Chiefs’ day-two NFL draft picks: DT Chris Jones and CB KeiVarae Russell
DT Chris Jones
Pick: Round two (37th overall)
School: Mississippi State
Height: 6-6
Weight: 308
Combine stats: 34 1/2-inch arms, 10 3/4-inch hands, 5.03-second 40-yard dash, 26 bench reps, 24 1/2-inch vertical, 106-inch broad jump, 7.44-second three-cone drill, 4.62-second 20-yard shuttle
How he fits: With Dontari Poe entering the fifth year of his rookie contract, Jones provides insurance if the Chiefs can’t hammer out a long-term deal with their 2012 first-round pick. After a breakout season, the Chiefs re-signed defensive tackle Jaye Howard to a two-year, $12 million contract earlier in the offseason, but Jones figures to be an immediate rotational player at a position of need after Mike DeVito’s retirement.
CB KeiVarae Russell
Pick: Round three (74th overall)
School: Notre Dame
Height: 5-11
Weight: 196
Combine stats: 31 5/8-inch arms, 10-inch hands, 17 bench reps
Pro Day stats: 4.44-second 40-yard dash, 4.09-second 20-yard shuttle, 6.89-second three-cone drill, 38 1/2-inch vertical, 134-inch broad jump
How he fits: Russell played left corner at Notre Dame, a spot occupied by reigning NFL defensive rookie of the year Marcus Peters, but the Chiefs are confident Russell is versatile enough to play on the right side or even inside as a nickel back. He’s not as big as Sean Smith (6-3, 218), who signed with the Raiders during the offseason, but he’s an explosive athlete. Russell was among five players suspended for the 2014 season following an academic fraud investigation, but he worked his way back to play in 2015 under head coach Brian Kelly. Russell started 11 games as a senior, making 60 tackles with two interceptions and four pass breakups before breaking his right tibia Nov. 19 against Boston College at Fenway Park.
Tod Palmer: 816-234-4389, @todpalmer
This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 10:09 PM with the headline "Chiefs’ day-two NFL draft picks: DT Chris Jones and CB KeiVarae Russell."