The scouting staffs of NFL teams are constantly looking for players who can help their respective teams. For the Green Bay Packers, it appears Canada was a popular spot for scouting this past season. On January 9th, the Packers announced the signing of standout CFL wide receiver Reggie Begelton. But Begelton wasn’t the only CFL standout to ink a deal with the Packers. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst signed another CFL standout, one who plays on the other side of the ball. Defensive back DaShaun Amos is hoping his success in Canada carries over to the Packers this coming season.
DaShaun Amos Looking to Make the Jump From the CFL to the Green Bay Packers
It isn’t uncommon for NFL teams to take a chance on players who have had success in the CFL. For some prospects coming out of college, they are in need of some seasoning. The CFL has become a popular spot to gain needed playing experience.
Former NFL quarterbacks like Warren Moon, Joe Theismann, Doug Flutie, and Jeff Garcia got their start in the CFL. Joe Horn, who was a successful wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints, got his start in the CFL. Before Cameron Wake became a pass rushing force for the Miami Dolphins, he was busy sacking quarterbacks in the CFL.
However, there haven’t been many defensive backs who have been able to make the jump. For DaShaun Amos, he is hoping to buck the trend.
DaShaun Amos’ History
DaShaun Amos played collegiately for East Carolina from 2012-2016. He split time between cornerback and safety during his college career. In his career playing for the Pirates, he totaled 81 solo tackles, recovered two fumbles, registered two sacks, and had one interception.
He went undrafted in the 2017 NFL draft, later signing with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent. He played sparingly for the Giants during the preseason and was part of the final cuts that preseason.
After not catching on with another NFL team, he went on to sign with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL for the 2018 season. Once again, he played sparingly, playing in just two games. But in 2019, things turned around for DaShaun Amos.
He was a standout defensive back for the Stampeders in 2019. He totaled 42 tackles along with five interceptions, running one of them back for a touchdown. His play helped him earn Western All-Star honors for the season.
Scouting Report on Amos
NFL teams are always on the lookout for cornerbacks that possess good size and DaShaun Amos has the build to be an NFL cornerback. He is 6’0″ tall and weighs 190 pounds. It also appears that he has the wingspan to be able to play press coverage and that is the type of coverage Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine prefers his cornerbacks play.
To get a better understanding of Amos’ ability, Nik Kowalski of lastwordoncanadianfootball.com gave a breakdown of what Packers fans can expect from Amos.
“Amos is a quick learner, with elite coverage abilities in the open field. That led to five interceptions last season. If there is a single aspect of Amos’ game to highlight, it’s his football IQ. Not only did he have the skill to jump routes and make big tackles, but he had the knowledge. Consider his football brain with his age (25) and size (6’0) and it’s easy to understand why Amos is getting an NFL shot.
I had his 2019 season ranked as the fifth best among all CFL defensive backs. He was targeted 70 times and was only responsible for one touchdown, according to my league-wide defensive passing statistics.”
Lack of Depth Opened the Door
Comparable to wide receiver and defensive tackle, the Packers cornerback depth seems to be pretty weak heading into this season. That should give DaShaun Amos an opportunity to not only make the Packers roster, but also contribute.
The two starting cornerback spots are locked in by Jaire Alexander and Kevin King. Fighting it out for the third cornerback position is Chandon Sullivan and Josh Jackson. If Jackson doesn’t win the third spot, he could possibly be released. The former second-round pick has struggled and if he doesn’t win the third spot, Gutekunst could once again cut one of his draft picks.
If Jackson does get cut, that would leave Amos battling Kabion Ento, Ka’Dar Hollman, and Will Sunderland. Ento is a converted wide receiver with high-end speed and good size. Hollman is a former draft pick of Gutekunst and the Packers seem high on his ability. Sunderland is an undrafted free agent. But he is 6’2″ and that could intrigue new defensive back coach Jerry Gray.
But Amos might have an edge on all of them because he has professional football experience. While that experience was in the CFL, Amos does have professional experience under his belt. Not only did he play professionally, but he also excelled while doing it.
Last Word
It isn’t a given Amos will make the opening day roster. But with the Packers questionable cornerback depth and his professional playing experience, he has a chance. With only being 25 years old, it appears that he could be a training camp surprise for the Packers.
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