KC Chiefs: Potential small school prospects to target in 2021 NFL Draft
By John McCarty
The KC Chiefs should keep looking at players from smaller schools when the 2021 NFL Draft rolls around in April.
Every year, players emerge in the National Football League that were unknowns in the College Football circles, playing in obscurity until their talents emerge on the big stage and under the big lights of the NFL.
- L’Jarius Sneed has been a major contributor for the Kansas City Chiefs this season despite playing at Louisiana Tech in college.
- Tershawn Warton played at Missouri S&T before becoming a contributor for the Chiefs on the defensive line.
- Andrew Wylie developed as an offensive lineman at Eastern Michigan.
Who are some names we should keep an eye on as potential Chiefs in the 2021 NFL Draft? While we may not know their names currently, they may become needed contributors during the 2021 season and beyond.
KC Chiefs Small School Prospects
Robert Rochell, Cornerback, Central Arkansas
Perhaps no player has my attention in regards to small school prospects while also filling needs quite like Robert Rochell of Central Arkansas. A good athlete with a combination of size (6’2″/195 pounds) and speed, the Central Arkansas corner has the potential to be an impact player in the NFL, and early during his career. A willing tackler and a strong man-cover corner, Rochell is the type of developmental prospect the Chiefs have taken a liking to in recent years.
The Chiefs struck gold this past draft in the fourth round with Louisiana Tech product L’Jarius Sneed. While Rochell is not quite the fluid athlete that Sneed is, Rochell bigger and more physical at this point, and appears to have a better feel in man coverage. With Charvarius Ward developing from Middle Tennessee and Sneed from Louisiana Tech, the Chiefs have shown an ability to develop raw athletic corner talent from smaller schools.
Invited to the Senior Bowl, Rochell is a name to watch for Chiefs fans. The Chiefs will likely lose Bashaud Breeland this offseason and very possibly could watch Ward leave the following offseason. Developmental depth is a must at corner in the 2021 NFL Draft.