A veteran NFL defensive back has name-dropped Travis Kelce as the toughest opponent he has ever gone against. Playing against Kelce twice a year as a division rival has given this standout defender plenty of opportunities to spar against the future Hall of Fame tight end.
The former first-round draft pick compared Kelce to a basketball player, for his ability to create space on the fly and not just run routes.
That talented defender giving Kelce props is Chargers’ safety Derwin James.
‘Travis Kelce is the best tight end that I go against,’ James said to the Goat Farm Show. ‘He’s always fun to compete against him for sure.’
Derwin James on what it’s like covering Travis Kelce 😂
“He be playing basketball, like he make up his own s—t”#GOATfarmshow #NFL pic.twitter.com/mskEF9PoqN
— G.O.A.T. Farm Sports (@GOATfarmmedia) August 19, 2024
‘He be playing basketball, he’ll make up s***. It don’t even make sense,’ James continued. ‘It ain’t even routes that he’ll be running. It’s like he’s good at finding the holes and when he do gotta make a play, he can make a play.’
James speaks to Kelce’s improvisational skills on the field few players at any position.
During last year’s AFC Championship game against the Ravens, Kelce and Patrick Mahomes were able to connect on passes not designed by head coach Andy Reid to get around the toughness of Baltimore’s defense.
Also last season, Kelce had a go-ahead touchdown against the Bills called back where he caught a pass and threw a lateral to Kadarius Toney halfway across the field due to Toney being offsides.
James himself is viewed as one of the best defensive backs in the league, meaning it’s strength on strength when Los Angeles plays Kansas City.
Their first faceoff this season is scheduled for Sept. 29 in Los Angeles.
