The Kansas City Chiefs used the No. 18 overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft on Washington cornerback Marcus Peters.
The young, talented playmaker has made a habit of making game-changing plays for his defenses.
Now, he finds himself in a situation in Kansas City where he's not only surrounded by plenty of veteran leaders, but a couple of position coaches who know a thing or two about playing cornerback at a high level.
Emmitt Thomas, the Chiefs' defensive backs coach is a Pro Football Hall of Famer and spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Chiefs. He owns the Chiefs all-time record for interceptions with 58.
Thomas has 48 years experience in the NFL as a player or coach under his belt and Coach Andy Reid calls him "The Legend."
As if that wasn't enough, the assistant defensive backs coach is Al Harris, a 14-year NFL veteran who was named an All-Pro in 2007. Harris was known for his press, bump-and-run style coverage, which is exactly the mold of Peters.
During his pre-draft visit with the Chiefs, Harris and Peters spent some time together and immediately clicked. He'll help serve as a mentor to the young playmaker.
Under the guidance of Thomas and Harris, it's no wonder Peters lit up when asked about the opportunity to play in Kansas City.
"It's going to be amazing," he said of his situation. "That's the best opportunity that any rookie can have going into a room like that with a group of excellent coaches. To be coached by a Hall of Famer, there aren't too many who can say they had that their rookie year.
"I'm just going to embrace all opportunities, listen and learn to be a great NFL player. Hopefully, someday I can be an All-Pro and a Hall of Famer."
Over the past two years at Washington, Peters allowed just 38 percent of passing attempts thrown in his direction to be completed, while also intercepting eight passes with 24 defensed.
Peters has proven to be the true definition of a playmaking defensive back.
It's an area the Chiefs could afford to improve from a year ago—the ability to create more takeaways on the defensive side of the ball, where despite finishing second in the NFL in allowing just 17.6 points per game, they finished tied for last in the NFL with just 13 takeaways (six interceptions, seven fumble recoveries).
"I'm here to become a shutdown corner and to help the team win," Peters told the Voice of the Chiefs, Mitch Holthus, on Saturday. "I'm going to cause some turnovers."
The Chiefs first round draft pick, Marcus Peters, visits Arrowhead.
At 6 feet tall and 197 pounds, Peters uses every bit of that size to do what he loves to do on the outside, get up in a receiver's comfort zone and disrupt what they're trying to do.
That's what he did at Washington and that's where he thrives as a player. It's also the way Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton likes to scheme his defense—aggressive and physical.
Growing up in Oakland, California, an area of the country Chiefs fans will immediately associate with a particular rival, Peters set the record straight on Saturday.
"It's family first," he explained. "And the Chiefs are my family. I'm going to do whatever it takes to protect and to serve them. Us going into the Black Hole twice a year, it's going to be a little bit of red in the black with my family back home.
"We're going in there to win every game."
