Tag: Jeremy Chinn

Panthers No. 64 pick: Scouting report for DB/LB Jeremy Chinn

Chinn is an Isaiah Simmons-like talent who will bring a ton of versatility to the back end of Carolina’s defense.

The Panthers continued their defense-heavy draft by selecting Southern Illinois hybrid defender Jeremy Chinn with the No. 64 overall pick. The team traded up with the Seahawks to get there, surrendering the No. 69 and No. 148 picks.

Chinn is an Isaiah Simmons-like talent who will bring a ton of versatility to the back end of Carolina’s defense. Let’s take a dive into Chinn’s scouting report and see what makes him so special.

Strengths:

Chinn had one of the best combine performances of the year. He measured in at 6-foot-3 and 221 pounds, a monstrous size for a safety. Chinn clocked a 4.45 second 40-yard dash, jumped 41 inches vertically, put up 20 reps on the bench and recorded a 138 inch broad jump. For a player his size, those numbers are absolutely ridiculous and comparable to those of Simmons. 

Chinn is more than just an athletic freak though – he is a tremendous football player. He fits the mold of a prototype strong safety or sub-package linebacker in the NFL. He is solid in zone coverage, has a nose for the football and has excellent ball skills at the catch point. Chinn is also is an explosive tackler with a tremendous ability to wrap up with his long wingspan. However, the thing that excites coaches and scouts the most is his closing speed. Chinn has a lightning-quick trigger to attack downhill and break on the ball and he finishes with authority. He’s also an effective blitzer.

Weaknesses:

The one area that Chinn struggles in is man coverage. He is not terrible by any means, but this is an area that he can definitely get better at. He does relatively well covering routes vertically, but his ability to mirror a receiver is average. The good news is that Chinn has the athletic ability and fluid hips to improve in this area.

Fit with the Panthers: 

Carolina passed on Simmons in round one, but made up for it with this pick. Chinn has as much upside as any defensive back in this class. He is a do-it-all type defender that will be able to provide immediate impact for the Panthers at off-ball linebacker, nickel, and safety. Matt Rhule hit a home run here, as he got the best player available at a position of need.

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Watch: Jeremy Chinn gets the call from the Panthers

Watch Southern Illinois defensive back Jeremy Chinn get the call from the Panthers, who traded up to No. 64 to get him.

Our favorite part of watching the NFL draft is seeing prospects get the call from their teams, opening up a new career at the pinnacle of their profession. It’s an emotional moment for many players, who have been working their entire lives for this opportunity.

Watch Southern Illinois defensive back Jeremy Chinn get the call from the Panthers, who traded up to No. 64 to get him.

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Panthers fans react to Jeremy Chinn pick on Twitter

Carolina fans are digging the pick. Here’s what they are saying on Twitter.

The Panthers finally made a splash at the end of the second round, trading up with the Seahawks to take one of this year’s most exciting small school prospects, Southern Illinois defensive back Jeremy Chinn.

Adding Chinn to the defense will help take some of the sting out of passing on Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons in the first round. His ability to line up at several different spots (slot corner, outside corner, box safety and deep safety) will be a huge benefit for a unit that needs help at all of those spots.

Carolina fans are digging the pick. Here’s what they are saying on Twitter.

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Panthers trade up to No. 64, pick Southern Illinois DB Jeremy Chinn

According to Jourdan Rodrigue at the Athletic, the team gave up their No. 69 and No. 148 picks to Seattle.

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For the second straight year, the Panthers have traded up with the Seahawks in the second round of the NFL draft. Last year, they landed Ole Miss offensive tackle Greg Little with the No. 37 overall pick. This time around, they moved up to the end of round two (No. 64) for Southern Illinois safety Jeremy Chinn.

According to Jourdan Rodrigue at the Athletic, the team gave up their No. 69 and No. 148 picks to Seattle.

Chinn (6-foot-3, 212 pounds) was one of the top defensive back prospects still on the board and there weren’t many left, so moving up for him made sense.

The Panthers are getting a capable and versatile DB in Chinn, who flashed some impressive athleticism at the NFL combine. He ran a 4.45 second 40-yard dash and posted 20 bench press reps to go with a 41 inch vertical.

Chinn totaled 13 interceptions, 31 pass breakups and six forced fumbles during his college career.

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7 Players the Philadelphia Eagles could target in round-2 of 2020 NFL Draft

7 Players the Philadelphia Eagles could target in round-2 of 2020 NFL Draft

The second round of the NFL draft is now underway and after landing Jalen Reagor in the first-round, Howie Roseman will continue to fill the roster starting on day two.

The Eagles will again have pick No. 53 and if Howie Roseman chooses to stand pat, there are a number of intriguing options, including a bevy of talented wide receivers.

The Eagles could choose to go cornerback, safety or linebacker with the pick as well.

We’ve provided a list of 7 players the Birds could target in round two of the 2020 NFL Draft.

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Chase Claypool — Notre DameMandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

1. Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame

Considered a second- or third-round pick before the 2020 NFL Combine, Claypool has a little Calvin Johnson in him.

At 6-4, 240-pounds with the ability to line up as a tight end, Claypool may have given coaches pause about a position change after he ran a 4.42, making him the first receiver over 230 pounds to run sub-4.45 since Calvin Johnson in 2007.

Claypool is strong, can jump out the gym, and could be an option for the Eagles if they move on from Alshon Jeffery.

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Bills address defense, trade in CBS Sports Day 2 mock

In a pre-Day 2 2020 NFL Draft mock draft from CBS Sports and the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills don’t have many holes on their roster. Let alone their defense. Let alone their stout secondary. But that group gets even deeper in CBS Sports‘ latest mock draft draft, which was released on Friday after the conclusion of Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday.

In it, the Bills stand pat at pick No. 54, their current first selection of the draft in the second round. With it, Buffalo nabs Southern Illinois safety Jeremy Chinn.

After their first pick, the Bills do decide to do some moving. In the third round, Buffalo jump up four spots from pick No. 86 to pick No. 82 in a mocked trade with the Cowboys. There is another defensive back as the selection, Mississippi State’s Cameron Dantzler.

Here’s the breakdown on both picks:

Yes, Buffalo has other, more obvious needs, but Chinn is part of the future as a “positionless” defender.

The Bills see the length, instincts, and feisty nature in Dantzler and make a move to get him.

While the Bills have a set safety duo in Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, Chinn could be in play for the Bills because of his versatility. Some project him as a mix between a safety, linebacker and big slot cornerback in the NFL. That versatility will be coveted by Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott. The 6-foot-3, 221-pound defensive back has impressive size and just as impressive combine numbers. Chinn ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash time and followed that up with a 41-inch vertical jump.

At SIU, Chinn, a senior, finished his career with 13 interceptions, 31 passes defended and six forced fumbles. The Bills also reportedly had a pre-draft meeting with Chinn. 

While the Bills did add Josh Norman and EJ Gaines to their cornerback room this offseason, those two have some health and consistency concerns. In addition, if the Bills don’t view Levi Wallace as their long-term answer, Dantzler could be that guy across from Tre’Davious White for years to come.

At 6-foot-2, Dantzler has the athleticism and length to match up with NFL receivers. He recorded 40 tackles and two interceptions last season.

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2020 NFL Draft: What positions should Bears target in 2nd round?

If the Bears decide to stay put with picks 43 and 50, there are some opportunities for them to address some important roster needs.

The Chicago Bears were without a first-round selection for the second straight year — a result of the Khalil Mack trade with the Las Vegas Raiders — but there will be plenty of first-round talent available for them when the second round kicks off.

Chicago has no shortage of roster needs heading into this draft — and not a whole lot of draft capital to work with. The Bears have just two picks in the first four rounds, so it’s possible that they try to trade back to accumulate additional picks. And given the talent still left on the board, there figures to be some teams willing to move up.

But if the Bears decide to stay put with picks 43 and 50 — especially given the crop of prospects still available — there are some opportunities for them to address some important roster needs.

Let’s take a look at five positions that the Bears should consider addressing with their pair of second rounders:

1. Offensive line

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

One of the biggest issues with the Bears’ abysmal offense a season ago was the offensive line, who returned five starters off a solid 2018 season. While most of the offensive line will remain intact in 2020 — with left tackle Charles Leno Jr., left guard James Daniels, center Cody Whitehair and right tackle Bobby Massie — the Bears have a starting right guard spot up for grabs following Kyle Long’s retirement.

Heading into Round 2, there has been only one interior offensive lineman taken — Michigan’s Cesar Ruiz. Which leaves players like Louisiana-Lafayette’s Robert Hunt, LSU’s Damien Lewis and Ohio State’s Jonah Jackson for the taking for Chicago on Day 2. While six offensive tackles were taken in the first round, Boise State’s Ezra Cleveland and Houston’s Josh Jones highlight some first-round prospects that have fallen to Day 2.

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2020 NFL Draft: 5 safeties available for Bears on Day 2

Here are five safeties that are still on the board heading into Day 2 that Chicago should target, if they fall to them at pick 43.

The first round of the 2020 NFL Draft couldn’t have gone better for the Chicago Bears, who heading into Day 2 armed with a pair of second-rounders has plenty of first-round talent still on the board.

Heading into Round 2, there are a wealth of safety prospects — including some first-round talent — available. And considering the Bears are looking for safety Eddie Jackson’s running mate at strong safety, Chicago would do well to consider these players.

Here are five safeties that are still on the board heading into Day 2 that Chicago should target, if they fall to them at pick 43.

1. Xavier McKinney, Alabama

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

It’s hard to believe that, after Round 1, arguably the best safety prospect is still on the board heading into Day 2. While the Bears should lock him up in an instant, there’s a good chance he doesn’t fall 10 spots to Chicago at No. 43. But on the off chance he does, Xavier McKinney would bring athleticism, instincts and versatility to the safety position opposite Eddie Jackson.

According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, McKinney is an “ascending safety prospect offering a combination of plus athleticism, field awareness and versatility. McKinney split time equally at slot, free safety and in the box and is accomplished in each. His coverage instincts, athleticism and quick-twitch burst are more cornerback than safety, which is why he’s likely to be a coveted toy for teams looking to upgrade and diversify their sub-packages. He can sit in center field all day if needed, and he’s an adequate open-field tackler but has room for improvement in that area. McKinney represents the new breed of versatile, matchup safety with high upside as an early starter.”

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