The idea for where Roger McCreary could land in the NFL draft is somewhat all over the place for the former Auburn Tigers defender. McCreary was among the best cornerbacks in the country, right in the conversation with Cincinnati’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner.
He didn’t have the interception numbers of some other cornerbacks but the ball skills are clearly there. In 2021, McCreary snagged two interceptions to go along with his 14 passes defended as a senior. If there is one team that could use some help on the back end of the defense, it just might be the Kansas City Chiefs. They just need him to slide down the board on day one of the draft.
In a recent mock draft from Pro Football Focus, that is exactly what happened for the Chiefs. After watching Derek Stingley Jr go at No. 2 to the Houston Texans, Gardner to the Denver Broncos at No. 9, and Kaiir Elam to the Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City grabs him as the fourth cornerback of round one.
What PFF Says…
The Chiefs could certainly test their luck at finally finding a third receiver but would be hard-pressed to pass on McCreary, who is as good in man coverage as any in this draft. McCreary had no problem transitioning to a Cover 1-heavy system in 2021, as he put up an impressive 89.9 grade — the second-highest by a cornerback in the country.
McCreary allows some position flexibility for a Chiefs defense that likes to move guys around. He was primarily a boundary cornerback for Auburn, he could see time at safety, box defender, and nickel. If Tyrann Mathieu moves on as a salary cap casualty, Kansas City could use him in a similar manner if needed.
Regardless of how they look to use him, Roger McCreary will help a defense that finished as a bottom-five defense in passing yards allowed.
[vertical-gallery id=41540]
Contact/Follow us @AuburnWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PatrickConnCFB