The Packers have a new cornerback after claiming Kyu Blu Kelly off waivers from the Seahawks on Monday.
A four-year starter at Stanford, the 22-year-old was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Ravens but did not make the team in training camp.
Green Bay’s secondary has been depleted in recent weeks by injuries to Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes, as well as the trading of Rasul Douglas.
In particular, the Packers need outside corners, with Keisean Nixon manning the slot. Kelly was a true perimeter corner in college and fits the athletic profile the Packers have traditionally coveted.
Kelly’s pre-draft athletic testing earned him an 8.76 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) out of a possible 10 compared to previously drafted corners, featuring ‘great’ scores for speed and explosion, and ‘good’ size at 6’0” and 191lbs.
The claiming of Kelly continues a trend for the Packers regarding the 2023 draft class. Brian Gutekunst made a habit of selecting players who had a better 2021 season than 2022, and the same goes for Kelly.
In 2021, Kelly had two interceptions, 11 pass deflections, a forced fumble, and 58 total tackles, compared to zero picks, six deflections, and only 35 tackles in his senior year.
Strengths
Kelly’s athletic testing showed up on tape at Stanford, where his movement skills allow him to easily stay in phase with receivers on their routes in man coverage. His 10-and-20-yard splits in the 92nd and 88th percentile respectively help in that regard.
He has quick feet which means he can stick to wideouts at the line of scrimmage, changing direction smoothly to mirror them. His explosiveness off the line is backed up by a broad jump ranking in the 95th percentile.
With a combination of size and effort, Kelly is serviceable in run defense, and his length means he can take on bigger receivers.
Kelly’s ball production, featuring 17 pass deflections in his final two college seasons, is promising. His experience shows on the field, as Kelly looks comfortable and communicates effectively with teammates in zone coverage.
Weaknesses
There are some weaknesses in Kelly’s physical makeup as well as some strengths. Although his speed grades well overall, and his 4.52s 40-yard dash is far from pedestrian, ranking in the 62nd percentile, he can be beaten deep by speedier receivers.
Kelly’s length is not quite matched by his mass. 191lbs falls in the 60th percentile for cornerbacks, so he is not light by any means, but he is more willing in run defense than he is effective.
His tackling lacks physicality and he struggles to disrupt wide receiver screens thrown to his side of the field. In coverage, Kelly’s prime area for improvement is his press ability. He can be seen missing completely with his initial punch and too often fails to impact his receiver.
In terms of agility, Kelly’s pre-draft grade was just ‘okay’, featuring a short shuttle in just the 33rd percentile. He is not a candidate to play in the slot and appears limited to the outside.
Overall
Kelly is a talented and experienced corner with good length and movement skills, who appears comfortable in both man and zone.
There is work to be done to refine him, and there are elements of his athletic profile which will limit him, and the fact he has been waived by two NFL teams already is a concern, but there is plenty of evidence to indicate Kelly can become a solid NFL corner.
He could easily have been drafted earlier than the fifth round, potentially early on day three or even late on day two, and given the Packers’ need at the position, he is a worthwhile pickup.
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