Cornerback is a position of need that the Jets will have to address in the draft.
Joe Douglas filled two starting spots with Brian Poole and Pierre Desir, but the Jets will need to take an outside cornerback on Day 2 of the draft, assuming they take a tackle or receiver in the first round. That player will compete with Blessaun Austin for the open starting spot on the outside.
So, which top cornerbacks should the Jets target between picks Nos. 48, 68 and 79? Let’s take a look at the best players to keep an eye on.
Trevon Diggs, Alabama
The brother of Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Trevon Diggs lines up on the opposite side of the ball. If Gang Green elects to take Diggs with the 48th pick, he could be covering his brother two times a season.
Diggs started 12 games for the Crimson Tide as a senior, picking up third-team Associated Press All-American and second-team All-SEC accolades. On the season, Diggs had interceptions and tied for the team lead with eight pass breakups, along with 37 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
Diggs has the combination of size, standing 6-foot-1, strength and ball skills to be a more than capable press cover corner at the next level.
A.J. Terrell, Clemson
A.J. Terrell finished his career with Clemson as a first-team All-ACC selection, starting all 15 games for the Tigers. He recorded 37 tackles, two interceptions and six pass breakups.
Terrell is a terrific athlete who can play in either press or man coverage. He didn’t exactly do his draft stock any favors with his performance against LSU in the National Championship Game, but he was matching up against two likely first-round picks, as well as a quarterback who will be taken No. 1 overall in just over two weeks.
Terrell’s style is what the Jets often seek in cornerbacks. He is physical and knows how to use his hands in stride. He’s not one to shy away from contact and put receivers on islands last season with his physicality and ball skills.
Damon Arnette, Ohio State
Overshadowed by his counterpart at Ohio State, Damon Arnette elected to return to school after his junior season.
Arnette finished his career with the Buckeyes as a second-team All-Big Ten selection. On the season, he compiled 35 tackles, one interception and eight pass breakups in 13 starts.
He has experience playing on the inside and outside and possesses NFL size at the cornerback position, standing at 6-foot, 195 pounds. Arnette isn’t afraid to lower his shoulder in the run game nor is he shy about being physical with receivers. His struggles in the NFL may come against vertical speedsters, but he definitely can hold his own in press coverage.
Bryce Hall, Virginia
Bryce Hall’s ability as a shutdown cornerback in the ACC was known before his senior season was cut short due to an ankle injury. In 2018, he led the FBS with 22 pass breakups.
Hall started just six games before undergoing surgery on that ankle. In those six starts, he recorded 20 tackles, one sack and four pass breakups.
Due to a shortened draft process and recovering from ankle surgery, Hall hasn’t been able to improve his draft stock. However, being a known commodity, Hall has the outside length and ball skills to be a starting cornerback at the next level.
Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
Cameron Dantzler started just nine games in his junior season at Mississippi State but tied for the team lead with two interceptions and eight pass breakups, adding 40 tackles in the process. He missed three games during the season due to an injury and elected to sit out his team’s bowl game to focus on the draft process.
So far, the process hasn’t been too kind to Dantzler, as he had a miserable NFL combine. What will matter to NFL teams, though, is his ability to hang with NFL caliber wide receivers in the SEC.
Dantzler is a thin cornerback at 6-foot-2, 188-pounds. Still, that doesn’t stop him from being a physical corner with great ball tracking skills. He can come in and be an immediate starter for a team looking for a physical tweener that can play with a chip on his shoulder.
Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn
The son of two Olympic caliber track athletes from Nigeria, Noah Igbinoghene was a track star himself at Auburn. But, his natural calling has been football.
In his final season with the Tigers, he started all 13 games, recording 42 tackles and seven pass breakups. Igbinoghene is extremely physical at the point of attack, but also a very good athlete. He can offer help with his physicality in run support and his athleticism is shown on special teams, as well.
Troy Pride Jr., Notre Dame
Troy Pride Jr. did many favors for himself at the Senior Bowl, leading to his stock rising accordingly. He finished his career with the Fighting Irish by starting 13 games while recording 40 tackles, one interception and six pass breakups.
As a track star, Pride has great speed and quickness but also shows impressive timing on the outside. The problem for the Notre Dame product is maintaining consistency and confidence. He has the proper NFL traits, but will also need some coaching at the next level.
