Javier

Arenas

"[McCluster] can really make you miss. I think he’s got a lot of untapped potential as a punt returner,” said Toub. McCluster has just 21 career returns at the NFL level and was rarely used in the role at Ole Miss. After being a disappointment on offense, Kansas City could salvage some value out of McCluster on special teams. Toub mentions Javier Arenas and Devon Wylie as other potential options.

A nickel corner, Arenas was expected to be a return ace when the Chiefs made him the No. 50 pick of the 2010 draft, but he’s proven to be highly ordinary on special teams. He’ll be a candidate to man the slot in Arizona, but the presence of Patrick Peterson and rookie Tyrann Mathieu means Arenas won’t be featured on returns. Arenas played a career-high 724 snaps last season, but graded out as the No. 51 corner in Pro Football Focus’ ratings. The Cards have now added Arenas, Antoine Cason and Jerraud Powers at cornerback. Mathieu will play safety, but could eventually see time in the slot.

The 2010 second-round pick of the Chiefs appeared in all 16 games for the Cardinals last season, but managed only 107 snaps on defense. He was near the bottom of the league in kick-return average. Arenas won’t be guaranteed a spot on the Falcons’ 53-man roster.

Arenas, 28, was the 50th overall pick in 2010 by the Chiefs. He appeared in 63-of-64 games with the Chiefs and Cardinals from 2010-2013 before landing with the Falcons for six games in 2014. This past August, Arenas spent 19 days in Jets camp before getting cut and spending the season on the street.

Arenas strained the hamstring on his first forty-yard dash attempt at the Combine. It appears the injury is serious, because Arenas says he may not run again at all before April’s NFL Draft. Arenas posted a 4.52 in Indianapolis.

He’s done for the day. The time isn’t especially fast, but is fine for Arenas, from whom some were expecting a forty in the 4.6 range. Arenas projects as an immediate contributor in the return game and at slot corner on defense.

Dexter McCluster won’t be returning kicks for the Chiefs after all. A special teams All-American last year, Arenas averaged 29 yards on kickoff returns and 16.3 yards on punt returns. He’ll give the Chiefs’ return game a shot in the arm immediately. Arenas projects as just a slot corner on defense and may take over the role as a rookie.

McCluster wasn’t used much on returns at Ole Miss, but he certainly has the ability to be an asset there. Unfortunately for those in return yardage leagues, Arenas was considered by many to be the most dynamic returner in the draft. This will be a battle to track in training camp.

Arenas was covering a punt when he got crushed by a block. He was able to walk off under his own power, but it’s unclear if he suffered a concussion. Travis Daniels filled in as the nickel back.

Already ticketed for nickel back and punt return duties in Kansas City, Arenas will be one of the busiest second-round picks in the league this season. He shouldn’t have trouble beating out Donald Washington and Maurice Leggett for the No. 3 cornerback job behind starting Brandons Carr and Flowers.