Kansas City Chiefs: Five Surprise Candidates to Start in 2016

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Steven Nelson #20 of the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Surprise Players to Start – Number 1: Steven Nelson

Steven Nelson is my biggest surprise candidate to start the season because I don’t think anyone would see it coming. The former third round pick out of Oregon State had a quiet rookie season and barely even saw the field other than on special teams.

With Sean Smith off to Oakland, the second cornerback spot will likely go to either third-year man Phillip Gaines or to rookie KeiVarae Russell. No one is counting on Nelson to jump in there and grab the spot.

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Herbie Teope of Chiefs Digest recently did a piece on Nelson and how he’s “hungry” for something bigger with the team.

"Smith threw a dart and the play initially looked like a sure completion, but cornerback Steven Nelson, who was a few steps away at the right cornerback position, wouldn’t allow it. Nelson broke on the pass and rapidly closed the distance from the side, timing his arrival perfectly before extending his left arm in front of Streater to bat the ball aside. The play served notice that Nelson is a force to reckon with when considering the Chiefs need to solidify the right cornerback and the nickel position, and the second-year pro embraces the opportunity."

Teope hasn’t been the only one to give the former Beaver praise, as Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star has offered his as well.

Yes. Steven is having a nice camp. https://t.co/kBpFSSSwMk
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) June 1, 2016

The fact that the beat writer for the Chiefs says that Nelson has a legitimate chance at being a starter says a lot. He said that Nelson broke up a pass earlier on and did a Michael Jordan fist pump afterwards.

The confidence and the nice camp are slowly propelling Steven Nelson into the starting cornerback talks, and I don’t think a lot of people will see that coming.

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