We finally hit the final three players of our scouting breakdowns for the eligible Buckeyes for the 2021 NFL Draft. We look at the hotly debated and slightly falling cornerback, Shaun Wade. Going into the 2020 season, Wade was seen as a sure thing first-round pick. After being tasked with moving from the inside to the outside this season, Wade’s stock has fallen.
Wade is a cornerback who has some flashes and tools teams will love, but may end up being scheme-specific or a slot corner at the next level. There were some highs and lows to Wade’s game this season. Let’s get into the positives and negatives of Shaun Wade.
The pros to drafting Shaun Wade…
The positives to drafting Shaun Wade…
Something we said on the Cover 1 Draft Podcast Q&A Episode last Friday night was how Shaun Wade played out of position. That's evident but I've always enjoyed watching him come up in run support. This was impressive from the National Championship vs. Najee Harris. pic.twitter.com/GFUdJXXG1y
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) February 23, 2021
Shaun Wade is a quick, twitchy cornerback with solid ball skills. In zone coverage Wade is really good and covers his zone pretty well. He can keep up with most receivers and in short space covers great. While watching reps of him in the slot, you are reminded of why he was a first-round prospect heading into this season.
In run support, Wade is one of the better corners in this draft. Wade is so good in short areas it also shows up on the ground. He explodes to the ball, wraps up, and completes the tackle. Teams may even look to move him to safety where his skillset might be better suited.
NEXT … The cons to drafting Shaun Wade
The downside to drafting Shaun Wade
CFB image of the year tbh pic.twitter.com/dxnUugdSRo
— 𝐂𝐅𝐁𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝟐𝟒𝟕TM (@CFBLive247) February 23, 2021
With all of the accolades coming into this season for Wade, he simply fell short. Granted, a strange off-season may have been part of the issue, Wade may just be better suited to be a slot corner which instantly lowers his draft stock. In man coverage, Wade at times didn’t mirror his receiver which led to big plays. For all of his athleticism gearing himself down hurts him on the outside.
A move to safety might help Wade as his ability to react and not cover on the outside might be a smart one. While Wade has experience on the outside and this does help his flexibility, a slot corner is usually not an early pick for most teams. Wade has a lot of technique for the outside that needs work, but a patient coaching staff could unlock all that potential.
Wade, right now, is a third-round pick due to his potential limitation to the slot. Should Wade announce his willingness to move to safety, he might see a bump in his draft stock. How he looks to scouts and how creative the team is will determine where Wade can go.
All Ohio State football players eligible for the 2021 NFL draft
