Chiefs’ Cornell Powell has opportunity after Sammy Watkins departure

Among the many many gadgets on the Kansas City Chiefs’ guidelines for coaching camp is discovering a large receiver alternative for Sammy Watkins, who signed with the Baltimore Ravens this offseason after three seasons with the workforce.

The candidates for the vacant place as Patrick Mahomes’ third or fourth goal embrace veterans Demarcus Robinson, Mecole Hardman and Byron Pringle — together with rookie Cornell Powell, whom the Chiefs chosen within the fifth spherical of this yr’s NFL Draft.

“Sammy is such a particular expertise,” stated Powell on Saturday. “You’ll be able to’t exchange what he did. You simply obtained to go on the market and fill your personal footwear and attempt to make your personal title for your self.”

Powell earned third-team All-ACC honors in his remaining yr at Clemson by compiling 53 catches for 882 yards and 7 touchdowns. Because it seems, Powell shares his Clemson alma mater with Watkins, and the 2 interacted this offseason when Powell selected his previous quantity — 14.

“My man make that 14 look good,” wrote Watkins.

“It meant lots,” stated Powell of the tweet. “I’m a Clemson man. He’s a Clemson legend, after which I simply so occur to return to the Chiefs proper after him after which we put on the identical quantity. Perhaps it’s some Clemson in there. Simply attempting to maintain that very same mindset [from] Clemson — the most effective is the usual every day. And out right here, the most effective is the usual. You bought to go on the market and make performs. You bought to carry out day in and day trip, so simply attempting to do this.”

Clemson has a wealthy historical past of manufacturing high quality professional huge receivers, together with Watkins, Mike Williams, Tee Higgins — and maybe the most effective of all of them — DeAndre Hopkins.

Powell is one of four receivers in training camp for the Chiefs this weekend, with the veterans not set to reach till Monday afternoon.

“It’s particular,” Powell stated of Clemson. “We’re totally different. We’re huge receiver U for a motive. The numbers show it. We’ve a few of the greatest, or the most effective receiver within the league is Tyreek Hill, however the second greatest is DeAndre Hopkins from Clemson. Simply obtained to uphold the usual once we get the league.”

To prepared himself to make a case to start out in Yr 1, Powell stated he spent the offseason conditioning in Florida — particularly engaged on his launch, getting out and in of breaks and ending after the catch. Understanding that he could be dealing with excessive temperatures in St. Joseph, he thought there to be no higher place to arrange him than beneath the Florida solar.

The subsequent three days are crucial for the 23-year-old; in a way, he has Mahomes all to himself. Of the 4 receivers in camp this weekend, he’s the participant with the one affordable probability to push veterans for time. He can use these practices to get on Mahomes’ radar earlier than the veterans even arrive.

“It’s extraordinarily vital,” defined Powell. “We attempt to present him that we are able to come out and make performs Yr 1. You wish to acquire his confidence, acquire his belief and also you do it by making performs in observe and in preseason. In the case of recreation time, he can look on the market, and he’s like, ‘Oh, I belief that man,’ and go on the market and maintain doing what you’ve been doing.”

That was very a lot the position for Watkins when he was wholesome sufficient to take the sector. When defenses discovered a approach to curb targets corresponding to Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, Watkins rose to the event (particularly through the workforce’s 2019 title run).

Given the place emptiness, Powell understands the chance at hand — and he has put within the correct work to take advantage of it.

“I realized there’s nothing you may actually do to prepare for coaching camp in addition to doing it and studying from expertise,” stated Powell. “So simply popping out right here, ensure that your conditioning is up, ensuring that you recognize the performs, understanding and being educated of the sport and your project and your alignment will take you far. The remainder of it’s simply soccer on the finish of the day.

“You bought to go on the market and be a canine and make performs.”