2017 NFL Draft: Cornerback
2017 NFL Draft Cornerbacks
Marshon Lattimore-CB-Ohio State-6’0”-193-Top 10-97
Very good size but average arm length at 31.25 inches. Outstanding athleticism rocking a 4.36 second 40 yard dash and 38.5 inch vertical leap. Lattimore only started one season in Columbus after recurring hamstring injuries derailed his freshman season and cost him half his sophomore year. Hamstrings can be a fickle bitch so you best believe team doctors have been all over this. Lot of press coverage at Ohio State and this kid has fluid hips, an effortless backpedal, and top end speed to cover the deep ball or attack the line of scrimmage. He seems like a willing tackler against screens and in the running game. Lattimore is really a top notch cornerback prospect the only knocks on him are average arm length to jam at the line, only one year starting experience, and will his hamstrings hold up. Those are not enormous question marks and a team that feels good about his health going forward will take him in the top 10. I see a Janoris Jenkins comparison.
Marlon Humphrey-CB-Alabama-6’0”-197-Top 20-94
Ideal size for an NFL cornerback. Great height weight, adds 32.25” arms and a 4.41 in the 40 and you have a piece of clay any defensive back coach would want. On the field he looks great. Twitchy athlete that snaps out of his backpedal. I see solid zone instincts and man skills to boot. I think he’s scheme diverse with size and experience pressing at the line for a cover 2, but also the athleticism to play press man. Only 2 years starting experience, both at left cornerback for the Tide. All the surrounding talent especially the pass rush can take off a lot of pressure in coverage. Humphrey allowed 19 yards per reception as a starter which raises questions if he can play man without safety help. I also think he doesn’t look smooth in man coverage, but rather is using his speed and explosiveness to keep up with receivers. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it becomes more challenging when your opponents have both speed and savvy. Think of Revis or Chris Harris smoothly in coverage vs. Trae Waynes or Janoris Jenkins using physical gifts to get the job done. I wouldn’t fault a team for taking him in the top 15, but I see a lack of instincts that push him later for me. With good coaching and improved recognition and angles, no reason this kid can’t be a true number 1 corner. Comparison would be Jimmy Smith or Vontae Davis, or dare I say Dee Milliner.
Tre-Davious White-CB-LSU-5’11”-192-1st/2nd Round-90
He was a 4 year starter in the LSU defensive backfield which is saying something. He’s a tough tackler, albeit a bit of an ankle biter. With his coverage ability he may be pushed into the slot where he will need to improve his tackling. Love his compete level. He’s an explosive athlete (only 32” vert though) but I worry about his lateral mobility and hip fluidity. Bottomline is he’s a good coverage player with inside/outside flexibility. That’s a very valuable skill set. Now his limitations are mostly size related, not length (32” arms), but he can be out physicalled both by receivers and in the running game. Seems like a high character guy that you’d want on your team and doesn’t come with scheme limitations or other question marks some other players have. Think Desmond Trufant or Tracy Porter.
Gareon Conley-CB-Ohio State-6’0”-195-1st/2nd Round-89
Ohio State very well may have had 3 first round picks in their secondary last fall, unbelievable. Conley is the least heralded of their big 3 but that doesn’t mean he’s not a solid prospect. He played on both sides of the field but primarily as the left cornerback. Solid size for a corner featuring 33” arms, 4.44 speed, and his 6.68 in the 3 cone is just ridiculous. On the field he plays a good amount of press but doesn’t yet have good jamming technique. His best attribute are his ball skills. He has good awareness and is able to convert opportunities into turnovers. I wonder how much help he got from playing across from Lattimore and with Eli Apple in 2015. I’m not in love with his backpedal play so he might be best suited for zone coverage, at least to start his career. I think Eli Apple is a solid comparison and he had some growing pains in year 1. Conley has the attributes you want, scheme flexibility, and ball skills, but he needs work in press technique, off coverage back pedal and run support. I think he’ll go in the late first round, but best value would be early 2nd. Update: And another player has off the field concerns emerging on draft week. Conley was accused of rape earlier this month, though his attorney denies the allegations. Still, he'll drop precipitously in the draft because what if the case goes to court? You don't want a player on your team on trial for rape. La'el Collins went from first round to undrafted because he used to date a girl who was found dead. Conley's going to fall pretty far, but I won't change his grade because he hasn't even been charged yet.
Sidney Jones-CB-Washington-6’0”-186-2nd Day-87
He is Asante Samuel. They look exactly the same on the field and play the same style. Jones is always around the ball and takes it away just like his former teammate Marcus Peters. Now he does have several legitimate concerns. First, he tore his achilles at his pro day. That’s a shitty injury that will likely keep him out all of 2017 and there are no guarantees that he’ll come back with the same quickness. Second, he lacks size. At 186 lbs he will get pushed around and by all accounts he won’t be adding the 10-15 lbs teams would like. He can play his game at 186 but he’ll get consistently overpowered by big receivers and won’t be able to play effective press coverage. Lastly and leastly he doesn’t have true top end speed. Sidney ran a 4.47 second 40 yard dash at the combine which isn’t slow, but it’s not ideal. Similar to Joe Haden in that regard. All those knocks push him to the second day, but the achilles is the main one. Remember that Marcus Peters, a very similar player, went in the first round despite massive off field concerns. Without the injury I’m confident Jones would have been a top 20 pick. When healthy expect this kid to be a zone cornerback that turns the ball over and quarterbacks are never quite comfortable throwing at.
Kevin King-CB-Washington-6’3”-200-1st/2nd Round-87
How have I not heard about this guy before? The height stands out, but on the field he doesn’t seem that tall. Maybe it’s his 32” arms, which is below average for his height. Now the second thing you notice is what a god damn athlete this kid is. Woof. You’re looking at a 6’3” cornerback who runs a 4.43, leaps 39.5 inches, ran a 3.89 second 20 yard shuttle, and blew my mind with a 6.56 second 3 cone drill. Ok but does it translate to the field? Yes and no. He already looks like an NFL ready boundary defender. King can play physical at the line, turn and run with receivers, turn his head, find the ball, and make a play on it. Seems willing to tackle, but should improve. Outside the numbers he’s ready to go. Unfortunately crossing routes are going to be his downfall. That is if he’s asked to play man. Now you want a cornerback that can do both man and zone, and some day King may develop into that guy, god knows he has the talent. But for now I see him as an ideal, and I mean ideal, cover 3 cornerback in the Seahawks tradition. No reason he can’t be a Richard Sherman type player. Unfortunately the teams running the Seahawks defense are unlikely to jump on a corner in the first round so King may be stuck in a round peg square hole situation. Spent two years as a safety so teams may want to move him back there but I think he belongs on the outside.
Adoree’ Jackson-CB-USC-5’10”-186-2nd Day-80
This guy was one hell of a college football player, holy cow. He made big plays on defense, offense, and particularly special teams. Adoree’ should be one of the top return men in the NFL immediately. The problem is that’s definitely the best part of his game. He won’t be playing offense anymore which means his primary role will be on defense and right now he’s not ready. I don’t think he plays quite as fast as his 4.42 second 40 would lead you to believe. He’s hesitant coming out of the back pedal and is not a willing tackler at this point. To my eyes, Jackson looks like a player that’s dominated football as long as he’s played but doesn’t have the skill set (size, speed, coverage ability, hands, route running ability) to find a big role at the NFL level. I think at best he learns to be a good nickel corner and is an excellent returnman. His 5 interceptions and improved coverage in 2016 will get him drafted higher than I think he should. All that negativity aside, he was electric last year and I’m pulling for him. Very comparable to Cyrus Jones. This is one of the most amazing interceptions I’ve ever seen.