When Jadon Canady transferred to Oregon last offseason after stints at Tulane and Ole Miss, many saw it as a solid addition. Starting at safety for the Rebels in 2024, he posted 38 tackles and 11 passes defensed—impressive numbers in the SEC. But with the Ducks' deep secondary, he wasn't guaranteed a starting spot.

That skepticism quickly faded. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound cornerback blossomed into a star in Oregon's slot, intercepting two passes, forcing a fumble, and tallying 39 tackles. His playmaking ability made him one of the Ducks' most valuable defenders.

That same trait caught the eye of the Kansas City Chiefs, who selected Canady with the 109th pick in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Now, ESPN's Ben Solak sees him as a prime candidate to unseat veteran slot corner Chamarri Conner.

Conner, a third-year pro and former fourth-rounder out of Virginia Tech, had a solid season on paper—finishing second on the team with 117 tackles and two interceptions. But his coverage numbers tell a different story.

"Over the past two seasons, Conner has surrendered 0.11 EPA per target in the slot (11th worst among DBs with at least 50 slot targets) and a success rate of 53.8%—only 2025 rookie Jacob Parrish was worse," Solak wrote. "Conner simply does not make enough plays at the catch point to play a permanent coverage role. Enter Jadon Canady. Like Conner, Canady is a fourth-round pick who spent time at safety in college. But his best play was in the slot, where he finished his career at Oregon. Canady had 19 passes defensed combined over his last two years and will—along with free agent signing Kader Kohou—immediately challenge for the slot job."

The Chiefs have a track record of developing late-round cornerbacks, and Canady's blend of instincts, ball skills, and versatility makes him a natural fit. If his college production translates, don't be surprised to see him wearing a starting label sooner rather than later.