After more film we concede to the sense and give Gilbert the top grade he is better in run support than we once thought. After further tape it is clear that Roby is no where close to Gilbert in pass coverage.
1. Justin Gilbert – 6’0” 202 Ilbs. 4.37 40 – Oklahoma State – 6.9 - Justin has an unbelievable blend of size and speed and should be able to step into the NFL as a team’s number one cornerback. He will be tested against the best wide receivers and no doubt will have growing pains in his first few seasons. With 7 interceptions as a senior and 5 interceptions in his sophomore campaign Gilbert has tremendous ball skills even though his junior year he had no interceptions. He is a willing tackler against the run however he is no playmaker in this situation and must read the backfield better in order to become a complete corner.
2. Bradley Roby – 5’11” 194 Ilbs. 4.39 40 – Ohio State - 6.7 - Bradley is only a junior but he is a three year starter with the ideal blend of size speed and athleticism. With 8 interceptions and 36 passes defended in his career shows a tremendous ability to defend the pass along with making plays in coverage that most cornerbacks cannot make. Roby would have even more stats in the pass defense if offenses did not shy away from his side of the field. He is great against the run able to shed blocks from wide receivers and is fearless against making tackles against bigger backs and tight ends in the open field. Bradley was burnt bad by Jared Abbrederis last season and he goes for the KO too often.
3. Darqueze Dennard – 5’11” 199 Ilbs. 4.51 40 – Michigan State - 6.6 - A three year starter with a good blend of size and speed. With 10 interceptions over his career along with 20 other passes defended Dennard is one of the most accomplished corners in this year’s draft and some of these games he played against the nation’s best receivers for the past three years. Darqueze is at his best in man coverage which is what I like to see out of cornerbacks. Able to defend the run well and sometimes can make running backs pay for running to his side. Dennard can easily become the best safety in this draft and/or team’s number one corner back.
4. Kyle Fuller – 6’0” 190 Ilbs. 4.49 40 – Virginia Tech – 6.25 -A three and a half year starter that has a great blend of size and straight line speed. Kyle has 6 interceptions in his career along with 22 passes defended. He is also good against the run and willing to make serious contact against the ball carrier his sophomore year he had 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks which is amazing for a corner. His ability to react to plays in front of him makes him special. There are some concern in his strength and to cover elite receivers on deep routes. Kyle might only turn into a starting number two at corner but these days that is worth a 2nd round pick. On the right team he might become a number one corner with the coaching he needs to be able to be more of a factor in the deep field when he is all alone. If Fuller drops to the third round, plain and simple he is a steal.
5. Jason Verrett – 5’9” 189 Ilbs. 4.38 40 – TCU – 5.9 - A three year starter with excellent speed and athleticism the only knock on his tangibles is that he is an inch or two too short but that is it. Jason has excellent instincts and can defend the pass even against bigger receivers due to his freakish athletic ability. Verrett is small for defending the run however he does not fear away from contact and at his size might be somewhat of a durability concern. He can easily play in the slot until he develops into a number two corner and his intangibles just may make him into a number one corner despite the two inches of size that everyone is knocking him on. I like him and if he slips out of the second round easy steal. Against the run he is easily blocked when bigger defenders get his hands on him and at best wraps up ball carriers from the legs which make him skeptical to missing some open field tackles.
6. Dontae Johnson – 6’2” 200 Ilbs. 4.45 40 – North Carolina State – 5.75 - A three year starter with the best size and speed combination in this year’s draft. Dontae is not the best in man coverage and has only recorded 3 interceptions in his career all coming last season. Johnson is better in zone and shows the ability to play outside, inside or safety. His versatility should gain value for him during the draft and he can become a number one corner in the NFL even though he got burnt by Watkins last season against Clemson. He is also a willing defender against the run. If he slips into the 4th or 5th round this pick is easily a steal.
7. Andre Hal – 5’10” 188 Ilbs. 4.50 40 Vanderbilt – 5.4 - Has a good blend of size and speed. Hal has two years starting and 29 passes defended over those seasons along with 5 interceptions during his career. Hal is better in man coverage than in zone and is not a huge factor against the run. In a corner the main thing I want is a corner that can cover his man. Andre can easily become a starter in this league however he needs to become better against the run and in zone and probably will never become a number one corner on a team.
8. Lamarcus Joyner – 5’8” 184 Ilbs. 4.55 40 – Florida State – 5.35 - A three year starter who does not have an impressive blend of size, speed and athleticism. Joyner can be a threat in the nickel position but that is about it perhaps as a number two corner at best. Does not have much playmaking ability in the run support and there is no reason to assume that his playmaking skills will become better in the NFL. If he falls far enough to about the 5th or 6th round he is a worthy pick. Joyner will definitely have a career in the NFL the question is how long and how productive will he be.
9. Jaylen Watkins – 5’11” 194 Ilbs. 4.41 40 – Florida – 5.2 - Watkins has an interesting blend of size strength and speed. Some teams think he may be best fitted as a corner. Was only the third corner on his team even with his amazing blend of strength and speed. A high value project that will fit where ever the team that drafts him asks him to play. Jaylen has turned into the third corner on his team to probably the first corner taken from Florida. If he is a 3rd or 4th round pick he may be a reach only because he has not shown the ability in the SEC to succeed at either corner or safety. For some reason decided to come out as a junior.
10. Aaron Colvin – 5’11” 177 Ilbs. 4.51 40 – Oklahoma – 5.1 - Before an ACL injury at the Senior bowl had a great blend of size and speed and was a top 5 corner if not defensive back in this year’s draft. He has played strong safety as a sophomore and started the past two seasons at corner. His stats were down as a senior however most teams did not throw his way last season due to his ability. Aaron is at his best in zone however he can cover well in man as well. Colvin welcomes contact which looks great on film however in the NFL could be a durability issue. Shows the instinct to compete for a starting job at some point. If he somehow slips to the 5th or 6th round easy steal.
11. Keith McGill – 6’3” 211 Ilbs. 4.51 40 – Utah – 5.05 - An unpolished over sized cornerback that only has one year starting experience at a decent college level. His size and speed are appealing but that can never take precedent over film. Keith had 12 passes defended last season and one interception that shows he does have ball skills in coverage. McGill is a non factor in run support not showing the ability to put the hurt on ball carriers and often looks a fool trying to defend the run. Some say he can move to safety but I disagree he is better off on the edge as a number two corner. Any team that drafts him needs to know that he will be a 25 year old rookie and he also needs much improvement in pass defense, run defense and honestly all around defense. Keith is ridiculously over rated only because of his size unless he is drafted in the 6th or 7th round.
12. Marcus Roberson – 6’0” 191 Ilbs. 4.61 40 – Florida – 5.0 - A three year starter who is only a junior however he was injured last season only playing 7 games last season. Good size however below average speed. Marcus is okay in man coverage as well as in zone. Against the run he is not the most willing defender. Roberson has not impressed me on film and has not shown too many attributes desired at the next level if he is drafted before the 7th round he is probably a stretch.
13. Bashaud Breeland – 5’11” 197 Ilbs. 4.59 40 – Clemson – 4.95 - Breeland is three year starter and is only a junior, he has average size and below average speed. He does not have many stats to prove his success in pass coverage. He plays out of control when trying to defend the run or tackle in the open field. Could possibly switch to safety any team who drafts him will need to have patients for two years and hope he can be a starter in his third year. Not worth a pick over the fifth round.
14. Loucheiz Purifoy – 5’11” 199 Ilbs. 4.61 40 – Florida – 4.9 - Purifoy before offseason work outs was called the more athletic corner on Florida’s team and he was two inches taller a few months ago on paper. Unfortunately those were the only reasons he was so highly regarded and since then he has fallen like a rock. Average at best against the pass and not much of a playmaker against the run he is a late round pick at best and we do not see him ever starting a whole season in the NFL. Could have benefited from spending his senior year in school and perhaps proven what he could do as a number one safety. We do not like any of the Florida corners a team that has this many corners who are going to be drafted should have been much better against the pass.
15. Vic Hampton – 5’9” 197 Ilbs. 4.69 40 – South Carolina – 4.85 - A two year starter with a below average blend of size and speed, he is a junior. Average in pass coverage and does not have the speed to cover receivers down field; gets burned easily. Okay at best against the run. Unless a team saw something that we did not on film he will not go higher than the 5th round, and we never see him starting in the NFL.
16. Stan Jean-Baptiste – 6’3” 218 Ilbs. 4.61 40 Nebraska - 4.8 - A two year starter with great size and below average speed. Shows some ability as a playmaker in pass coverage however he can get burned easily by average speed receivers. He does not have great ability against the run. Stan is projected to go in the 3rd or 4th round we believe that would be quite a stretch.
17. Antone Exum – 6’0” 213 Ilbs. 4.59 40 – Virginia Tech – 4.75 - Good blend of size and speed although he was injured this past season early into his senior campaign. He has nearly 40 passes defended in his first three seasons which is more than most coming out this season.
18. Terrance Mitchell – 5’11” 192 Ilbs. 4.63 40 – Oregon – 4.7 - A three year starter who has average size and below average speed. With 8 interceptions and 25 passes defended during his career he has shown an ability to defend the pass however he cannot cover that well down field and needs support from a safety in deep coverage. Has good recognition and sometimes this entails in him beating the running the plays to his side. He is projected as a 3rd or 4th round pick.
19. Pierre Desir – 6’1” 198 Ilbs. 4.59 40 – Lindenwood – 4.6 - A three year starter with good size and average speed for a corner. Pierre is an average defender in man and zone coverage and needs to become better at defending the run.
20. Chris Davis – 5’10” 202 Ilbs. 4.56 40 – Auburn – 4.5 - A good blend of size and speed. Davis is average in man coverage as well as zone. There are not too many plays that stand out on film that he is a playmaker against the run. Davis could pan out on the right team so long as they utilize his strengths and do not ask too much of him. Could possibly be a late round sleeper.
