KC Chiefs: Five Most Overrated Chiefs For 2015

Kansas City Chiefs safety Ron Parker (38) – Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Although he has played more at the safety position, Ron Parker was definitely an overrated corner for the Chiefs. If you had told me the Chiefs were going to pay him $5 million to play corner, I’d have called you crazy.

As a corner, Parker was underwhelming at best. Sure, he was okay, but he was no Sean Smith or Brandon Flowers.

Many of the plays that I remember from when Parker was a corner ended with him usually making a tackle close to the line of scrimmage. While that’s technically a good thing, it raises question marks about his coverage ability.

I will put my foot in my own mouth for you in the sense that last season saw Parker defense 12 passes, but before that he only has three passes defensed to his name…over five seasons.

When he would drop back in coverage, I felt like he was always a step behind. He didn’t have the speed to follow an elite receiver step for step and just didn’t seem like he was in the right position to deflect the pass.

I will put my foot in my own mouth for you in the sense that last season saw Parker defense 12 passes, but before that he only has three passes defensed to his name…over five seasons.

If that isn’t the benchmark for an underachieving corner, then I don’t know what is.

Since moving over to safety to fill in the spot that is left from Eric Berry (who is recovering well through his cancer treatments), Parker has been a much better player.

He’s a good tackler with so-so coverage skills. He’s had another offseason to learn the position and the defensive scheme so maybe we’ll see a better Ron Parker.

I do say all this knowing that Parker has been on the upswing as of late. Should he prove himself a solid safety next season, I may not think he’s overrated anymore, but until then…

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