With the No. 98 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected cornerback Steven Nelson of Oregon State. Nelson was a second-team All-Pac-12 player in 2014 and played in the 2015 Senior Bowl.
2015 NFL Draft 2015: Chiefs select Steven Nelson in 3rd round
Nelson adds depth to the secondary in Kansas City.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
In said Senior Bowl, Nelson broke up a few passes and had four tackles. In two years with Oregon State, he compiled 122 total tackles and eight interceptions. He grabbed six of those interceptions in 2013, meaning he managed only two in his final season, which was a concern in the pre-draft process.
Nelson is a physical, aggressive cornerback, and that’s one of his biggest strengths. He’s great at jamming receivers and excels in press coverage -- though when he is beaten, he has below-average recovery. He’s a bit raw, more so than most of the top-flight corners coming out this year.
Nelson ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash, a 4.07-second 20-yard shuttle and a 6.88-second three-cone drill at the NFL Combine. He also posted a vertical leap of 34.5 inches and a broad jump of 115 inches. Nelson was among the best at his position with 19 reps in the bench press.
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