Shakur Brown Is Worth the Risk for the Chiefs
Shakur Brown - CB, Michigan State
By the numbers:
5'11", 190 pounds.
2020: 25 tackles, five interceptions, four passes broken up in seven games played.
Positives:
Shakur Brown burst onto the scene in 2020 for the Spartans, playing by far the best football of his collegiate career. He displayed great ball skills this past season, opting to play the ball instead of the receiver on many occasions. Brown closes quickly as soon as the quarterback starts his throwing motion and has solid anticipatory traits. His overall athletic profile is strong, featuring fluid hips and good top-end speed.
Brown's ability to kick inside to the nickel role was briefly highlighted this year. To open up the season, he recorded an interception in each of his two games in the slot. His physicality and quickness make him a candidate to play in either cornerback alignment moving forward — and with immense potential. Brown was just a 12-game starter at Michigan State, so his best football may still be ahead of him.
Negatives:
One of the downsides of Brown's inexperience is his small sample size. His sophomore season was a mixed bag of film and his seven-game 2020 season is the only extended look teams have at him when he's at his best. He showed significant improvement, but there is risk involved with taking a player who simply doesn't have a thorough resume.
Brown is susceptible to biting on double-moves, as he's naturally a corner who's inclined to take chances. His relentlessness in challenging the ball makes him an all-or-nothing gambler in vertical passing situations. Brown also punches a bit above his weight class as a player who thrives in press-man coverage but doesn't have a large frame to work from.
How Brown fits with the Chiefs:
Although Bashaud Breeland (unrestricted) and Charvarius Ward (restricted) are listed as pending free agents, the Chiefs' cornerback situation is relatively stable. With that said, Steve Spagnuolo values physical players capable of operating in a man-heavy scheme. Kansas City should be among Brown's best fits at the next level. Additionally, adding him would allow L'Jarius Sneed to potentially move back out to the boundary.
Final Thoughts:
Brown needs some seasoning, as do plenty of possible Day 2 picks. His limited sample size will raise some eyebrows, but he has the ability to be one of the steals of the 2021 NFL Draft. His athleticism, physicality and stickiness in coverage could make him a sneaky good cornerback. Brown is a terrific fit with the Chiefs and grades out as a top-100 prospect who could provide good future value as a late third-round selection.
Read More: Arrowhead Report's 100 Players in 100 Days: A Kansas City Chiefs Draft Guide.
March 29 update: After measuring smaller than originally listed and posting a poor 40-yard dash time, Brown's stock is on the decline. He now receives an adjusted fourth-round grade.
