If Jeremy Chinn went to a powerhouse college football program, the potential of the Bengals adding him at the top of round two wouldn’t come as a surprise. Because he attended the widely unknown Southern Illinois University, however, many are unaware of his name.
Despite the fact that he’s from a small school, NFL teams have taken notice, as draft analyst Matt Miller reported of rumblings that Chinn could be selected prior to Jim Thorpe award-winner, Grant Delpit.
It’s easy to see why franchises are taking the versatile defender so seriously. He weighed in at the combine at 221 pounds and stood at 6’3. That’s extremely rare size for the safety position. To top it off, he put up incredible numbers, running a 4.45 40 and showing his impeccable burst in other drills.
Yes, the Bengals are seemingly set at the safety position with Jessie Bates III, Shawn Williams, and Vonn Bell. However, the defensive side of the ball is undergoing a revolution in front of our very eyes. It’s turning positionless, and Bengals fans saw that last year as Williams was asked to play linebacker and safety. Chinn could do the same thing and be a playmaker all over the field. He certainly has the size and ball skills (at least 3 interceptions in each of his 4 collegiate years) to do so.
Long story short, the safety title shouldn’t prevent the Bengals from drafting him, as he can play all over the field.
He impressed at the Senior Bowl with the Bengals coaching staff present. With so many pro days and combine visits being canceled, Zac Taylor and company may be more comfortable taking Chinn over a guy they didn’t get to spend much time with.