2022: Defensive Backs

Who fits my scheme? That’s the thing, I can write up people all day, but if your scheme requires man coverage corners or long zone corners then this all might be moot. I tried to write this up as neutrally as possible with the caveat that man coverage highlights great players, zone coverage is possible when everyone is a good player.

Kaiir Elam–CB–Florida–6’1”-191-1st-94

True number one press cornerback. Elam has all the tools you look for in a lockdown player at this position. I would like to see him tackle better but his coverage skills are already pro ready. Love to see Gainesville producing more cornerback talent. I think he belongs in the top half of round one if he goes to a press scheme. 

Sauce Gardner–CB–Cincinnati–6’3”-190–Top 15–93

Perhaps the best nickname out there, Sauce is a difficult prospect to evaluate given the strength of competition. His size makes him fit as a zone 3 cover corner in the Richard Sherman mold and I have no reservations that he would excel in that style, but I do think that defensive scheme is going extinct in the NFL. I really wish he tackled better, Sauce seems like a guy that doesn’t want to dirty it up. Trevon Diggs is the obvious comparison and I don’t think that’s far off. Let’s also remember that Diggs led the NFL in interceptions as well as yards allowed in 2021. Sauce has the tools to be a good player at the next level, but ask Kevin King or Tre Flowers if it comes easy as a tall corner and you would have the answer that everything has to be right for these guys to excel. 

Trent McDuffie–CB–Washington–5’11”-193–1st–93

I went into this scouting profile looking for the difference between McDuffie and Sidney Jones, and that became apparent almost immediately. McDuffie can hit. Not only that, but he can disrupt receivers. Sidney Jones is on his second team but still in the league because he can frustrate receivers and McDuffie can do the same, plus, put people on the ground. I really like Trent’s lack of size and speed limitations and the idea that he could fit any system. 

Andrew Booth–CB–Clemson–6’0”-194–1st/2nd–93

Medical questions are the big one for Booth, already has tendinitis and the doctor’s evaluations are going to be a major factor in where he gets drafted. He has great size and athleticism for the corner spot and plays with plus aggressiveness. Booth doesn’t shy away from contact in press coverage or supporting the run game. He held down the left corner spot against Big 5 competition and seemed to improve year over year. His burst and top end speed is only average so that Marshon Lattimore, Denzel Ward level draft grade doesn’t fit here, but Booth has the tools and flexibility to be impactful in most coverage schemes.

Dax Hill–S–Michigan–6’0”-191–2nd–90

Outstanding athlete, seriously elite. This kid topped his 4.38 second 40 with an insane 6.57 second 3 cone drill. Strong muscled frame which impacts his fluidity, but he still plays in space nicely. I think he would fit as a Tampa 2 cornerback and he would immediately become an asset against screens, outside runs, and would be a great blitzer to boot. As a safety, I don’t see him in the centerfielder Devin McCourty role, more so a downhill player that fills holes in a heartbeat. Hill doesn’t have elite instincts, which is another reason he would fit at cornerback so he can focus on half the field. 

Kyle Hamilton–S–Notre Dame–6’4”-220–Top 20–90

Remember Isaiah Simmons? Yeah Kyle Hamilton is like that. I’m not sure exactly where he fits in, but he’s tall, long, fast, and quick and he has to be impactful somewhere on the defense. I have a hard time believing he is a classic free safety given his size, but my god could he be the best Tampa 2 MLB? I wish he tackled better and part of me worries that he wants to be more flash and less grit. He fits in a positionless scheme like many basketball teams use, but there are not many of those in the NFL. The open questions push him to late round 1 for me, but I’m confident he goes in the top 20. 

Derek Stingley Jr.--CB–LSU–6’0”-190–Top 20–88

I have a hard time understanding why he is considered a top pick. Totally get the measureables and the pedigree stuff, given LSU’s predilection for pumping out defensive back talent. But at a certain point shouldn’t we see production and improvement? This kid has regressed every year since his freshman season and I’m supposed to think that turns around with a few million dollars in his pocket at the next level? Look bottomline, Devonte Smith ate Stingley’s lunch and didn’t leave any leftovers. At this rate, Devonta Smith is not an upper echelon NFL receiver yet, Stingley is going to have a rough go with the rest of them and that pushes him to round 2 for me. Reminds me a lot of Shaq Griffin.