CORNERBACK
TOP 5 QB VIDEO
1
Bryce Young
2
CJ Stroud
3
Hendon Hooker
4
Dorian Thompson-Robinson
5
Jaren Hall
1
Christian Gonzalez
CB / OREGON / 6'1 / 197
Gonzalez is a long cornerback with an impressive athletic profile. His combination of size and speed is top-notch, and he has the ability to run with any matchup. Gonzalez has an elite mirroring ability, and his quick feet and physical tools allow him to stay on any route. His hips are flexible, and he is a fluid mover who easily turns. Gonzalez could improve as an open-field tackler and add more play strength. Additionally, he could improve in the air, finishing breakups at the point of attack. Gonzalez has the skillset and tools to become an elite cornerback in the NFL.
Grade: Round 1
Patrick Surtain II
2
Devon Witherspoon
CB / ILLINOIS / 5'11 / 181
Witherspoon is a competitive cornerback with great instincts. He has an impressive route recognition ability and can quickly diagnose where he needs to be to make a play. While his frame is smaller, Witherspoon plays well beyond his size, consistently employing physicality. His tough demeanour, high effort level, and tackling ability put him in situations to constantly make plays. The only reason I have him at two and not one is my concern with his size and range to win downfield. Teams may be inclined to primarily play him in the slot, limiting his overall upside.
Grade: Round 1
Jack Jones
3
Emmanuel Forbes
CB / MISSISSIPPI ST. / 6'1 / 166
Forbes is an impressive coverage cornerback who may be scrutinized due to his size. At 166 lbs, teams will undoubtedly be concerned with his ability to matchup in the NFL. However, Forbes has outstanding tape. His agility, footwork, and hip fluidity allow him to mirror any route at any level of the field. He has terrific ball skills and a knack for making big plays. With three pick six's and six total interceptions this season, Forbes is a guy who can provide a spark and come up with game-changing plays. While his weight may stop him from matching up with certain players, I see him being a quality guy.
Grade: Round 1
Cam Dantzler
4
DJ Turner II
CB / MICHIGAN / 5'11 / 178
Turner is a fluid cornerback with an elite athletic profile. Not only does he hold the 4th fasted 40 time for a cornerback, but his speed is truly functional on tape. Turner is very flexible and technically refined. His quick feet and twitch allow him to mirror routes effectively across the field. While he plays beyond his size, his strength and length are underwhelming. Additionally, he is not a ball-hawks - with little production in that area during college. Turner's versatility and athletic tools will make him a highly successful man-coverage cornerback in the NFL.
Grade: Round 2
Denzel Ward
5
Cam Smith
CB / SOUTH CAROLINA / 6'0 / 180
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Smith is an instinctive cornerback with an excellent feel for the game. His coverage recognition and poise are top-notch. Smith lets the game come to him and stays grounded while receivers try to make him bite. He is very skilled in sticking with routes and has a solid ability to limit YAC. His mobility and toughness will make him a versatile player, capable of matching up with various pass-catchers. Penalties were an issue for Smith, and he can become prone to grabbing. However, his well-rounded skillset will make him a quality starter in the NFL.
Grade: Round 2
AJ Terrell
6
Deonte Banks
CB / MARYLAND / 6'2 / 205
Banks is an impressive boundary corner with an exciting blend of size, strength, and athleticism. He has an elite athletic profile and can functionally utilize it to make breaks on the ball quickly. Banks has the agility and feet to work against more technical receivers. His fluidity might not match his straight-line speed, but it is adequate to succeed. Banks has an enticing combination of tools that will allow him to be a versatile and productive cornerback at the next level.
Grade: Round 2
Marshon Lattimore
7
Keele Ringo
CB / GEORGIA / 6'2 / 205
Ringo is a physical cornerback with a good combination of size and speed. He has an impressive boundary ability and can win the battle off the line of scrimmage. Ringo has an excellent feel for zone coverage and will be able to thrive in such a scheme due to his skill set. While his speed is impressive, Ringo has an underwhelming start and stop ability. His agility and change of direction will limit his upside as a man-coverage competitor. His matchup flexibility and physical tools will allow him to have a long career in the NFL.
Grade: Round 2
Jaycee Horn
8
Joey Porter Jr.
CB / PENN STATE / 6'2 / 193
Porter Jr. is a strong cornerback with imposing length. He possesses the ideal size to match up with larger receivers or pass-catching tight ends. Porter Jr.'s ability to jam in press coverage is impressive, and his money will be made at the line of scrimmage. He has excellent ball skills and a great feel in zone coverage. Porter Jr. will add value in the screen game and as a run defender. However, I worry about his ability to open up and move with more sudden receivers. He will excel in the right scheme but does not have the same overall coverage tools as Gonzalez and Witherspoon.
Grade: Round 2
Martin Emerson Jr.
9
Clark Phillips III
CB / UTAH / 5'9 / 184
Phillips III is a smooth cornerback with a ton of functional intelligence. While undersized for the position, he has shown his ability to play beyond his size, utilizing aggression and physicality downfield. Phillips III is a fluid mover with outstanding instincts and route recognition. What impresses me most about his tape is his ability to read and react, quickly driving toward the ball. Phillips III is a student of the game and reportedly lives for the sport. While his size may limit his matchup potential, Phillips III will be a huge steal in the draft.
Grade: Round 2
Mike Hilton
10
Trevius Hodges-Tomlinson
CB / TCU / 5'8 / 178
Hodges-Tomlinson is a twitchy and sudden cornerback with impressive coverage skills. He is very undersized for the position, limiting his ability to play in certain situations. However, Hodges-Tomlinson is very gifted in multiple areas, possessing impressive footwork, burst, and competitiveness on short and medium concepts. He won't provide anything in the run game and can be a victim to screen passes and other run-extension concepts. However, his pure skills are top-notch, and he can absolutely thrive in a nickel role.
Grade: Round 3
Marcus Jones
11
Eli Ricks
CB / ALABAMA / 6'2 / 188
Ricks is a physical press corner who can excel against specific matchups. He possesses outstanding size and length. With his strengths and skillset, Ricks is a matchup nightmare for possession receivers. He can win the matchup on the line of scrimmage and easily force receivers to where he wants them. His lack of playing time is a concern and will be something teams factor in. Ricks may struggle against twitchier players, limiting him to specific matchups. In the right scheme, Ricks can become a quality press guy, capable of handling bigger possession players.
Grade: Round 3
Eli Apple
12
Julius Brents
CB / KANSAS STATE / 6'3 / 198
Brents is a disruptive cornerback who possesses the ideal build for the position. He is a physical tackler with a ton of functional strength in the box. Brents has questionable straight-line speed, but his quickness is good for his size. He uses his length and short area burst to make breaks on short routes effectively. Brents is prone to improvising when forced off his spot, with his technique breaking down. He needs to improve with his back to the ball and when forced into a track meet. Better suited in a zone scheme, Brents should find a solid role in the NFL.
Grade: Round 3
Josh Norman
13
Darius Rush
CB / SOUTH CAROLINA / 6'2 / 198
Rush is a long and physical cornerback who possesses the size of an NFL-ready competitor. He has an impressive ability to force his matchup to the boundary and limit their operating space. Rush does a great job at the point of attack, consistently utilizing accuracy and timing when making a play on the ball. While he does possess good speed, Rush needs more fluidity and quickness to chase routes consistently. He should be able to provide value as a vertical defender.
Grade: Round 3
Alontae Taylor
14
Garrett Williams
CB / SYRACUSE / 5'10 / 192
Williams is a solid boundary cornerback with good reactive skills. He is a balanced and technical player who drives to the ball and reads the quarterback well. An aggressive tackler in open space, Williams shows up highly competitive on tape. He is a smooth coverage guy with good footwork and fluidity. His most significant deficiency is his ability with his back to the ball. Williams is prone to purely playing the man and neglecting the ball. With this limiting his ability to compete downfield and coming off an ACL injury, his stock may be limited. However, Williams is a well-rounded player who can contribute on day one.
Grade: Round 3
Emmanuel Mosley
15
Tyrique Stevenson
CB / MIAMI / 6'0 / 198
Stevenson is a tough and physical corner with an outstanding build. His combination of size, physical tools, and competitiveness make him a unique prospect. Stevenson is an effective blitzer and tackler with the skills to compete in the box and open space. He has the size and ball skills to win in contested catch situations and disrupt throws at the point of attack. Sometimes inconsistent, Stevenson is trigger-happy and willing to take chances. While he can occasionally be exploited, he also comes up with big plays. A classic popcorn cornerback, Stevenson is a chippy trash-talker who will be fun to watch in the NFL.
Grade: Round 3
James Bradberry
16
Jaylon Jones
CB / TEXAS A&M / 6'2 / 200
Jones is a long and physical cornerback with imposing size. He has the physical tools to win at the line of scrimmage and the stature to compete on the outside. Although his straight-line speed is underwhelming, Jones possesses decent agility for his size. His fundamentals could be better, and he usually succeeds more because of his length. Jones' lack of fluidity and nuance is concerning. He has the size and tools to excel in a zone scheme, but he could be prone to some early struggles.
Grade: Round 4
Trumaine Johnson
17
Kyu Blu Kelly
CB / STANFORD / 6'0 / 190
Blu Kelly is a competitive and technical cornerback with great size for the position. He understands route recognition well and can quickly read the quarterback and drive on the ball. Blu Kelly has solid ball skills and consistently trusts his instincts. Lacking top-end speed and quickness, he struggles to stay with longer route concepts and is prone to losing in track meets. Blu Kelly's patience, size, technique, and ball skills will allow him to find a role in the NFL, but his upside will be capped due to these limitations.