What are realistic expectations for the sixth-round pick from Kansas State?
The Chicago Bears did not have many draft picks to work with in 2019, so they had to make the most out of all of their picks. When they selected Duke Shelley from Kansas State, it initially looked like a reach in the late rounds. However, looking further into the situation Shelley may be a gem who slipped between the cracks after an injury-riddled 2018.
Still, this is an undersized slot cornerback who did fall into round six for a reason. What are the Chicago Bears hoping to see from his 2019 season?
He is not going to immediately start in. the slot, but will be competing for backup duties fresh out of college. Kevin Toliver profiles as a primary boundary cornerback, which leaves Shelley, Sherrick McManis and. secondary names such as Jonathon Mincy and Michael Joseph.
McManis played in the slot when Bryce Callahan got hurt last season and held his own. However, he is 31 years old and has been with the team since 2012 without any starting experience. He is a pure special teamer. On fourth and two with the season on the line, the Eagles made sure to attack McManis.
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This is what causes the Bears to draft a player such as Duke Shelley.
McManis is not going to bow down to a rookie sixth-round pick, though. Shelley is going to have to prove himself on the field. Still, beating out McManis is on the table.
Shelley is not a player who is going to lose time because he is not technically ready for the NFL. He fell to the sixth round because he is maxed out physically, and will not have as high of a ceiling as other players in this class. He is either going to be refined enough to get over it or he will not.
Getting a player to upgrade from McManis in round six is valuable. Buster Skrine has concussion issues in his past and is 30 himself. His long-term status with the team is not ensured. An injury could get Shelley on the field quicker than expected. However, he has the type of play that could be an instant impact. Again, the experience is not going to help him get over his biggest weakness anyway.
It may not be the best case scenario for Shelley or the Bears, but he could get on the field as a rookie. However, in most scenarios, the expectation would be for him to beat out McManis, add special teams. value, and. be the backup slot cornerback on the 53-man roster.