Sanders

Commings

A true press-man corner that ran a 4.41 at the Combine, Commings will learn at the foot of a talented group in Kansas City. Brandon Flowers, Dunta Robinson and Sean Smith are locked in as the top-three corners.

Commings (6-0, 216) started 35 games at UGA, recording eight career picks. He ran 4.41 at the Combine to go along with a 34.5-inch vertical. Commings is a classic press-man corner with a thick build, but has a tendency to shy away from contact. He’s also had some off-the-field issues, getting suspended for the first two games of 2012 after an offseason domestic violence charge. He won’t contribute on defense as a rookie.

The No. 134 pick of April’s draft, Commings went down in the early days of camp. He’ll be eligible to return in Week 9. If he’s active at all upon his return, Commings should be limited to special teams.

With Kendrick Lewis a free agent this offseason, Commings is expected to be moved to safety. A fifth-round pick, he spent the majority of his rookie year on short-term I.R., finishing with just three defensive snaps. The Chiefs run a lot of single-high safety looks in DC Bob Sutton’s press-man scheme, so Commings could be a strong fit as a hybrid cornerback. Kansas City also figures to bring in competition through the draft or free agency.

He’s signed a minor-league deal with the Atlanta Braves. One month shy of his 27th birthday, Commings was a 2013 fifth-rounder. He made only two NFL appearances, both of which came in 2013, before washing out of the NFL. Commings has not played baseball since high school. His odds of carving out a professional career are extraordinarily slim.

The fifth-round rookie isn’t expected to have a role on defense. Commings will contribute on special teams.

In theory, Commings was in the mix to start opposite Eric Berry, but was believed to be behind Husain Abdullah. The Chiefs also have third-rounder CB/S Phillip Gaines. Provided he avoids I.R., Commings will return as the Chiefs’ No. 4 or 5 safety. A 2013 fifth-rounder, Commings was limited to three defensive snaps as a rookie by a broken collarbone. He needs to shake the injury bug.

This is a tough injury for NFL players to bounce back from, as we’ve seen regularly in the past. A 2013 fifth-round pick, Commings was in the mix to start at free safety, battling Husain Abdullah. Abdullah is now locked in.

The Chiefs are showing no interest in re-signing last year’s starter, Kendrick Lewis. They’ve also been quiet on the free agent market when it comes to safeties. The logical move is to hand the job to Commings, a second-year player whose rookie campaign was marred by a broken collarbone. His coverage skills will be as asset.

Commings fractured his ankle and fibula while trying to tackle Jamaal Charles in practice. Husain Abdullah is now locked in as the starting free safety in a shaky secondary.