Tag: Chigozie Anusiem

Commanders signed undrafted cornerback that ‘half the league wanted’

The Commanders beat out several other teams for Colorado State cornerback.

The Washington Commanders immediately began working after the 2024 NFL draft, signing undrafted free agents. By the end of Saturday, they had agreed to terms with at least 10 undrafted free agents.

One of those free agents is Colorado State cornerback Chigozie Anusiem. Who is Anusiem?

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Anusiem began his career at Cal-Berkeley, where he appeared in 25 games with six starts. He graduated and transferred to Colorado State ahead of the 2022 season.

In two years with the Rams, Anusiem became a full-time starter, playing in 23 games and recording 93 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and one interception.

Washington wasn’t the only team that tried to sign Anusiem, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, who indicated that “half the league wanted Anusiem,” but the Commanders “paid up to lock him in.”

Why would so many teams want Anusiem without one drafting him in the final round? Only the NFL teams can answer that question, but a quick look at Anusiem’s measurables shows they are elite.

Here is Anusiem’s Relative Athletic Score:

Anusiem ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, has excellent size and long arms, and is excellent in press coverage. One area that hurts Anusiem a bit is the lack of interceptions. In five seasons of playing, he has only one interception.

The Commanders will play a lot of press coverage, which would explain their appeal to Anusiem. Head coach Dan Quinn has helped develop several young cornerbacks with similar skills, which makes signing Anusiem a smart move.

Washington drafted only one cornerback — Michigan’s Mike Sainristil in the second round. Sainristil will play slot cornerback, and questions remain on the outside with Emmanuel Forbes and Benjamin St-Juste.

 

 

Dolphins reportedly hosted Colorado State CB Chigozie Anusiem on visit

Chigozie Anusiem, a 6’1, 200-pound defensive back with 4.39 speed, visited the Dolphins last week.

The Miami Dolphins hosted Colorado State cornerback Chigozie Anusiem at their facility for a pre-draft visit last week, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Last week, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had Anusiem going to the Dolphins in the sixth round of his seven-round mock draft. Anusiem offers plenty of developmental talent at 6’1, 200 pounds with 4.39 speed and experience at both cornerback and safety.

While Anusiem wasn’t invited to the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, his athletic profile suggests there’s a good chance he hears his name called Saturday.

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The Dolphins have a pair of starting cornerbacks in Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller, as well as a couple veteran backups in Kader Kohou and Nik Needham. Miami also has 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith, who played just 20 defensive snaps in his rookie season.

Adding more to the secondary would make sense, but the Dolphins seem to be focusing on potential late-round draft picks, based off the players they’ve brought in for pre-draft visits.

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4 defensive standouts from Shrine Bowl practices

The defense was strong at the East-West Shrine Bowl practices. Which 2024 NFL draft prospects were standouts from that side of the ball?

The Senior Bowl isn’t the only college all-star game for NFL draft prospects to shine. East-West Shrine Bowl practices wrapped up on Tuesday morning, and the New Orleans Saints were in attendance. The defense jumped off the screen at multiple positions. Throughout the four days of practice, I found myself gravitating towards the defense during practice for both teams.

The position group that stood out the most was the defensive ends on the West team. You could have filled the defensive standouts with just that group and been justified. I decided to pick one guy from the group in Sundiata Anderson, however. These are four defensive standouts from the Shrine Bowl practices: