Who is New Washington Commanders CB Kyu Blu Kelly?

The Washington Commanders claimed rookie Kyu Blu Kelly off waivers after cutting Danny Johnson.

Jeremy Brener | Dec 13, 2023

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Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders are adding to their secondary.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Commanders are claiming rookie cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly off waivers after cutting Danny Johnson.

Kelly was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round, 157th overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft. The son of former 11-year NFL-veteran cornerback Brian Kelly, the Stanford alum could give the Commanders some depth in the secondary in the final four games of the season.

As a former track star, he possesses both the speed and athleticism to remain in step with receivers in coverage. While most proficient in man coverage, Kelly has the ability to play in some Cover 3, as well.

He is aggressive at the catch point but could use some improvement in his engagement when playing off-coverage. As such, he has the chance to provide the Commanders with another potentially-explosive playmaker within their secondary.

Kelly has been on a bit of a roller coaster in his first season in the NFL. He was drafted by the Ravens, but was cut at the end of training camp. A day later, the Seattle Seahawks claimed him off waivers and he played in five games with the team. However, the Seahawks cut Kelly on Nov. 11.

BREAKING: Commanders Cut CB Danny Johnson

Four days later, he found his third NFL home with the Green Bay Packers. Kelly made one appearance with the Packers on Thanksgiving Day and played in his first defensive snap. He played exclusively on special teams in Seattle.

Now, he'll have a chance to earn another opportunity with the Commanders.

Published Dec 13, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.