Summary

Jeremy Chinn was selected in Round 2 (#64 Overall) in the 2020 Draft out of Southern Illinois University. Over his four-year career at SIU, he racked up 243 tackles, 13 interceptions, 31 pass breakups, 6 forced fumbles, and a sack. In 2019, he earned Consensus FCS All-American honors as well as First-Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference recognition. In the NFL, Chinn has proven to be a highly versatile, physical defensive weapon. He possesses a unique “positionless” profile — able to play in the box like a linebacker, or in deep coverage like a safety. Early in his career, his athleticism and tackling ability earned him praise, and analytics once projected him for a Pro Bowl potential. He’s known for having a high motor, physicality, and a willingness to play all over the field.

Strengths

• Size + Athleticism Combo: At ~6’3″ and ~220 lb, Chinn has a very rare frame for a safety/linebacker hybrid, giving him the versatility to play multiple roles. Audacy

• Speed / Straight-Line Burst: He showed very good straight-line speed and downhill burst coming off the edge or driving to the ball.

• Versatility / Position Flexibility: Chinn has lined up all over — in the box, at free safety, slot, and even close to the line. NFL.com

• Ball Skills & Range: In college, he made 13 interceptions and many pass breakups, showing he can cover, track the ball, and make plays on it. Cat Scratch Reader

• Run Defense & Physical Tackling: He’s a strong, aggressive tackler who is not afraid to mix it up near the line and take on ball carriers. Last Word On Sports

• High Motor / Character: Multiple scouting reports praise his toughness, willingness to engage, and his “do-it-all” mentality.

Weaknesses

• Change-of-Direction / Agility Constraints: Despite his size and speed, Chinn has been criticized for being somewhat stiff in his lateral movement and change-of-direction.

• Instincts / Read-and-React: His reaction timing and play diagnosis could lag — he's more reactive than instinctual. Last Word On Sports

• Coverage Limitations in Man: While he has range, Chinn may struggle in tight man coverage against smaller, quicker receivers or in highly technical man‑coverage schemes.

• Run Support Aggressiveness Variability: Not ultra-dominant flying downhill in run defense, despite his size. CBS Sports

• Level of Competition in College: Because he played at the FCS level, evaluators have questioned how some of his production translates to elite-level NFL talent. Last Word On Sports

Fit & Outlook

Jeremy Chinn’s blend of size, speed, and versatility makes him a valuable chess piece in many defensive schemes. He projects best in hybrid systems, where he can be deployed in the box as a pseudo-linebacker on run downs, drop into coverage in zone-heavy fronts, or blitz from safety alignments. His “do-it-all” skill set is especially useful to defenses that value flexibility and unpredictability. In terms of outlook, Chinn has high upside but also some risk. When used correctly — particularly in a role where he doesn’t have to play deep centerfield every snap — he can be a major contributor, making tackles, creating turnovers, and offering “positionless” value. However, if miscast (e.g., strictly as a deep safety without support), his limitations in agility and instincts could limit his impact. Long-term, he could develop into a very valuable strong safety / box-safety hybrid, or even a third-down linebacker in certain fronts. But for him to maximize his potential, coaches need to scheme smartly, using his versatility rather than forcing him into a more limited role.