2017 NFL Draft Kansas City Chiefs Scouting Report: David Jones

The Kansas City Chiefs appear to be set at the safety position. However, David Jones from Richmond could be worth adding to the roster.

Earlier this offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs put a lot of effort into locking down the safety position. Eric Berry and Daniel Sorensen both have new long-term deals. That means there is really no need for the team to look for a safety. However, a guy like David Jones of Richmond could make the Chiefs think twice.

With the emphasis on the passing game around the NFL, it is important for teams to be strong in the secondary. The Chiefs have taken care of that as far as the safety position is concerned. Eric Berry is a top level player and Ron Parker is a quality starter. Daniel Sorensen is the team’s top backup and has proven himself up to the task.

However, the Chiefs have built their roster through strength of competition. There is no reason why that should stop now. If John Dorsey and his staff see a safety they like, there is no reason to not give that player a shot.

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This year’s class of safeties in the NFL Draft isn’t particularly impressive beyond the top guys. However, there are a number of interesting prospects that can be had in the later rounds. There are always some talented players that sneak up on you. John Dorsey has done a good job of finding them in the past.

David Jones – S – Richmond

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It’s amazing to see how some player progress at the college level, and David Jones is the perfect example. The All-American safety exploded on the scene in his junior year, and would probably be talked about a lot more if not a concerning injury report.

David Jones is a top flight athlete who can cover a lot of ground in the deep secondary. Smart player who can read and diagnose what the offense is trying to do. Excellent ball skills to track the pass in the air and come through with the play. Willing tackler in run support and plays with solid technique.

The thing that has scouts and analysts hung up on David Jones is repeated injuries to his forearm. Doesn’t have a large frame to add more size, so durability will be long-term concern. Doesn’t have the quickness to keep up with receivers in short area coverage.

If the Kansas City Chiefs are up for using a late round pick on a safety, David Jones could be a steal. The Chiefs have taken chances on guys with injury histories before, getting mixed results. If we’re talking about the 6th or 7th round, I doubt John Dorsey lets an injury report convince him not to make such a small investment with such big potential.

With the strength of the Kansas City Chiefs roster, John Dorsey is in a great position for the 2017 NFL Draft. The Chiefs have no immediate needs that have to be addressed. There is a starter and backup everywhere on the roster. That means Dorsey can draft based purely on the value of the player. That’s a great way to build a strong roster for the long-term.