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2016 NFL Draft: Early Grades of the Cornerback Class
Written by Jonah Tuls on November 10, 2015
Scouting prospects for the NFL Draft is a continuous process that never stops for some, and today, I’m going to break down the analysis of each cornerback that I have given initial grades to. WARNING: Hot takes may cause burns.
Elite Prospects
Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida (#3 on Big Board)
– To me, I think Vernon Hargreaves III is the best pure cover corner that the NFL has seen coming out of college since Patrick Peterson. Many people will knock him down their draft board because of his 5’10 size, but don’t be fooled, Hargreaves is one of the more physical, “in your face” cornerbacks in the draft. With that being said, he is the best Off-Man cornerback I have graded since I started scouting prospects three years ago. Why is that? His ability to read and react are unparalleled in this class, as he doesn’t take any false steps in his smooth backpedal. Once he uses his rare COD skills and closing speed to get on the hip pocket of the receiver, he displays elite ball skills when the ball is up for grabs, whether that is for a PBU or INT. Essentially, he can take away any certain receiver for four quarters because of this type of lockdown man coverage. If I was a wide receiver in the SEC, Hargreaves would be a nightmare because he is hard to shake in both the open field and LOS. Overall, Vernon Hargreaves III is my number three player on my board and the best cornerback prospect that I have seen come out of the draft in the last five years.
Jalen Ramsey, Florida State (#4 on Big Board)
– One of the most versatile players in college football, as he has the potential to be an All Pro at either CB or FS. Of course, I am talking about the premier defensive back of the ACC in Jalen Ramsey. Although I think FS is the better fit for Ramsey going forward, his 6’1 size and length terrorizes wide receivers at the LOS in Press, and I believe that he can immediately step into the NFL as one of the premier press corners. Jalen Ramsey’s play strength for a cornerback is off the charts as he can out-muscle opposing receivers both at the LOS and in the open field as well as shed blocks with ease to make the safe open field tackle. The problem I have with Ramsey as a cornerback prospect are his Off Man traits. He is a stiff-hipped athlete with nice read/react skills, but will give up separation in/out of the receiver’s breaks in his route. Obviously, Jalen Ramsey is a much better player when he is engaged physically with the receiver so he can re-route his opponent’s path to the ball, but I do believe that Ramsey is one of the safest overall prospects in this draft that is a top ten lock as long as he stays healthy because of his ability to play every position in the secondary at an elite level.
AgamemnonMid-Late 1st Round
Mackensie Alexander, Clemson (#18 on Big Board)
– In my opinion, there aren’t many cornerbacks in the country that have the pure talent of Mackensie Alexander. His natural man coverage traits are obvious with his fluid hips, smooth backpedal, and gifted athletic ability. He has below average size for the position at 5’10, but his “alpha male” competitive toughness and physicality makes up for that in a big way. While he is not afraid to get in his opponent’s face after making a play, he is also vulnerable to being too aggressive at times in coverage. Whenever the receiver makes his break in his route, it’s hit or miss on whether Alexander makes the big play, or gets beat on a double move. I see this type of “hit or miss” in run support as well when he tries to tackle the ball carrier in the open field. Overall, Mackensie Alexander may indeed be the most naturally gifted cornerback in the entire draft in terms of athletic ability and straight up man coverage, but his lack of awareness in zone and “all or nothing” mentality will draw mixed opinions on his evaluation as a whole.
Desmond King, Iowa (#24 on Big Board)
– The ball-hawking junior from Iowa is one of the names to watch out for to rise as we get closer to the 2016 NFL Draft. He is “lockdown” in man coverage and will dare opposing quarterbacks to throw his way. King’s closing speed and ability to process the play mentally before-hand are key reasons of why he is so successful. His ability to close in Off and get hip to hip with the receiver without allowing any separation between them puts himself in perfect position to make a play on the ball when it is throw his way. Hence the word “ball-hawking”, Desmond King arguably has the most natural ball skills of any cornerback in this class. King locates the ball and attacks it in the air with sure hands and timing, which is why he is among the NCAA leaders in interceptions thus far. Desmond King is not the greatest athlete at the cornerback position, but he puts himself in excellent position each and every play with his closing speed and ability to read the field as a whole. One area where I do believe King could improve in primarily is his play strength. Iowa plays him primarily in Off coverage, but I worry about his limitations in Press because I have seen him get out-muscled on blocks and get boxed out in the open field by bigger receivers. Like Alexander, King is mainly “hit or miss” in the open field as a tackler as well as being susceptible to a double move, as he will get greedy to make the “splash” interception. Desmond King is not as naturally gifted an athlete as Mackensie Alexander, but his football IQ, ball skills, and man coverage traits could push him into the top 20 picks if he chooses to declare.
Cameron Sutton, Tennessee (#29 on Big Board)
– My fifth-best cornerback on my board is the uber-athletic player from Tennessee in Cameron Sutton. With his elite COD skills and smooth hip movement in his backpedal, he has the skill-set to be a very good player in man coverage and cut down the separation the receiver creates in and out of his breaks. However, he is his own worst enemy. On the tape that I have seen, Cameron Sutton will over-estimate his own athletic ability, and will in turn, overrun his pursuit angle to his man, or to the ball carrier in run support. The natural traits are there with Sutton, as he has shown the ability to play Press with his uncanny play strength at the LOS, as well as Off with his elite athletic ability, but Sutton has been able to get away with using his natural traits over technique in college to lockdown his man in coverage. In the NFL, Sutton will have to learn to take better pursuit angles, read the play more effectively so he can put himself in more opportunistic position, and trust his technique over his athleticism because he could falter early if he fails to do so. On the other hand, I can’t think of another cornerback that as a higher ceiling than Sutton in this class, and he could very well be the next great cornerback in the NFL if he can learn to play with BOTH technique and athleticism. I’m not sure if another year in college would help his cause, but he is going to be a player worth investing in by the mid to late part of the first round regardless.
AgamemnonEarly to Mid Second Round
William Jackson, Houston (#34 on Big Board)
– William Jackson is a long corner with plus athleticism at 6’2, 185 lbs. He is sound in both Press and Off with deceptive play strength at both the LOS and the open field. Jackson is best when he is physically engaged with the receiver and able to get his hands on him, but has also showed the skill-set to be an effective player in Off coverage as well. This skill-set includes his innate ability to mentally process plays before they happen, thus putting himself a step ahead of the opponent both mentally and on the field to make a play on the ball. He may lack fluid hips and easy movement skills, but he makes up for that by being able to read the play quickly, while still being able to plant his foot in the ground and drive on the ball with good closing speed. The position he puts himself in is a main reason of why he is considered a “ball hawk”. Jackson times and locates the high point of the ball accurately, thus giving him the advantage to switch roles per se to the receiver and make a play for the INT or PBU. Overall, William Jackson is my top senior cornerback as of right now, and may continue to rise even higher if he does well in the interview room and tests well in the spring.
Will Redmond, Mississippi State (#39 on Big Board)
– Will Redmond has grown on me as one of my favorite players to watch on tape in all of the 2016 NFL Draft class. His competitive toughness and elite athleticism are what he utilizes to his advantage when playing excellent man coverage. Redmond, in my opinion, is the next best Off Man cornerback in this class behind only Vernon Hargreaves III on tape when he is healthy. In fact he was my top senior cornerback and a sure-fire first rounder before tearing his ACL only two weeks ago. It’s a shame because Will Redmond was one of the most electrifying players in all of college football. His elite ball skills and aggressiveness at the POA instill fear in quarterbacks every time they throw his way because they know that he has the ability to take it back for six. While Redmond’s ability to stop/start in between the receiver’s break in his route without any false steps or loss of movement, the only times he will get beat will be when he misreads a play. He either puts himself in bad position because of a late read, or just gets plain lost, and this could lead to why he fails to consistently get off blocks in run support because he is already engaged by the blocker when he finally reacts to the play. However, the main problem is how he will check out medically with that knee. If he can come back and do something for scouts in late April, then he could surge back into Day 1 talks because of his natural gifts on the field as a cornerback.
Kevin Peterson, Oklahoma State (#42 on Big Board)
– Kevin Peterson has been a personal favorite of mine to watch since last year, when he shut down the 7th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft in Kevin White when they faced off against each other one on one. Strictly in terms of shutdown man coverage, we’d be talking about Kevin Peterson as a top ten pick because of his ability to take out a receiver completely out of the game through either Press or Off Man. What makes Peterson so effective? One, he is able to stop/start when reading and reacting to plays as quick as anybody in the country, thus being able to get on the hip pocket of the WR to make the play. Second, his physicality all over the field. Peterson won’t be the guy to get in your face after making a play, but he lets his play do the talking for him. He seems to live on competition and will get handsy with the receiver at all levels on the field, without making it obvious to the officials to warrant a flag. Because of this, you rarely see separation in between the WR and Kevin Peterson. The ONE thing that separates Kevin Peterson from being a first round pick is that he is an average athlete at best. As much as I love Peterson, I worry about his long speed at the next level, and to me, that screams a lot of Brandon Carr. However, if he can prove scouts wrong at the Combine with his measurables, then I could see a uptick in his stock leading up to draft day.
Tre’Davious White, LSU (#46 on Big Board)
– Of all the uber-athletic corners in the 2016 NFL Draft pool, Tre’Davious may be the fastest in terms of pure long speed. LSU takes advantage of his unreal athletic ability by having him return punts, to which he has solidified himself as one of the most feared specialists in the country. However, it is his Off coverage that he looks so smooth in with his quick feet and fluid hips. The ability and traits are all there, but it seems like he doesn’t want to engage in any physical activity on the field whatsoever, thus giving up separation on routes consistently. White’s ball skills are impressive, but he is only able to use them when he is on the hip of the receiver, and in the NFL, he will face much better athletes at WR to where he won’t be able to trail the receiver and still make the play. In zone, White isn’t fundamentally sound quite yet, and that is proven on tape to where he gets lost of where he is on the field, but this can be taught to him when he steps into camp. Overall, White is going to blow up the Combine if he declares, and may be a first round pick if he impresses scouts in workouts because of his immense upside.
Late Second Round
Brandon Facyson, Virginia Tech (#52 on Big Board)
– Not the Virginia Tech cornerback you were expecting? Well the redshirt sophomore in Brandon Facyson is as talented as any cornerback in the country. He proved that in 2013 when he was named as a freshman All-American by being one of the most game-changing players in the ACC with five interceptions. He missed the latter part of 2014 with a broken leg and was granted a medical redshirt, but in 2015, he has looked every bit of the player we saw as a true freshman. The 6’2, 200 lb. cornerback has the prototypical size and speed that NFL scouts are looking for in the “new” type of cornerback. As a Press cornerback, he uses his rare length to his advantage by rerouting the WR off of his original path and takes over physically. When the quarterback does throw his way, he again uses that superior length of his to knock away the ball from the receiver. My problem with Brandon Facyson is his lack of fluidity in Off coverage. It’s not that he cannot read/react plays in front of him, but it is the fact that he struggles to plant his foot and change directions on a consistent basis. Although I have seen flashes of success in Off coverage for Facyson, I am much more comfortable playing him up-tight in Press where he can take advantage of his God-given length and play strength. Does he declare? I don’t know, but if he does, he may be one of those ultra high ceiling, very low floor type of players. The Combine will be huge for him if he does indeed decide to declare.
Maurice Canady, Virginia (#65 on Big Board)
– Maurice Canady is another one of those new age cornerbacks that the NFL is looking for because of his 6’2 size and length. On tape, Canady’s football IQ is on display each play, while being able to line up everywhere in the secondary whether that is on the outside, in the slot, or in the back end. Simple as this, Maurice Canady can blanket a WR in Press as he is one of the more effective in this department of the overall class, but struggles to find his footing in Off coverage. Because of his lack of long speed and stiff hips, he will get burned by quicker, faster receivers if he is not able to get his hands on them initially. Despite his play strength at the LOS, he really struggles in the open field as a tackler. In fact, I don’t have much of a problem with his wrap up technique as he will get the job done when needed, but his pursuit angles and effort in getting dirty in run support is very concerning, which leads to his missed tackles. Canady’s versatility to play both inside and out will appeal to scouts as well as his effective play in both Press and Zone, but he must learn how to blanket a receiver by using his feet before he rises any higher than this spot here.
AgamemnonThird Round
Jonathan Jones, Auburn (#72 on Big Board)
– Smaller cornerback that plays with a competitive edge and swagger at 5’10, 181 lbs. This senior was named to second team All SEC in 2014 with six interceptions and a team-best 11 PBU’s. Jones plays excellent Off coverage as his field awareness is off the charts when reading plays in front of him. He is hard to shake in the open field because of his lightning quick feet and fluid hips when changing directions. Play strength and size are the issues with Jonathan Jones as he does struggle to get off blocks on a consistent basis, but he does not shy away from contact, in fact, he loves it. His ability to play both man and zone at a high level despite his small stature reminds me of a poor man’s Jason Verrett.
DJ White, Georgia Tech (#76 on Big Board)
– 5’11 cornerback that is much more comfortable playing off of his man instead of at the LOS, as this is due to marginal play strength. When in coverage, he displays good COD skills with the ability to plant his foot and get on the hip pocket of the WR. White attacks the football with excellent closing speed along with his best trait in his ball skills. He will get lost at times in zone coverage, but DJ White rarely gives up any separation when in man coverage. Although White is mightily inconsistent in the open field as a tackler, he is willing to sacrifice his body for the team with his effort.
Danzel McDaniel, Kansas State (#80 on Big Board)
– The smooth movement and transitional skills that Danzel McDaniel has when changing direction in/out of his breaks are an invaluable trait that most cornerbacks his size at 6’1 don’t necessarily possess. McDaniel will struggle to consistently look over his shoulder for the ball and will get taken advantage by opposing quarterbacks if he doesn’t find a way to fix that (no pun intended). On tape, McDaniel consistently gives up a ton of separation to receivers who run crisp routes, but that is mainly because of his inability to mentally transition his reads to physical reactions with his feet as quickly as other cornerbacks. What I can tell you is that he is a plus athlete with burner speed on the outside to keep up with the speed demons of the NFL that will give every ounce of effort he has in his body. Overall, a high upside pick that could improve his stock with a good showing at the Senior Bowl.
Keivarae Russell, Notre Dame (#87 on Big Board)
– One of the most naturally gifted cornerbacks in this draft class is Keivarae Russell out of Notre Dame. Before missing all of 2014 with off-field issues, he was considered one of the premier cornerbacks in the nation because of his playmaking ability in both man and zone coverage. With Russell, I see a guy that possesses all the traits that a cornerback needs to be a first round caliber player, but doesn’t always use them to his advantage. Russell is a plus athlete, but doesn’t always trust it and will give up plenty of separation when the receiver breaks off of his route. We’ve seen Russell make big interceptions before, but he struggles to locate the deep ball when in man coverage, and will get burned by opposing offenses as a result. The biggest issue with Russell is that he takes too many unnecessary opportunities. By saying that, he will fall for double moves, stick ‘n’ go routes, and pump fakes, which all lead to the receiver getting behind him for the big play. He takes every opportunity that is given to him, and will either take it back for six, or be watching the receiver celebrate his latest touchdown in the endzone. High risk, high reward pick on Day 2.
Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma (#92 on Big Board)
– Still recovering from a high ankle sprain earlier in the season, Zack Sanchez is one of the most fundamentally sound cornerbacks in this class. When he is in the groove, he can be a premier lockdown cornerback in man coverage, but can also be abused by opposing quarterbacks when not. Scouts surely would like to see more consistency from Sanchez, as his play is very similar to Keivarae Russell in that he is boom or bust when going attacking the ball, or simply biting on a double move. Sanchez is a terrific defender in run support despite his 5’11 175 lb. thin frame and will bust his rear end to make a play for his team. Slowly but surely, Sanchez is moving on up my draft board.
Day 3 Notables
Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech (#108 on Big Board) I like Fuller.
– Before his season ending knee injury, I had Kendall Fuller in my top 75 and initially in the third round because of his inability to stop/start and tendency to take unnecessary false steps in his backpedal when trying to read/react on the play. Fuller is only a junior, and may go back and declare, but this knee injury raises even more questions about him as an NFL Draft prospect going forward as the negatives outweigh the positives. In fact, I’d even go as far as saying that Kendall Fuller’s best fit for the NFL is at free safety instead of cornerback where a team can take advantage of his physicality in run support, high football IQ/field awareness, and range to get over the top. High upside pick nonetheless because of length and plus athleticism. If a team works him out as a safety, we could see late first round talks again with Kendall Fuller, but that is yet to be seen.
Taveze Calhoun, Mississippi State (#141 on Big Board)
– Big, physical cornerback that I would consider converting over to safety for the long term. He displays good field awareness and physicality at the point of attack, but really struggles when put on an island by himself. Calhoun has stiff hips and sluggish feet that can’t take advantage when he makes a solid read in coverage. If he stays at cornerback, he is a day three flyer at best, but if he gets experimented at safety by a couple of teams this offseason, I wouldn’t be shocked to see a team pull the trigger in the third round.
AgamemnonLate Round Sleepers
Deiondre Hall, Northern Iowa
– Hall is a player that I have only watched for three games (two in 2014, one in 2015), but he is the type of player that you can take in the late third round and feel comfortable about it because they pay off is so huge. He is a tall corner at 6’2, but his strong enough to hold his own in both Press and run support. From my initial analysis on him, I see excellent ball skills that make him look like that he can be a legitimate wide receiver prospect if he wanted to. He may come from a small school, but this kid can pack a punch and possesses every bit of natural ability as his more known counterparts.
Nick VanHoose, Northwestern
– VanHoose is another guy that I’ve only seen little of, but in the couple live games I’ve seen of him, his ball skills and aggressiveness in attacking the football in the air are remarkable. Although I do not see a big-time athlete or quick twitch in his game, I believe that he can be an effective player at the next level if given the opportunity because of his outstanding effort and zone coverage traits. In my opinion, I’d take him on Day 3 and experiment with him at a potential safety spot as well because of his play strength and wrap up skills at the POA. VanHoose is a versatile player that will start rising on draft boards in the near future.
Adairius Barnes, LA Tech
– I feel fairly comfortable saying that Adairius Barnes is one of the quickest cornerbacks in this class. This short area agility is a good asset to have as a 5’11 cornerback as well as being aggressive in attacking the ball in the air. In fact, he had five interceptions and nine pass breakups last year, leading to a nomination on the 2015 Jim Thorpe Award watch list. What Barnes needs a ton of refinement in is his field awareness in both Zone and Off, as well as his play strength at all levels. He’s not a small cornerback by any means, but he plays like one in reality as he lets bigger receivers take advantage at both the LOS and in the open field. The best fit for Barnes could be as a nickel cornerback, but he could be one of the steals of the draft if put in the right position to succeed as he reminds me a ton of Orlando Scandrick coming out in 2008.
Lots of really good CBs. AgamemnonDo I have this right? It’s supposed to be a good year for DEs, CBs, and WRs. Good, as in pretty deep.
Which works out nicely for the Rams.
It appears to be CBs, then WRs, then DEs, then OTs and some TEs. imo
With us having that extra 2cd round pick, we have lots of flexibility at the top of the draft.
Agamemnon
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