson. Cooper got abused when he faced some of the better quarterbacks but for only his second season as a corner, and his first season in the NFL, he played pretty damn good. The Chiefs should be confident moving forward with this kid, putting him at number three on this list for 2013.