The first round of the 2020 NFL Draft couldn’t have gone better for the Chicago Bears, who heading into Day 2 armed with a pair of second-rounders has plenty of first-round talent still on the board.
Heading into Round 2, there is still some first-round talent at cornerback in this deep draft class. The Bears have a starting right cornerback spot up for grabs opposite Pro Bowler Kyle Fuller, and they could certainly find his running mate in this NFL Draft. Depending on how the chips fall, perhaps a first-round talent lands in Chicago’s lap at pick 43.
Here are five cornerbacks that are still on the board heading into Day 2 that Chicago should target, if they fall to them at pick 43 or 50.
1. Trevon Diggs, Alabama
Diggs is easily the best cornerback prospect available heading into Day 2 — a first-round talent with the kind of instincts and ball skills that would make him a stud opposite Pro Bowler Kyle Fuller in Chicago’s secondary. The only problem is Diggs might not last 10 picks before the Bears get their first crack in the second round. But on the off chance he does fall to pick 43, Chicago shouldn’t waste any time selecting him.
According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, Diggs is a “talented prospect with rare combination of size, strength and ball skills. As a former receiver, Diggs has an instinctive feel for his opponent’s plans and uses his size and athleticism to disrupt the blueprint when possible. The foot agility and short-area burst are good for his size and helped keep completion totals low. He’s inconsistent staying in phase with downfield routes and long speed is his kryptonite, causing grabbing and holding when panic sets in. He’s a future starting press-man corner with the hands and ball tracking to take it away and should benefit from more help over the top as a pro. Future consideration at free safety is possible considering his size and skill set.”
2. Kristian Fulton, LSU
Fulton is another first-round talent that dropped to the second round, and he could very well be waiting for his name to be called when pick 43 rolls around for Chicago. Fulton’s versatility and instincts in coverage make him an intriguing prospect for a team like the Bears, and he’s someone that could start right away. The Bears have shown interest in Fulton, as they held a pre-draft meeting with him.
According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, Fulton is a “press-man cornerback whose 40 percent rate of completion as an LSU Tiger may not tell the entire story as an NFL prospect. Fulton has good size and is usually searching to make plays on the football. He plays with decent eye balance in off-coverage but can be a tad late with response time. Once he gets behind he tends to stay behind against multi-breaking routes and his long speed and recovery burst are below average. Fulton showed improvement throughout the year, but his confidence has been an issue at times. When the pros and cons are balanced, he appears to be a good backup with a chance to work up the ladder.”
3. Jaylon Johnson, Utah
Utah’s Jaylon Johnson is another top cornerback prospect believed to be a first-round talent that could fall into Chicago’s lap, if all goes right. Johnson has been praised for his physicality and athletic build that allows him to stack up against bigger, physical receivers. He’s developed into a shutdown cornerback in his junior season with Utah.
According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, Johnson is a “boundary bully with an improving skill set to clamp down on WR1s and limit their exposure to the football. Johnson is built for press, with the size, length and athleticism to force receivers to work harder getting into their routes. His eagerness to stay tight to the route leads to inconsistent balance and positioning from time to time, but his foot quickness and agility allow for rapid recoveries. He’s equipped to play the deep ball but needs to fully prove himself in that area. He’s a physical press corner with off-man ability whose anticipation and ball skills should continue to help him make plays as a CB1 and first-round pick.”
4. Amik Robertson, Louisiana Tech
Don’t overlook Louisiana Tech’s Amik Robertson for his 5-foot-8 stature. He possesses rare instincts and ball skills that make him an intriguing prospect to watch. It’s no wonder the Bears have shown interest in Robertson, having met with him during the pre-draft process. Many have Robertson pegged as a third or fourth-round pick. So on the off chance general manager Ryan Pace trades back to acquire a third or fourth-rounder, Robertson could be waiting in the wings.
According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, Robertson is a “smallish, outside corner with tremendous intensity, swagger and toughness. Needs to handle the athletic challenges as a slot corner in the NFL. He gives rough rides to receivers trying to get away from his press before following it with route recognition and footwork to continue hounding his man. Physicality overtakes technique at times and he could struggle to mirror the release of savvy NFL slot receivers. The instincts and ball skills are rare and should translate to this level of competition in zone and man as long as he can shadow routes. Teams may worry about his size, but run support will not be a concern and Robertson could become a starting nickel as a Day 3 selection.”
5. Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi
Another top cornerback prospect is Mississippi State’s Cameron Dantzler, who was one of the best cornerbacks in the SEC last season and fared well against some of the top SEC talent in LSU and Alabama. While Dantzler thrives in the passing game and isn’t likely to give up explosive plays, he does need to work on doing a better job with his tackling. Some have Dantzler pegged as a second or third-rounder, and depending on how high Chicago is on Dantzler, maybe they pull the trigger in Round 2.
According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, Dantzler is a “very long, stringy cornerback with surprising strength and a competitive mindset that had quarterbacks looking for easier battles elsewhere. He looks to suffocate and contest the route from start to finish and does an excellent job of maintaining phase in the vertical plane. His cover style will draw attention from NFL game officials early on, but the athleticism and length should allow him to trust his technique. He won’t give up many explosive plays through the air, but is a high-risk tackler in run support and needs to do a better job of wrapping and finishing. Dantzler can play in a variety of coverages but is a future starter as a confident press-man corner with early starting potential.”
