With the 74th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select Notre Dame CB / S KeiVarae Russell.
Russell, 5'11 and 190 pounds, told an NFL reporter in March that the Chiefs were among the teams that were the most interested in him. This pick came after the Chiefs traded down out of the first and again out of the second.
Where will Russell play? One prediction...
The #Chiefs got a steal in KeiVarae Russell. He'll start Day 1 at outside CB in my opinion.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April 30, 2016
NFL Network's Mike Mayock said that he was a corner at Notre Dame but some teams have viewed him as a safety. The Chiefs could use help at either spot after losing CB Sean Smith and S Tyvon Branch and S Husain Abdullah. This fills a need for the Chiefs who drafted CB Steven Nelson in the third round last year.
He missed the 2014 season due to academic improprieties. Mayock didn't seem to think this would've been as big of a deal at other schools. More info on that here.
Smart, experienced cornerback has strapped it on against some of the best receivers in the nation during his time with the Irish. Russell has the athleticism and cover talent to play press coverage and make a living there, but he may never produce as many pass breakups or interceptions as a team would like. Played outside and from the slot and offers that versatility to an NFL team as a future starter or third corner.
This is the same pick - 74 - that Will Shields was in 1993, and he announced the pick. That's pretty cool.
The Chiefs selected Mississippi State DT Chris Jones with their first second round selection, which came after they traded out of the first round with the 49ers.
Chiefs 2016 draft picks
2nd round: DT Chris Jones (37)
3rd round: THANKS GOODELL
3rd round: 74 (from Bucs)
4th round: 105 (from 49ers)
4th round: 106 (from Bucs)
4th round: 126
5th round: 162 (from Seattle)
5th round: 165
6th round: 178 (from 49ers)
6th round: 203
And the schedule below....
(Central time)
Rounds 2-3
When: Friday, April 29, 6 p.m.
TV: ESPN | NFL Network
Time Per Pick: Seven minutes for the second round, five minutes for the third round
Rounds 4-7
When: Saturday, April 30, 11 a.m.
TV: ESPN | NFL Network
Time Per Pick: Five minutes for rounds 4-6, four minutes for the seventh round