The Falcons traded up for Ohio State cornerback Kendall Sheffield in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft. Sheffield is a true speedster rumored to have run his 40-yard dash time in the 4.3-4.4 second range. His overall profile suggests an extremely athletic corner who can provide some inexpensive depth. He should contribute on special teams, too.
Sheffield didn’t see a lot of playing time as a freshman, but earned his starting role in 2018 and did well. He’s a solid defender in run support but more importantly, he’s exceptional in man-to-man coverage.
Sheffield will be joining Desmond Trufant, Isaiah Oliver, Damontae Kazee and Blidi Wreh-Wilson as the main corners for the Falcons this season. This is a good situation for Sheffield because he can spend most of 2019 on the bench and special teams and work to earn a starting role next year.
Atlanta clearly saw cornerback as their biggest remaining need and Sheffield’s speed should be a nice asset for the secondary. He is a bit raw and has made some mistakes on the field that will need to be corrected. But with some good coaching, the Falcons could turn him into one of the best outside cornerbacks on the roster.
