Brett Veach and the Chiefs can do what they do best and once again get the prototypical Steve Spagnuolo cornerback late in the 2025 NFL Draft

The Kansas City Chiefs are heading into the 2025 NFL Draft with a few needs that have to get addressed. Obviously the biggest one is probably protection for Patrick Mahomes. But, the defensive side of the ball needs some help, too.

One position in particular that will be interesting to see how the Chiefs address is the cornerback position. Of course, the Chiefs have one of, if not the best, cornerbacks in the league in Trent McDuffie. But, outside of him, and the unknown surrounding Kristian Fulton, the opposite side of McDuffie has a lot of questions.

The Chiefs could very easily address the position once again, as it feels like they have every year now. The good thing is that the Chiefs, specifically in the Brett Veach era, are good at finding hidden gems late in the draft or in the middle of the draft. They’ve done it with all positions, but they have specifically found contributors at the CB position on Day three of the draft. They could look to do the same in 2025.

This cornerback class in the 2025 NFL Draft is fairly deep. There aren’t a ton of top-heavy names outside of the three obvious ones like Travis Hunter, Jahdae Barron, and Will Johnson. However, the class has some solid dudes late in the draft that could turn into solid contributors.

One of those is a guy who fits the Steve Spagnuolo CB mold perfectly.

Chiefs should target Nebraska CB Tommi Hill

Hill starred as a two-way player in high school, catching 85 passes for 1,586 yards and 14 touchdowns while grabbing four interceptions on defense, leading Edgewater to the 2020 Florida state championship game, so you know he has the ball skills on the defensive side of the ball.

Hill played one season at Arizona State in 2021, appearing in 11 games with nine tackles and four kickoff returns for 79 yards, mostly on special teams. He transferred to Nebraska in 2022, starting at cornerback for five games with 17 tackles and four pass breakups before briefly switching to wide receiver midseason. He also returned kicks, averaging 20.2 yards on 22 career returns, but had no receptions.

In 2023, Hill locked in as a cornerback, starting seven of 12 games. He tied for the Big Ten lead with 13 passes defended, including four interceptions and nine pass breakups, plus 26 tackles and a fumble recovery, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten. His best game included two interceptions against Purdue. In 2024, plantar fasciitis limited him to seven games, but he still had 21 tackles, one pass breakup, and a pick-six against Colorado — the play on the five yard line where he read Shedeur Sanders‘ mind and walked it right into the end zone.

Hill played 41 career games, totaling 44 tackles and five interceptions, and was a Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll member. He’s projected as a late-round draft pick, and the Chiefs should most definitely consider targeting him.

Hill is still very raw at the position, as have the last few Day 3 cornerbacks been that the Chiefs have drafted. Hill struggled in man coverage last season, as his back pedal in man press just isn’t great, with a man coverage PFF grade around 43, but he played very well while in zone coverage, with a zone PFF grade at 76. That’s something that, on this defense will be developed. Hill’s footwork will certainly need some work.

But, he’s big for an outside corner, and the speed and size translate well with the size. he’s the long, athletic, lanky cornerback that Spagnuolo has liked drafting late in the draft the last few years. Hill was fantastic against Travis Hunter last season when matched up against maybe the best player in this entire draft. His length makes him great at breaking on the ball even if he is initially beat, and his IQ on understanding good specing and leverage moments is something that will standout to KC.

Hill is raw, but man he can be very good. With the connections the Chiefs have to Nebraska via location and coaching staff personnel, Hill could be a target.