There are many names to know for the 2026 NFL Draft, but the endless list of players can be narrowed down to those who have a fitting skillset for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Miami defensive back Keionte Scott could be on that short list. Let’s take a closer look at his draft profile:
Background
Scott started at the junior college level at Snow College. Scott was a big-time recruit coming out of high school, having offers from every major conference. He was the fourth-ranked cornerback in the country. After playing
junior college, he committed to Auburn. He started for the Tigers for three seasons in SEC country.
Scott transferred to Miami before the season and was a crucial part of one of the best defenses in the country. He played in the slot, made second-team All-ACC and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe award.
Scott had a great showing in the College Football Playoff. He started with 10 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble against Texas A&M. In the Ohio State game, he had the game-changing pick-six, reading a bubble screen and finishing the big play with a touchdown.
Scott improved his stock with a strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds with a 1.53-second 10-yard split. His jumps weren’t quite as good, but still a strong 34 inches on the vertical leap and 10 feet 3 inches on the broad jump.
Strengths
Scott has played plenty of football through the years, and it shows on his film. His play recognition and intelligence are outstanding. Scott regularly blows up plays before the offense can set them up. That intelligence should help him transition to the NFL quickly.
Scott plays with a competitive fire that is contagious. He plays like every play is the last play of the Super Bowl. That shows up in different ways.
As a run defender, Scott plays bigger than his frame. He has no issues tackling in space and inserting into a gap to fit the run. In the modern NFL, it’s vital to have a slot that can defend the run; Scott checks that box.
One of Scott’s best skills is taking on perimeter blocks; good luck running screens at him. He’ll blow up a slot receiver trying to block him and ruin a play immediately. His size, physicality, and downhill explosiveness make it hard for receivers to block him.
Scott is also an excellent blitzer. Against Texas A&M, Scott had two sacks when blitzing. He knows how to time his blitz and what angles to run through. His speed and relentless attitude make him a terror off the edge.
The skill of blitzing is arguably Scott’s best trait, and teams will love it.
Where Scott needs to improve
Scott is pretty good at everything except playing in man coverage. His hips are a bit stiff, and he struggles to keep up with shifty slot receivers. The team that drafts Scott will have to work to limit having him in those spots. If you can keep him in zone coverage or blitzing, he’ll be a higher-impact player.
How he fits with the Chiefs
Scott might’ve been a questionable fit in past Chiefs defenses that played more man coverage.
However, the Chiefs’ defense no longer has the cornerback talent it had a few years ago and might need to move to a more conservative zone scheme to better mask its lack of depth at cornerback. That would fit Scott perfectly. If Scott can sit in underneath zones and attack everything in front of him, he’ll thrive.
Scott is also a great fit for what the Chiefs want to do in the blitz game. The way he times and disguises his rushes is perfect with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
The Bottom Line
With Kansas City’s needs at wide receiver, defensive line, and right tackle, there’s a chance the defensive backfield is not addressed until later in the draft. At that point, you’re just trying to find starter-level players. Scott can be that.
Scott will turn 25 this year, which is a red flag for taking him high in the draft. However, around the third-round, it’s hard to argue against drafting a capable starter. He’s competitive, fairly athletic, and really smart. He’s likely a one-contract player, but he can be good on that contract.
The Chiefs’ current slot defenders are either free-agent signing, former Miami Dolphins cornerback Kadar Kohou, or Chamarri Conner. Scott would be an upgrade from those two. If you’re trying to patch together a cornerback, improving the slot depth could be helpful for that. He would help add depth to a secondary that is currently thin.
