If somebody told you in July that the Dolphins would be taking the field in a playoff game this season with Kader Kohou and Keion Crossen as their No. 2 and No. 3 cornerbacks, you might have said: “Who?”
Or perhaps: “Is this some kind of joke?”
The Dolphins envisioned matching up with the NFL’s top receivers in January with a cornerback room led by Xavien Howard, Byron Jones and Nik Needham.
But Jones missed the season because his recovery from March leg surgery stalled, Needham was lost to a torn Achilles in Week 6, and Howard has had an uneven season after sustaining injuries to two groin muscles in September.
The Jones and Needham injuries opened a door for Kohou, and the Texas A&M-Commerce rookie has burst through, giving the secondary two qualities it badly needed: availability and reliability.
And Crossen, who played just 23 defensive snaps for the Giants last season, has been a serviceable third cornerback, filling a role team officials didn’t think would be necessary when they signed him in March to be a core player on their special teams.
They will face no greater test this season than Sunday in Buffalo, when they will be asked to slow a talented Bills receiver group led by three-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs (108 catches, 1,429 yards, 11 touchdowns), emerging Gabe Davis (48-836-7) and Dolphins irritant Cole Beasley, who was promoted from the practice squad this week amid an injury to another Dolphins killer, Isaiah McKenzie.
Though the Bills have had some success against Howard, figure on them again attacking Kohou, as they did Dec. 17 in Buffalo. Buffalo targeted Kohou 10 times that night and he allowed six completions for 60 yards, with Diggs catching two for 21, McKenzie 2 for 24 and Davis 1 for 14.
A 21-yard pass interference penalty against Kohou positioned Buffalo for a game-winning field goal in the Bills’ 32-29 win on Dec. 17.
Kohou ended up playing 895 snaps in 15 games, including 13 starts, and though he had a proverbial bull’s-eye on his jersey, he was more often an asset than liability.
“You look at [general manager] Chris Grier and his staff going out and doing their due diligence and finding players like this; this is what you do it for,” Dolphins cornerbacks coach Sam Madison said. “Because you never know those diamonds in the rough that you’re going to be able to find, and he’s definitely one. I’m just really happy to have him.”
As an undrafted rookie playing opposite a Pro Bowler, Kohou was targeted more than any NFL cornerback (106 times), and he yielded the third-most catches (69).
But he allowed only one touchdown, and the 80.7 passer rating in his coverage area was 21st best among players targeted at least 50 times this season.
Per PFF’s grading system, he ended the season rated 37th among 122 qualifying cornerbacks — higher than former first-team All Pro cornerbacks Marcus Peters, Trevon Diggs and teammate Howard (who was rated 83rd).
Defensive coordinator Josh Boyer liked Kohou’s Texas A&M-Commerce tape before the draft, cultivated a relationship with him and explained his vision for Kohou during an April Zoom session. All of that — combined with $130,000 in guaranteed money — were critical factors in Kohou choosing the Dolphins over 19 other offers.
“I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned this year, playing in those kinds of games against Buffalo in December,” he said. “I feel like we’ve played in playoff games already. With the playing time I’ve gotten and the teams we’ve played and the leadership we have, it’s only going to make me better for this year and years to come.”
Madison said watching Kohou develop has been “very satisfying. You know you’re going to get some good, you’re going to get some bad. You expect that from a rookie, but… his mind-set [is impressive]. He’s had a cast on his hand that really has hindered him from making a lot of other plays, but he doesn’t complain about it. He just goes to work.”
Madison said Kohou has never seemed overwhelmed. “Coming from a small school and being a starter [as a rookie] and being relied on on a consistent basis, moving from the star position out to the corner position. It’s a lot on his plate, but just being able to absorb all that stuff and play the way he’s playing and have the confidence that he has, you tip your hat.”
Meanwhile, Crossen — a 2018 seventh-round pick of the Patriots out of Western Carolina — has played as well as the Dolphins could have realistically expected. Though he has a 104.7 rating in his coverage area, he has made a handful of good plays in coverage.
When the Dolphins are in a dime package, Crossen, 26, usually plays on the boundary opposite Howard, with Kohou moving to the slot.
Crossen has played 383 defensive snaps, his most in five NFL seasons. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to play on defense,” he said. “I’ve shown an ability to do it. There have been ups and downs. The last game [against the Jets] was one of my better games. They’ve see me get better.”
The Bills targeted Crossen four times in that Saturday game, and all four passes were caught for 56 yards, with Diggs catching two and Davis and Beasley one apiece. This week, he’s studying tape of Diggs and Davis from not only this season, but the three previous ones.
“I’m looking at Diggs, how he runs routes, from his Minnesota [days],” Crossen said.
Earlier this season, Crossen solicited advice on playing cornerback from former NFL cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Jason McCourty.
Noah Igbinoghene has competed with Crossen for the Dolphins’ No. 3 cornerback job, but coaches mostly have opted for Crossen in that role since Needham’s injury.
“I came into the league as a developmental player, and I’ve worked my tail off to get this opportunity,” Crossen said. “I’ve done a good job keeping people from scoring.”
