The Kansas City Chiefs need to examine the cornerbacks available in the 2025 NFL draft to prepare their roster for the future. Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams become free agents after the upcoming season, which creates a need for new faces in the secondary.
Virginia Tech standout Dorian Strong is 6’0 5/8″, 179 lbs. but punches above his weight in press coverage. He delivers firm one and two-handed punches to re-route receivers or force them to stall at the line of scrimmage. This provides the defense with a huge advantage, considering most NFL-caliber quarterbacks throw the ball in under three seconds.
Strong’s patient footwork helps him mirror the receiver’s release. He quickly gets into phase on the receiver’s hip and uses mid-route collision to gradually grind down routes. Strong compresses outside releases along the sideline and smothers inside releases with his physicality and tight coverage.
Virginia Tech DB Dorian Strong deserves some more love.
Quick, fluid, instinctive corner that can really run who is also competitive as a run defender. I think he shows that in Mobile next week. pic.twitter.com/uzrtB1qfSj
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) January 22, 2025
Strong understands leverage at a high level, which makes him an asset in man coverage. He showcases a strong understanding of his help coverage when operating in zones. Strong pinches throwing lanes to deter quarterbacks from targeting his side of the field.
Strong lacks the consistent technique to stack and shed blocks, but he occasionally wins with swipes. He quickly diagnoses and attacks wide receiver screens, either making the play or forcing the pass catcher inside toward pursuing defenders.
Strong’s arm length and lean frame present some physical limitations. His punch accuracy and power in press need to improve. Strong lacks the twitch to mirror smaller receivers, and his speed makes him vulnerable to explosive field stretchers.
Most analysts list Strong as an early fourth-round prospect. The cornerback depth in this draft class should lead to a run on corners in the fourth round. That means the Chiefs must select Strong with their second selection in the third round.