TrailBlazer
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Ive needed something to fill my time while getting over that brutal loss to GB. So I decided to evaluate the most important position in football, cornerback. More specifically, the 2017 crop of incoming rookie CB's. These rankings are very specific to what I like in a cornerback. I'm looking for good size/length, guys that like to tackle, and guys with press man skills. Now I wasn't fortunate enough to have the all 22 angles but you can get a good feel of what these guys are good at and what they need to work on from the TV broadcast. I watched at least 2 games of each player, unless they were just brutal to watch. I think you can find a solid contributor at CB in the middle rounds. But if you want a future starter that can play at a high level immediately I think you have to get that guy in the first 2 rounds. CB's are going to start flying off the board in that 2nd round imo. Very deep class. I studied about 35 players. These are the ones who made the list.
1 Marshon Lattimore Ohio State 6'0 190 Good size and fluid hips. Plays ball in air. Very good press man technique. Shows excellent recovery speed. Can read and react. Smooth back pedal. Good closing burst. Constantly in the hip pocket of receivers. Willing to tackle but needs work in run support. Looks fast. Has had hamstring issues causing him to miss extensive time. He's a naturally gifted man to man cover guy. That's why I expect him to be the first CB off the board in the upcoming draft. Draft stock: Top 10
2 Gareon Conley Ohio State 6'2 200 Fantastic size and length GM's and scouts will be salivating over. Conley tracks the ball well in the air and has a great short area burst to close. Shows terrific ball skills. He had 4 interceptions in 2016 for the buckeyes. Seems to be more comfortable in a zone scheme right now but has the tools to be a press man boundary corner. Ability to break out of back pedal on inside routes can be slow at times. Subpar in run support. If he runs in the 4.4s at the combine he's a lock top 15 pick imo. Better than Eli Apple. Draft stock: Top 15
3 Quincy Wilson Florida 6'1 215 Good length, prototypical size. Gets his head around in time to make a play on the ball. Natural cover guy. Plasters his man all over the field. Fluid athlete. Can excel in man as well as zone schemes. Contests the catch point. Questionable deep speed. Often the hittee, not the hitter. Slow to react against the run. Effort against run?? He had 2 interceptions in 2016 for the Gators. Good instincts and ball skills to go with ideal size make him a lock first rounder
draft stock: top 20
4 Teez Tabor Florida 6'0 200 Ideal size. Thrives playing off man when he can read the QB and attack the football. Drives on the ball when thrown in from of him. Diagnoses plays quickly. Looks fast on tape. Carries his receivers well when in zone. Sloppy in press man technique. Gets grabby when out of position. Gets beat inside by big receivers. Good makeup speed when beat. Timid against the run. Character concerns?? Refused a drug test at Florida and was suspended for fighting with a teammate. Decent tackler. Not always eager to take guys on in run support.
Draft stock: top 20
5 Sidney Jones Washington 6'0 180 Shows excellent top end speed. Good press man technique, good jam at the LOS. Decent length. Decent in run support. Can easily flip his hips and run. Attacks the catch point. Natural cover guy. Has a thin frame. Can be out muscled by bigger receivers. Smith Schuster beat him on inside routes. Lock first rounder.
Draft stock: Top 20
6 Chidobe Awuzie Colorado 5'11 205 Strong and physical enough to make an impact in run support. Sure tackler compared to other CB'S on this list. Good athlete. Holds his ground versus bigger receivers. Looks fast on tape. Can play on or off man. Has a good punch on his initial jam. Press technique looks good. Shows a good feel for zone coverage. Diagnoses routes quickly in zone.Very Smooth back pedal. Can play anywhere across the secondary. Natural cover guy. Can flip his hips and fast enough to run with anybody. Tough, instictive football player. More quick than long speed. But I didn't see him beat deep. Biggest knock was lack of interceptions. He can push for playing time immediately, can play slot or outside. I would be surprised if he isn't a first round pick. Expect him to climb boards. Draft stock: late first round
7 Marlon Humphrey Alabama 6'1 200 Physical player. Disrupts routes with physicality. Strong enough to frustrate bigger receivers at the catch point. Good in run support. Much better than most of the other corners in attacking downhill. Doesn't have ideal top end speed. Gets beat deep. Raw. But fits what the NFL likes in size length and press skills. His 40 and 3 cone times will be crucial.
Draft stock: late first round
8 Jeremy Cutrer 6'2 175 excellent length. Can high point the ball. Slender frame but aggressive in run support. Sure tackler. Smooth back pedal. Tracks the ball well. Keeps his eyes in the right spot. Has a really nice feel and perfect size for zone coverage. Most comfortable in off man or zone but has press man traits. Twitchy feet. Has a nice closing burst. Plays above his weight. Plays like a LB in run support. Looks fast enough to run with NFL receivers. Flashes big time ability. Very aware in zone. Breaks on the ball. Extends to Make plays. Watch his Alabama 2015 tape.
Draft stock: 2nd round
9 Corn Elder Miami 5'10 180 Can play all over the secondary. Does a good job dropping in zone and disrupting passing lanes. Reacts quickly to plays in front of him. Diagnoses routes and extends to make plays on the ball. Surprisingly Good in run support for smallish guy. Reacts quickly. His back pedal can be sloppy, leaving him off balance coming out of his break. Can be effective in man or zone schemes. Raw. Seems more comfortable in zone or off man. Plays fast on tape. Lacks ideal size/length but makes up for it in athleticism and instincts. He will play right away in the NFL. Not sure he has the length/ability to go up and contest against bigger receivers. Best blitzing CB on this list. Miami used him as a Blitzer A TON. I expect him to be a 2nd round guy. If he were bigger he would be a first round guy. Will climb draft boards. Instinctive.
Draft stock: 2nd round
10 Tre White LSU 5'11 190 Good stop start quickness to shadow receivers. Good backpedal. Tracks the football well.
Does a good job in zone. Drives on the ball in front of him. Shows good recovery speed and bursts to disrupt the catch. His jam at the LOS needs work. Often lunges and misses resulting in being off balance. Smaller, finesse corner that doesn't like contact. Can be boxed out by bigger receivers. Ideal fit as a slot corner imo. But needs to tackle
better.
Draft stock: 2nd round
11 Rasul Douglas 6'2 204 West Virginia Great length that helps him get his hands on the ball. Long and strong enough to go up and win jump balls. mostly good in run support. Not always willing to take on big backs. Passes receivers off well in zone. Always aware in zone coverage. Most comfortable in off man or zone. Press man technique looks solid. Could flip his hips quicker. Stiff hipped at times. Quick change of direction not his best assett. Backpedal looks slow to me. Fast enough to run with receivers in the NFL but not a fast or quick guy. Great ball skills. Has the length and ability to be a really good zone player. Maybe a safety. Needs to run decent at the combine to be a top 50 pick.
Draft stock: 2nd round
12 Desmond King Iowa 5'11 205 San Diego St best run support player on this list. Demonstrates good press man technique. This is where he does his best work. Playing with the boundary as an extra defender. Strong enough to win against big receivers. Can play man or zone schemes. Fluid athlete. Short area burst. Some are projecting King as a safety due to lack of top end speed. But if asked to play press man/cover 2 he could be effective right away. He's a polished cover guy that is solid in all areas. If you want a smart physical instictive player in your secondary.. this is the guy.
Draft stock: 2nd round
13 Brendan Langley LAMAR 6'1 190 played 1 year as a receiver before transitioning to CB. Can high point the ball. Very physical. Raw. plays off balance in backpedal. Excellent closing burst. Good speed. Good athlete. Gambles on underneath throws. Drives on the ball. Good in run support. Gets a good jam. Strong enough to disrupt bigger receivers. Relied on athleticism rather than technique. Has all the traits to become an ideal press man corner just needs seasoning.
Draft stock: late 2nd round
14 Cameron Sutton 5'11 186 Tennessee Smooth back pedal. Reckless eyeballs the QB when he should have his eyes on his man. Good athlete. Fast enough imo. Good burst to close. Small frame. Will get ran over in run support. Was asked to play on and off man as well as zone and did a good job at all 3. Very aware in zone. Gets beat inside by bigger receivers. Doesn't get a jam. Gets beat on jump balls. Career slot corner. Broaddus thinks he can play Safety. No chance. Doesn't tackle well enough.
Draft stock: Early 3rd round
15 Jourdan Lewis Michigan 5'9 185 Good in run support. Good open field tackler. Takes on blockers. Quick to react. Small frame. Likes to play physical at LOS. Good short area quickness. Constantly in the hip pocket of recievers when playing man. Does a good job in man and zone schemes. Can play off man but Most comfortable in press man when he can be physical. Saw him miss on his jam. Doesn't have the makeup speed to recover. Gets grabby when beaten off the line. Too small to play outside but perfect slot guy.
Draft stock: Early 3rd
16 Adoree Jackson USC 5'11 185 surprisingly physical for his size. Will come up and tackle. Doesn't look particularly comfortable in press man. They often played him off and allowed him to read and react. Great recovery speed. Breaks on the ball. Not as polished as other CB's on this list. Gets beat deep when his eyes are in the wrong spots. Gets beat by big receivers. I think he is a WR. Relies on his amazing athleticism rather than technique. I think his best position is WR. Interesting study. I'd either put him at Safety or WR
Draft stock: 3rd round
17 Cordrea Tankersley Clemson 6'1 200 ideal size GM'S are looking for. Can play all types of man as well as zone. Has the length and ability to go up and contest the catch or make the interception. This is his best trait. Makes QB'S pay for bad throws. Can jam at the LOS and disrupt the timing of the receiver. Gets grabby when beat. Not consistently fluid in his back pedal. Not great in run support. On tape he looks slow. Gives big cushion to speedy receivers. I think he's a safety at the next level. Average athlete at best.
Draft stock: 4th round
18 Damontae Kazee San Diego St 5'11 185 fluid athlete. Smooth backpedal. Good in run support. Jumps underneath routes. Most comfortable in off man. Attacks downhill in run support. Questionable deep speed. Good closing burst. Can be slow to react inside at times.
Draft stock: 4th round
19 Kevin King Washington 6'3 195 great length/size. can really attack downhill in run support. Solid press man technique. Has decent feel for zone coverage. Doesn't have elite speed or quickness. Needs to track and play the ball better. Lacks burst to make a play on the ball. Gets beat at catch point. Looks like a box safety to me.
Draft stock: 5th round pick
20 Brad Watson 6'0 200 Wake Forest good length/size. not great in run support. Questionable deep speed. Most comfortable in off man coverage smooth backpedal. Usually gave a 5-10 yard cushion in the games I saw. Gets beat off the LOS in press man. Can be stiff hipped at times. Doesn't play as big as he's listed. Doesn't run well enough.
Draft stock: 5th -7th round
21 Fabian Moreau 6'0 200 UCLA physical, tough player. Ideal size/length. Takes on blockers. Good in run support. Good tackler in space. Grabby with receivers down field. Stiff hips. Doesn't have burst to close. Can't cover without holding. Might be a safety.
Draft stock: 5th -7th round
Other draftable guys:
Shaquill Griffin 6'1 200 Not a fast guy but good size and some coverage ability to work with.
Des Lawrence 6'1 185 North Carolina nice length. Runs pretty well. Needs to track the ball better. Doesn't play the run well. Some good traits.
Dwayne Thomas LSU 6'0 186 good run support player. Not fast but a good zone player. I think he's a safety.
Greg Mabin Iowa 6'2 190 Iowa excellent length and some decent coverage skills. Good in run support. Not sure he has the speed to keep up with NFL receivers.
Marquez White Florida State undisciplined and won't tackle. Stiff hipped. Not particularly fluid athlete.
Jalen Myrick Minnesota 6'0 205 stiff athlete. Doesn't play well in run support. Big for a CB. Doesn't run well. Might be a RB. Had a 100 yard kickoff return.
1 Marshon Lattimore Ohio State 6'0 190 Good size and fluid hips. Plays ball in air. Very good press man technique. Shows excellent recovery speed. Can read and react. Smooth back pedal. Good closing burst. Constantly in the hip pocket of receivers. Willing to tackle but needs work in run support. Looks fast. Has had hamstring issues causing him to miss extensive time. He's a naturally gifted man to man cover guy. That's why I expect him to be the first CB off the board in the upcoming draft. Draft stock: Top 10
2 Gareon Conley Ohio State 6'2 200 Fantastic size and length GM's and scouts will be salivating over. Conley tracks the ball well in the air and has a great short area burst to close. Shows terrific ball skills. He had 4 interceptions in 2016 for the buckeyes. Seems to be more comfortable in a zone scheme right now but has the tools to be a press man boundary corner. Ability to break out of back pedal on inside routes can be slow at times. Subpar in run support. If he runs in the 4.4s at the combine he's a lock top 15 pick imo. Better than Eli Apple. Draft stock: Top 15
3 Quincy Wilson Florida 6'1 215 Good length, prototypical size. Gets his head around in time to make a play on the ball. Natural cover guy. Plasters his man all over the field. Fluid athlete. Can excel in man as well as zone schemes. Contests the catch point. Questionable deep speed. Often the hittee, not the hitter. Slow to react against the run. Effort against run?? He had 2 interceptions in 2016 for the Gators. Good instincts and ball skills to go with ideal size make him a lock first rounder
draft stock: top 20
4 Teez Tabor Florida 6'0 200 Ideal size. Thrives playing off man when he can read the QB and attack the football. Drives on the ball when thrown in from of him. Diagnoses plays quickly. Looks fast on tape. Carries his receivers well when in zone. Sloppy in press man technique. Gets grabby when out of position. Gets beat inside by big receivers. Good makeup speed when beat. Timid against the run. Character concerns?? Refused a drug test at Florida and was suspended for fighting with a teammate. Decent tackler. Not always eager to take guys on in run support.
Draft stock: top 20
5 Sidney Jones Washington 6'0 180 Shows excellent top end speed. Good press man technique, good jam at the LOS. Decent length. Decent in run support. Can easily flip his hips and run. Attacks the catch point. Natural cover guy. Has a thin frame. Can be out muscled by bigger receivers. Smith Schuster beat him on inside routes. Lock first rounder.
Draft stock: Top 20
6 Chidobe Awuzie Colorado 5'11 205 Strong and physical enough to make an impact in run support. Sure tackler compared to other CB'S on this list. Good athlete. Holds his ground versus bigger receivers. Looks fast on tape. Can play on or off man. Has a good punch on his initial jam. Press technique looks good. Shows a good feel for zone coverage. Diagnoses routes quickly in zone.Very Smooth back pedal. Can play anywhere across the secondary. Natural cover guy. Can flip his hips and fast enough to run with anybody. Tough, instictive football player. More quick than long speed. But I didn't see him beat deep. Biggest knock was lack of interceptions. He can push for playing time immediately, can play slot or outside. I would be surprised if he isn't a first round pick. Expect him to climb boards. Draft stock: late first round
7 Marlon Humphrey Alabama 6'1 200 Physical player. Disrupts routes with physicality. Strong enough to frustrate bigger receivers at the catch point. Good in run support. Much better than most of the other corners in attacking downhill. Doesn't have ideal top end speed. Gets beat deep. Raw. But fits what the NFL likes in size length and press skills. His 40 and 3 cone times will be crucial.
Draft stock: late first round
8 Jeremy Cutrer 6'2 175 excellent length. Can high point the ball. Slender frame but aggressive in run support. Sure tackler. Smooth back pedal. Tracks the ball well. Keeps his eyes in the right spot. Has a really nice feel and perfect size for zone coverage. Most comfortable in off man or zone but has press man traits. Twitchy feet. Has a nice closing burst. Plays above his weight. Plays like a LB in run support. Looks fast enough to run with NFL receivers. Flashes big time ability. Very aware in zone. Breaks on the ball. Extends to Make plays. Watch his Alabama 2015 tape.
Draft stock: 2nd round
9 Corn Elder Miami 5'10 180 Can play all over the secondary. Does a good job dropping in zone and disrupting passing lanes. Reacts quickly to plays in front of him. Diagnoses routes and extends to make plays on the ball. Surprisingly Good in run support for smallish guy. Reacts quickly. His back pedal can be sloppy, leaving him off balance coming out of his break. Can be effective in man or zone schemes. Raw. Seems more comfortable in zone or off man. Plays fast on tape. Lacks ideal size/length but makes up for it in athleticism and instincts. He will play right away in the NFL. Not sure he has the length/ability to go up and contest against bigger receivers. Best blitzing CB on this list. Miami used him as a Blitzer A TON. I expect him to be a 2nd round guy. If he were bigger he would be a first round guy. Will climb draft boards. Instinctive.
Draft stock: 2nd round
10 Tre White LSU 5'11 190 Good stop start quickness to shadow receivers. Good backpedal. Tracks the football well.
Does a good job in zone. Drives on the ball in front of him. Shows good recovery speed and bursts to disrupt the catch. His jam at the LOS needs work. Often lunges and misses resulting in being off balance. Smaller, finesse corner that doesn't like contact. Can be boxed out by bigger receivers. Ideal fit as a slot corner imo. But needs to tackle
better.
Draft stock: 2nd round
11 Rasul Douglas 6'2 204 West Virginia Great length that helps him get his hands on the ball. Long and strong enough to go up and win jump balls. mostly good in run support. Not always willing to take on big backs. Passes receivers off well in zone. Always aware in zone coverage. Most comfortable in off man or zone. Press man technique looks solid. Could flip his hips quicker. Stiff hipped at times. Quick change of direction not his best assett. Backpedal looks slow to me. Fast enough to run with receivers in the NFL but not a fast or quick guy. Great ball skills. Has the length and ability to be a really good zone player. Maybe a safety. Needs to run decent at the combine to be a top 50 pick.
Draft stock: 2nd round
12 Desmond King Iowa 5'11 205 San Diego St best run support player on this list. Demonstrates good press man technique. This is where he does his best work. Playing with the boundary as an extra defender. Strong enough to win against big receivers. Can play man or zone schemes. Fluid athlete. Short area burst. Some are projecting King as a safety due to lack of top end speed. But if asked to play press man/cover 2 he could be effective right away. He's a polished cover guy that is solid in all areas. If you want a smart physical instictive player in your secondary.. this is the guy.
Draft stock: 2nd round
13 Brendan Langley LAMAR 6'1 190 played 1 year as a receiver before transitioning to CB. Can high point the ball. Very physical. Raw. plays off balance in backpedal. Excellent closing burst. Good speed. Good athlete. Gambles on underneath throws. Drives on the ball. Good in run support. Gets a good jam. Strong enough to disrupt bigger receivers. Relied on athleticism rather than technique. Has all the traits to become an ideal press man corner just needs seasoning.
Draft stock: late 2nd round
14 Cameron Sutton 5'11 186 Tennessee Smooth back pedal. Reckless eyeballs the QB when he should have his eyes on his man. Good athlete. Fast enough imo. Good burst to close. Small frame. Will get ran over in run support. Was asked to play on and off man as well as zone and did a good job at all 3. Very aware in zone. Gets beat inside by bigger receivers. Doesn't get a jam. Gets beat on jump balls. Career slot corner. Broaddus thinks he can play Safety. No chance. Doesn't tackle well enough.
Draft stock: Early 3rd round
15 Jourdan Lewis Michigan 5'9 185 Good in run support. Good open field tackler. Takes on blockers. Quick to react. Small frame. Likes to play physical at LOS. Good short area quickness. Constantly in the hip pocket of recievers when playing man. Does a good job in man and zone schemes. Can play off man but Most comfortable in press man when he can be physical. Saw him miss on his jam. Doesn't have the makeup speed to recover. Gets grabby when beaten off the line. Too small to play outside but perfect slot guy.
Draft stock: Early 3rd
16 Adoree Jackson USC 5'11 185 surprisingly physical for his size. Will come up and tackle. Doesn't look particularly comfortable in press man. They often played him off and allowed him to read and react. Great recovery speed. Breaks on the ball. Not as polished as other CB's on this list. Gets beat deep when his eyes are in the wrong spots. Gets beat by big receivers. I think he is a WR. Relies on his amazing athleticism rather than technique. I think his best position is WR. Interesting study. I'd either put him at Safety or WR
Draft stock: 3rd round
17 Cordrea Tankersley Clemson 6'1 200 ideal size GM'S are looking for. Can play all types of man as well as zone. Has the length and ability to go up and contest the catch or make the interception. This is his best trait. Makes QB'S pay for bad throws. Can jam at the LOS and disrupt the timing of the receiver. Gets grabby when beat. Not consistently fluid in his back pedal. Not great in run support. On tape he looks slow. Gives big cushion to speedy receivers. I think he's a safety at the next level. Average athlete at best.
Draft stock: 4th round
18 Damontae Kazee San Diego St 5'11 185 fluid athlete. Smooth backpedal. Good in run support. Jumps underneath routes. Most comfortable in off man. Attacks downhill in run support. Questionable deep speed. Good closing burst. Can be slow to react inside at times.
Draft stock: 4th round
19 Kevin King Washington 6'3 195 great length/size. can really attack downhill in run support. Solid press man technique. Has decent feel for zone coverage. Doesn't have elite speed or quickness. Needs to track and play the ball better. Lacks burst to make a play on the ball. Gets beat at catch point. Looks like a box safety to me.
Draft stock: 5th round pick
20 Brad Watson 6'0 200 Wake Forest good length/size. not great in run support. Questionable deep speed. Most comfortable in off man coverage smooth backpedal. Usually gave a 5-10 yard cushion in the games I saw. Gets beat off the LOS in press man. Can be stiff hipped at times. Doesn't play as big as he's listed. Doesn't run well enough.
Draft stock: 5th -7th round
21 Fabian Moreau 6'0 200 UCLA physical, tough player. Ideal size/length. Takes on blockers. Good in run support. Good tackler in space. Grabby with receivers down field. Stiff hips. Doesn't have burst to close. Can't cover without holding. Might be a safety.
Draft stock: 5th -7th round
Other draftable guys:
Shaquill Griffin 6'1 200 Not a fast guy but good size and some coverage ability to work with.
Des Lawrence 6'1 185 North Carolina nice length. Runs pretty well. Needs to track the ball better. Doesn't play the run well. Some good traits.
Dwayne Thomas LSU 6'0 186 good run support player. Not fast but a good zone player. I think he's a safety.
Greg Mabin Iowa 6'2 190 Iowa excellent length and some decent coverage skills. Good in run support. Not sure he has the speed to keep up with NFL receivers.
Marquez White Florida State undisciplined and won't tackle. Stiff hipped. Not particularly fluid athlete.
Jalen Myrick Minnesota 6'0 205 stiff athlete. Doesn't play well in run support. Big for a CB. Doesn't run well. Might be a RB. Had a 100 yard kickoff return.
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