Corners evaluations
start with one thing…. Athleticism. I know that seems lazy, but the stats don’t
really cross over from college success to NFL success but that ability to move
well does. That’s not to say that college stats are worthless but often times
the truly great players at both levels see less opportunities to pile up stats
because teams try as hard as they can not to throw at them.
1)
Denzel
Ward, Jr, Ohio State, 5’ 10 7/8”, 183 lbs. – Starter (7.6)
Stats – Tackles: 33.5, PD: 17, 40:
4.32, Short Shuttle: N/a, 3-cone: N/a, Vert: 39”, Broad: 11’ 4”
2)
Josh
Jackson, Jr, Iowa, 6’ 3/8”, 196 lbs. – Starter (7.3)
Stats – Tackles: 41, PD: 26, 40: 4.48,
Short Shuttle: 4.03, 3-cone: 6.86, Vert: 40”, Broad: 10’ 3”
Ward backed up the CB1
hype with crazy athletic testing. 4.32 40 doesn’t need explain, but 39 in the
vert and 136” in the broad confirm this is a player with twitch and good hip
explosion which will help him drive through the ball and plant and recover when
the receiver breaks his route off. As for Jackson, well he was the most
productive corner in college football. He’s not all bluster, his athletic
testing was better than detractors expected with an extremely solid shuttle
time. Jackson probably won’t have 8 INTs his rookie season but those ball skill
will have secondary coaches drooling.
3)
Mike
Hughes, Jr, UCF, 5’ 10 1/8”, 189 lbs. – Starter (7.1)
Stats – Tackles: 43, PD: 15, 40: 4.53,
Short Shuttle: 4.13, 3-cone: 6.70, Vert: 35.5”, Broad: 10’ 7”
4)
Jaire
Alexander, Jr, Louisville, 5’ 10 1/4”, 196 lbs. – Expected Starter (7.0)
Stats – Tackles: 16, PD: 5, 40: 4.38,
Short Shuttle: 3.98, 3-cone: 6.71, Vert: 35”, Broad: 10’ 7”
5)
Isaiah
Oliver, Jr, Colorado, 6’ 1/4”, 201 lbs. – Expected Starter (7.0)
Stats – Tackles: 23, PD: 15, 40: 4.50,
Short Shuttle: INJ, 3-cone: INJ, Vert: INJ, Broad: INJ
6)
Quenton
Meeks, Jr, Stanford, 6’ 1”, 209 lbs. – Expected Starter (6.9)
Stats – Tackles: 51, PD: 10, 40: 4.54,
Short Shuttle: 4.23, 3-cone: 6.72, Vert: 39”, Broad: 10’ 8”
I have Hughes/Alexander
flipped for most and just looking at testing I’m a little concerned. There isn’t
much separation, but I liked Hughes’ physicality more. Oliver is the technician
in the class and would be higher but lingering athleticism concerns weren’t alleviated
by and injury plagued draft process. Meeks is the last of the group and I’m not
nearly as high on him as some. His willingness to stick his nose in in the
running game is admirable, but he faced many of the top receivers in this
relatively lack luster class and anecdotally I seem to remember him making them
look good a number of times. It’s easy to see what others like, I would just
like a little more consistency.
7)
Nick
Nelson, Jr, Wisconsin, 5’ 10 5/8”, 200 lbs. – Expected Starter (6.7)
Stats – Tackles: 30.5, PD: 21, 40: 4.52,
Short Shuttle: 4.08, 3-cone: 6.84, Vert 36.5”, Broad: 10’ 3”
Nelson is a strong corner
from Wisconsin with better testing than I would have expected along the agility
lines. Nelson will need safety help against faster receivers but he’s one of
the more well-acquainted prospects with press coverage and physically
challenging receivers.
8)
Avonte
Maddox, Sr, Pittsburgh, 5’ 9 1/8”, 184 lbs. – Expected Starter (6.5)
Stats – Tackles: 23.5, PD: 13, 40:
4.39, Short Shuttle: 4.00, 3-cone: 6.51, Vert: 37”, Broad: 10’ 5”
9)
Carlton
Davis, Jr, Auburn, 6’ 1”, 206 lbs. – Expected Starter (6.5)
Stats – Tackles: 31.5, PD: 12, 40:
4.44, Short Shuttle: 4.31, 3-cone: 7.30, Vert: 34”, Broad: 10’ 4”
10) Duke Dawson, Sr, Florida, 5’ 10
5/8”, 197 lbs. – Expected Starter (6.4)
Stats – Tackles: 28.5, PD: 13, 40:
4.46, Short Shuttle: 4.18, 3-cone: 6.77, Vert: INJ, Broad: INJ
Maddox is undersized
but blew up athletic testing. Carlton Davis is big and physical but that 7.3
3-cone matches up well with holes in his game that shine through on tape. Dawson
for his part is a solid corner no part of his game is spectacular but there isn’t
a glaring weakness either.
11) Christian Campbell, Sr, Penn
State, 6’ 3/4”, 195 lbs. – Expected Starter (6.2)
Stats – Tackles: 37, PD: 13, 40: 4.55,
Short Shuttle: 4.18, 3-cone: 6.77, Vert: 41, Broad: 11’ 3”
12) Emmanuel Moseley, Sr, Tennessee,
5’ 11 1/8”, 190 lbs. – Potential Starter (6.0)
Stats – Tackles: 33.5, PD: 8, 40: 4.42,
Short Shuttle: 4.03, 3-cone: 6.84, Vert: 3.85, Broad: 10’ 6”
13) Parry Nickerson, Sr, Tulane, 5’
10 3/8”, 182 lbs. – Potential Starter (5.9)
Stats – Tackles: 51.5, PD: 14, 40: 4.32,
Short Shuttle: 4.29, 3-cone: 7.31, Vert 33.5”, Broad: 10’ 0”
14) Jalen Davis, Sr, Utah State, 5’ 9
3/8”, 181 lbs. – Potential Starter (5.9)
Stats – Tackles: 28.5, PD: 20, 40: 4.44,
Short Shuttle: 4.50, 3-cone: 7.04, Vert: 36”, Broad: 10’ 0”
Stats – Tackles: 42.5, PD: 5, 40: 4.49,
Short Shuttle: 4.07, 3-cone: 6.78, Vert: 38”, Broad: 10’ 3”
It’s a relatively
weak corner class this year and outside of Ward and Jackson I’m not sure there’s
anyone I trust all that much. That said there are some toolsy athletes who will
certainly make an impact early in their careers I’m just not sure who, where,
and how often that’ll happen.
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