Three College Prospects All Chiefs Fans Should Watch This Weekend
Two cornerbacks and a wide receiver the Chiefs could be interested in in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Kansas City Chiefs are unfortunately sitting at the 16th overall draft pick for the 2022 NFL Draft, as it stands today. This comes with a losing record entering Halloween and the earliest they’ve been slated to draft at this time in the year in the Andy Reid-Patrick Mahomes era.
Of course, that comes with a little bit of good news in that it starts getting people talking about the NFL Draft a little earlier and for me, that’s a bonus. Let’s keep our weekly watch list going this week by getting some eyes on prospects on both sides of the ball that could potentially help the Chiefs in 2022.
Week 10 Prospect Watchlist
Day 1 Stud
Martin Emerson | CB
6’2” 200lbs | Mississippi State | #1
Martin Emerson is one of the bigger sleepers in the 2022 NFL Draft classes at this point in time. Over the past two seasons he’s been one the least targeted cornerbacks in CFB. Even when targeted, he’s been one of the top corners only allowing 4.59 yards per target. Mississippi State plays a lot of zone coverage and it shows in Emerson’s tape but oddly hasn’t led to a ton of ball production.
Emerson utilizes his length and size to close down passing windows with regularity. His ability to disrupt routes allows him to stick to a wide receiver’s hip without being the fastest or nimblest mover in CFB. Due to the high frequency of zone coverage played by MSST, he’s very adept passing off routes and picking up new receivers as well as mid-pointing two routes in his area. The biggest challenge for Emerson moving to the next level is how his athleticism will translate to man coverage in the NFL or if he’ll be a prototypical zone/Cover-3 CB at the next level.
How to watch: Mississippi State Vs Arkansas, 3:00 PM CST, SEC Network
This is a typical SEC matchup that is being buried off national television that has high end NFL caliber prospects all over the field. One of the most intriguing matchups will be Emerson vs Treylon Burks. Burks moves around the field a lot but in the past, MSST has allowed their top corners to mirror wide receivers outside and inside.
Potential Riser
Zyon Gilbert | CB
6’1” 182lbs | Florida Atlantic | #24
The lengthy, wiry Zyon Gilbert returned to school in 2021 to showcase growth in his game as a true cornerback. Throughout his time at Florida Atlantic, he had played both corner and safety without truly settling in at a single position. Early in his career he struggled to showcase ball skills but has recorded five interceptions over the past three seasons. The return to school provided a second season of full-time cornerback play and has him set to make a lot more waves in the 2022 NFL Draft than he would have in 2021.
Gilbert doesn’t get challenged a ton due to the talent on the defense across the board but he does a good job making it unappealing to do so. His length and play strength at the line of scrimmage allow him to disrupt routes early in the process. When beat, he has adequate flexibility and speed to stay in-phase and the length to limit and impact throwing windows. He plays top-down really well when in zone coverage or closing on underneath routes, whether attacking the ball or coming downhill to make a tackle. There are some awkward steps and spacing issues in his game but nothing that can’t be coached out at the next level.
How to watch: Marshall vs Florida Atlantic, 5:00 PM CST, Local
FAU played Florida to start their season but won’t have another “top tier” team on their schedule throughout the year. This leaves Gilbert’s best test behind him but that doesn’t mean he still can’t impress. Grant Wells - Marshall quarterback - was getting some buzz last year as a promising young player and the Marshall passing offense has talent to challenge him.
Local Flavor
Xavier Hutchinson | WR
6’3” 210bs | Iowa State | #8
Hutchinson was a promising high school wide receiver that had to initially go to Blinn Community College to get his academics in check. After getting on track in the classroom he became a star on the football field drawing a ton of attention for Power 5 programs. Hutchinson hit the ground running at Iowa State having 64 catches, 771 yards, and 4 TDs. His 2021 campaign is on pace to top that year but even more impressive is how he shows up huge in every big game.
Listed at 6’3” 210lbs, Hutchinson has the kind of size that immediately gets the NFL’s attention but it’s his ability to still win vertically that may ultimately win them over. He doesn’t have the same highlight reel of catches as ex-Iowa State wide receiver Hakeem Butler, but he marries his size with his route running incredibly well. He has great footwork on his route stems allowing him to create separation and is very good at stacking and shielding defenders with his body. He’s a true X WR prototype of the modern NFL because of the ability to be effective short and deep.
How to watch: Texas vs Iowa State, 6:30 PM CST, FS1
The Big 12 isn’t always known for their defense but Texas’ defense has some talent on the back-end. Hutchinson could put a nice little statement game together two weeks after his coming out party against Oklahoma. If he can continue to showcase an ability to be a vertical threat at his size against NFL caliber athletes, it could boost his stock a ton.