Kansas City Chiefs should look at Amani Oruwariye in 2019 NFL Draft

The Kansas City Chiefs have a glaring need at corner. Penn State defensive back Amani Oruwariye could help fill that need in the upcoming 2019 draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs currently have the 31st ranked total defense (409 yards/game) and are dead last in the NFL in pass defense, surrendering 282.5 yards a game through the air.

To make matters worse, the defense ranks 28th in the league in points allowed, at 27.1 yards a game. For reference, the Chiefs had the 28th overall defense in yardage allowed, but the 16th overall defense in points.

Needless to say, after investing much of the past offseason addressing defense, fans should expect to see much of the same this offseason.

Foolishly, the front office believed David Amerson combined with Steven Nelson and Kendall Fuller were up to the task on defense. Amerson was released before the season started and Nelson has had moments both good and bad.

Fuller has been a solid corner, but far from the emerging star some fans felt they had been led to believe was coming to town via the Alex Smith trade. After basically ignoring the position in the 2018 draft, the Chiefs will need to add the position early, and possibly more then once, in the 2019 draft.

Steven Nelson and Orlando Scandrick are both set to be free agents at the conclusion on this season and Fuller is set to be a free agent after the 2019 season. There is limited depth behind those three with sixth round selection Tremon Smith and undrafted rookie Charvarius Ward. The position of corner needs to be addressed this offseason.

To start, we look at Penn State Amani Oruwariye.

Oruwariye has the size and experience the Kansas City Chiefs would likely be looking for in a corner. Listed at 6’1″ and 203 pounds, he would easily be the biggest corner on the current Chiefs roster.

The Nittany Lion product displays excellent balance and intelligence, rarely appearing out of position or fooled on a play. Very fluid and controlled in his body movements, he is able to maintain positioning and avoid penalties.

He does a good job of playing to his size, and displays an ability to, along with the previously mentioned body control and footwork, break up passes or be in a position to make the interception. With that size, he also displays a willingness to make a tackle in run support or receivers with the football.

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Most importantly, he is comfortable in a man defense and is more than capable to play either a press man scheme (defender up near line of scrimmage) or off man coverage (defender is in man defense, but has backed away from the line of scrimmage).

For a team that wants to play man defense with their perimeter defenders, Oruwariye appears capable of holding down that position.

Concerns about Oruwariye consist mainly that despite being a redshirt senior, he was only a one-year starter at Penn State. Also, while he is a willing tackler on defense, it’s certainly not a strength. Tackling is not a strength of his game.

He does have good footwork and good balance, he’s not overly fast, especially over long distances. While he displays good balance and quickness and speed, he’s not overly great at any of the three.

Some internet mock drafts have linked the Penn State corner to the Chiefs early in the process, most recently the Walter Football Mock Draft.

Currently, it appears Oruwariye is a prospect that comes off the board late first or more likely in the earlier portions of round two. A good showing at the Combine could help him move up if he runs well.

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Oruwariye is certainly a fit at a position of need for the Kansas City Chiefs. His size and length would be a welcome addition to the Chiefs defense that is unable to stop the pass.

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