This EMS recruit could push the back of the chiefs’ safety room

In our Lottery ticket series, we break down the lesser-known players who have a chance to make the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 1 roster. Prior to training camp, we will introduce the intriguing free draft agents and contract / reserve players who show the potential to stay in the NFL.

Why is he called Lottery tickets? The players we are discussing are rising players who have not significantly affected the Chiefs’ bottom line – but their returns could be substantial.

Rodney Clemons, security

6 ‘| 205 lbs | SMU

Katy, TX

40 times: 4.71

Combine NFL: 33.5 inch vertical jump, 118 inch wide jump, 21 bench reps

2019 Statistics: 77 tackles, 3 TFL, 4 INT, 9 PD

An organic phrase: Participant in Shrine Bowl, winner of the second All-AAC team with 50 career starts.

Phrase recognition report: Intelligent and instinctive security with limited athleticism but a desire to tackle the production of balloons in his career.

A game:

How it adapts to chefs: You may have noticed a trend with most of our lottery tickets, as many of them have limited sport profiles but are good soccer players. This is the case with Clemons. There are concerns about his athletic profile working in the NFL – namely his dash speed of 4.71 to 40 yards. You will probably never be able to line up Clemons as a single security and expect him to challenge sideline to sideline passes. In a two-tier structure, he is more than capable – and has shown great footballing instincts and intelligence.

Clemons is a voluntary tackler who has been asked to operate in the SMU box, slot and bottom. He will do whatever is asked of him and pick it up quickly thanks to a strong football IQ. This intelligence led to good ball production in his last year with the Mustangs – four interceptions and nine break breaks. Clemons shows good soccer character – a necessary feature for lottery tickets to remain on the NFL list. Playing on special teams isn’t glamorous, but you have to have the frame of mind to do it – and Clemons seems to have that.

The essential

Clemons will compete with people like Armani Watts to be a quad-core special player and backup security. It is no different from Watts graduating from college with athletics and ball production issues. Although long speed is not enough, Clemons will give himself a chance to win a spot on the list thanks to his willingness to do the little things necessary to earn a spot as an undrafted recruit. His resistance to competition will be very useful to him at the start of the Chiefs’ training camp.