What’s the most desired attribute for defensive backs in today’s NFL? Without question, the answer is versatility. While the old-school lockdown boundary cornerback or deep-third safety is of vital importance, those types of players are in short supply. And in a league that has five or more defensive backs on the field over 70% of the time (for some teams, it’s closer to 90%), you’d better have guys who can play everywhere from the boundary to the slot to the box to single- and two-high alignments.
So, as Mark Schofield and myself complete our Top 11 lists by position for the 2020 NFL draft class, we took the need for versatility to heart. Instead of separating cornerbacks and safeties, we merged those players in the spirit of where the NFL is headed in a big hurry. As a result, there’s everything from man-coverage and press-coverage stars to slot bullies to multi-position safeties on this list.
One thing’s for sure: You’re going to see all of these guys going early in the 2020 draft. Because if you can’t cover from every angle these days, you might as well not show up on the field. It’s why there are 12 defensive backs in our Top 50 big board, and only Kyle Dugger, the safety from Lenoir-Rhyne, didn’t also make this list.
Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
Height: 6’1 Weight: 205
40-Yard Dash: 4.48 seconds
Bench Press: 11 reps
Vertical Jump: 41.0 inches
Broad Jump: 135.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: The son of Nigerian immigrants, Okudah grew up in New Jersey first and then Texas, where he became the top cornerback prospect in the nation at South Grand Prairie High School. He chose Ohio State after getting offers from just about every major program, and found success as he climbed the Buckeyes’ depth chart. In 2019, his first season as a full-time starter, he had 35 tackles, one tackle for loss, two forced fumbles, 21 passes defensed, and three interceptions.
Okudah continued his competitive demeanor at the scouting combine, when some guy at the scouting combine asked him about his “sloppy technique.”
Receivers know how this kid felt.
“For me, I kind of try to take bits and pieces from each player,” Okudah said at the combine, when he wasn’t berating impertinent reporters. “So for me, I like watching how Richard Sherman understands real concepts. I like watching Patrick Peterson’s consistency and his technique. Jalen Ramsey’s physicality, his aggressiveness. I watch how Stephon Gilmore switches up his leverage every time to break the quarterback. So, I just take bits and pieces and try to emulate all of that.”
Stat to Know: In 440 coverage snaps last season, Okudah gave up just 27 catches on 58 targets for 282 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 45.3.
Strengths: It does not take long to see how talented – and pro-ready – Okudah is to play cornerback at the next level. Turn on any game and within moments you will see skills and traits that translate to the next level. Take this one play against Maryland, the third defensive play of the game for the Buckeyes:
Okudah is in press alignment to the outside, using inside leverage against the wide receiver. Rather than panic at the start of the play, he is patient with both his feet and his hands, like a cobra waiting to strike. When the receiver declares his route by releasing to the outside on a vertical stem, Okudah then gets his hand into his shoulder pads to maintain his relationship with him, and slow his momentum. But alas! The receiver is actually trying to get the corner to bite on the vertical release and suddenly hits the breaks, to run a hitch route. No matter, Okudah has the hips and the footwork to stop on a dime, drive back downhill and make a play at the catch point.
One play, almost everything you want to see in a cornerback.
Okudah is schematically-diverse, aggressive at the catch point, and plays the position without fear. His Combine positional workout was almost pristine, from his change-of-direction ability to his footwork in the backpedal. I mean…pristine:
As an aside, there is a version of that set to “Smooth Criminal” that is also worth a click.
He checks every box. Except maybe the musical one, but you’re drafting him to cover, not sing.
Weaknesses: If you want perfection, then perhaps you can find a weakness or two. Okudah was hit with flags two years ago, but that was something he cleaned up this past season. Still, he does get a bit physical at times and with how the game is called in the NFL, he might draw his share of flags. He could be a bit better at tracking the football and breaking up passes, Pro Football Focus charted him with 11 forced incompletions, which was only tied for 60th in FBS last season. So he is not perfect I guess. Not sure that really counts as a “weakness” but given that it is “anonymous scout season,” perhaps it does.
Conclusion: The bottom line is simply this: Okudah can flat-out cover. Everything about his is executed at a high-level, and the fact that Okudah is plug-and-play in any defensive system speaks volumes.
Comparison: Aqib Talib makes a great deal of sense as a comparison. Bill Belichick often stressed with his defensive backs the ability to flip their hips and change direction, and that is perhaps why the New England Patriots focus mightily on the three-cone drill as a piece of player evaluations. With Okudah, like with Talib, his footwork and change-of-direction ability is a critical component of what makes him great.
2. Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
Height: 5’9″ Weight: 203
40-Yard Dash: 4.45 seconds
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: 36.0 inches
Broad Jump: 124.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: The son of former Bills and Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield, who played in the NFL for 14 seasons and made three Pro Bowls, Winfield Jr. grew up in Minnesota, but his family relocated to Texas after his dad’s retirement in 2013. There, Winfield Jr. worked his way up to three-star recruit status at The Woodlands High School in Houston. He received offers from Northwestern, Purdue, and Mississippi, but chose the offer from Minnesota as the best fit for him. Winfield missed all but eight total games in the 2017 and 2018 seasons, but bounced back with a vengeance in 2019, with 88 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, eight passes defensed, and seven interceptions.
Like father, like son? In many ways, yes.
“Man, pretty much everything,” Winfield told me when I asked him what he learned from his dad. “He started me off young, so at a young age, I was out there doing footwork drills with him, watching film and pretty much everything football-wise. I learned a lot from him.
“It comes from him, and from film study. Him teaching me how to watch film. When he was in the pros, we’d sit in the bedroom, and he’d be looking at film, and I’d be watching him breaking it down. Showing me what the receivers do and the route concepts and everything.”
Stat to Know: In addition to his seven interceptions last season, Winfield racked up two forced incompletions. He allowed 11 receptions on 22 targets all season, so opposing quarterbacks were generally in better shape throwing away from him as much as possible.
Strengths: Winfield is a run-and-chase deep third safety with the ability to diagnose routes and align coverages to his benefit. High-points potential catches with timed jumps; has the best ball skills in this safety class. Faster on the field than he runs in a straight line because he’s able to intuit what the offense is doing. Matches and trails naturally with receivers. Had the ability and responsibility to alter coverage pre-snap based on receiver alignment. Has outstanding closing speed, but is also confident enough to bait the quarterback and close in. Outstanding recall — will diagnose on the fly based on film study. Wrap tackler with a bigger thump than his size might indicate. Good delay blitzer who can slip through gaps from the box or from free safety. Had 18 run stops last season, so he’s not just a coverage guy.
Weaknesses: Injury history is a concern, but Winfield obviously played healthy in 2019 and his combine performance showed no ill effects of previous injuries. Aggressive to a fault at times when deciphering misdirection. Some teams may shy away from his size, but he’s perfectly capable of making (and preventing) plays with his intelligence and recovery quickness. Raw range isn’t outstanding, though Winfield mitigates this with his ability to shorten the distance between himself and the receiver with his on-field understanding.
Conclusion: Watching tape with Winfield was a fascinating exercise in how important shot-calling and diagnostic skills are to the modern free safety position. And though he has potential as a slot and box player, Winfield screams deep safety with his athletic profile. Moreover, he’s plug-and-play at that position. Take the size and range concerns and throw them out the window — Winfield should be a top-15 pick based on talent and positional value.
NFL Comparison: Earl Thomas. When Thomas came out of Texas in 2010 at 5-foot-10 and 208 pounds, there were people who thought he should move to cornerback because he didn’t fit the physical profile they wanted for the safety position. Thomas proved the doubters wrong with a formidable competitive demeanor and all the smarts you could ever want on the field. Not that Winfield projects to be Thomas in his prime — not yet, at least — but the different for Winfield between the tape and the doubts seem similar. As a pure deep safety, Winfield has no rival in this draft class, and he excels as a desperately needed position.
3. C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
Height: 6’1″ Weight: 204
40-Yard Dash: 4.39 seconds
Bench Press: 20 reps
Vertical Jump: 37.5 inches
Broad Jump: 127.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: A top recruit at both running back and cornerback out of Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Henderson committed to Florida after originally signing on with Miami. He made the Freshman All-SEC team as a freshman in 2017 with four interceptions and eight passes defensed, and put up 93 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles, 28 passes defensed, and six interceptions in his three-year collegiate career.
“I’m very comfortable,” Henderson said at the combine about man coverage. “We played that a lot back Florida. Press was our main go-to. So that’s something I’m very comfortable with. [Todd Grantham] mixed up a lot of coverages. So it was very different for us, compared to freshman year, mostly one coverage. So, it was very different. I think it helps out a lot, me being versatile and being able to work out of different coverages.”
Stat to Know: Henderson saw his man coverage rate drop from 60% In 2018 to 33% in 2019. He also saw his allowed completion rate rise from 38% to 51%, and his yards per target nearly double from 5.3 to 10.1. You know what to do, defensive coordinators.
Strengths: Similar to Jeff Okudah, Henderson is a potential NFL press-coverage cornerback with great man coverage skills. Given his experience, he is very patient when in press alignment, both with his feet and with his hands. He is often deliberate to fire his hands into his jams, but when he does he is efficient at re-routing most receivers. Henderson is also patient in terms of how he plays receivers. Whether in press at the line or playing off coverage, he is content with playing off the back hip, almost baiting the quarterback into throwing his way. Take this play from 2018 – a season which is worth studying to perhaps see him at his best – where he plays in off technique but reads the eyes of Drew Lock:
Henderson almost gives Lock this post route to throw, so the QB takes the bait. But then you see the burst from the cornerback to close the window, drive on the throw, and deflect the pass for an incompletion.
That play highlights some of his athleticism, which he showed both on film and at the Combine. Henderson tested very well for a cornerback, with a 4.39 40-yard dash that indicates his long-speed, as well as an explosive 37.5 inch vertical.
Also like Okudah, if you want a scheme-diverse cornerback, look no further. Henderson was used in a variety of both zone and man coverage schemes.
Weaknesses: You have to begin with what Henderson does, or perhaps fails to do, against the run. There are times when he seems minimally engaged in coming up against the run, or making tackles on running backs in space. Now, if you look at corners for what they do against receivers, this might not be an issue. Let’s not forget, Deion Sanders hated tackling, so much so he said recently that “[t]hese shoulders were made for suits, not for Brandon Jacobs.” But if your team is a man-coverage heavy system, Henderson is a fit. There is also the issue of his play slipping a bit in 2019. Pro Football Focus charted him with allowing 20 completions on 39 targets, for a passer rating of 109.0 in 2019. This was by far his worst season in that category. PFF also graded him with a 58.9 coverage grade, a big fall from the mark of 81.7 he earned in 2018. That is why it makes sense to give his 2018 film a viewing. When you do, you see plays like the above.
Conclusion: The slippage in 2019, combined with some of his reps against the run – or “business decisions” as others have termed them – are cause for concern. But sometimes you need to look at the full body of work. In 2018 Henderson delivered the type of play commensurate with a top pick in the draft. Giving those games a look might ease concerns scouts and coaches have about him. The player we saw a year ago is the kind of CB you can draft early and be confident in, regardless of your defensive scheme. Finally, consider this: In the run-up to this draft the late buzz has teams perhaps favoring Henderson over Okudah. Whether that is a pre-draft smokescreen – or an accurate play of the land – remains to be seen.
Comparison: Metrics-wise, Henderson compares favorably to Quentin Jammer, the former Charger. On the field, however, Henderson is reminiscent of Bradley Roby. The only caveat is that when Roby was coming out of Ohio State, he was much more aggressive in how he played against the run.
4. Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
Height: 6’0″ Weight: 201
40-Yard Dash: 4.63 seconds
Bench Press: 19 reps
Vertical Jump: 36.0 inches
Broad Jump: 122.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: A four-star recruit out of Roswell, Georgia, McKinney committed to Alabama in his junior year of high school, backed out, and then re-committed to the Crimson Tide after considering Ohio State, Clemson, and Georgia. 2018 was his first year as a full-time starter, and he ended that season as the Defensive MVP of the Orange Bowl. Over three seasons, McKinney totaled 176 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, six sacks, five forced fumbles, 20 passes defensed, and five interceptions. Moreover, he did it all over the field.
“I’m the type of guy that I want to impact the game in every way that I can. If I think I’m able to have an effect in blitzing and covering or whatever it is, I’ll always mention it to coach, and say, ‘Hey, I can do this. Maybe we should try this.’ There have been times where I’ve done that. But they also know what I can do and my ability so they try their best to put me in the best situation and the best possible situation to have a good result.”
Stat to Know: Versatile, indeed. In 2019, McKinney played 285 snaps in the box, 272 snaps at free safety, and 227 snaps in the slot. He also had 34 snaps as a pass-rusher.
Strengths: As a free safety, McKinney brings good pre-snap diagnostics and a smooth backpedal to the position. Played well in both single-high and two-deep looks. Versatility forces opposing offenses to pay attention when he fakes lurk looks from the deep third. As a slot defender, McKinney has the spatial awareness to work against quick inside receivers and can trail speed receivers up the seam. Intent on reading quarterbacks wherever he’s aligned. Can turn and burn against post receivers as a single-high safety. Excellent blitzer who also looks to make people pay for going over the middle. Good ball skills in intermediate to deep stuff. Has an excellent sense of the transition between short and deep coverage.
Weaknesses: A little tight in the hips, which leads to abrupt turns in coverage at times. Recovery speed isn’t great, and he’ll occasionally lose leverage to quicker receivers on two-way concepts, especially against receivers who know how to fake their moves to one side. This issue could be magnified at the NFL level. Works coverage up the chute more out of a bail alignment at times to adjust.
Conclusion: The “jack-of-all-trades, master of none” tag does not apply to McKinney in any way. It is unusual for a player to be as effective at three different positions as he is, even in this era of versatility, and even in a defense where such versatility has been prized and developed. Though I would use him more as a true safety at the second and third levels of a defense, McKinney has legitimate starter potential just about everywhere on the field — and that will make him a very dangerous weapon in the hands of the right defensive coordinator.
NFL Comparison: Minkah Fitzpatrick. Like McKinney, Fitzpatrick played multiple defensive back positions for Nick Saban before the Dolphins took him 11th overall in the 2018 draft. Fitzpatrick took that versatility to Miami where he became, among other things, one of the NFL’s most effective slot cornerbacks. But when the Steelers traded for him in 2019, they turned him into more of a pure free safety, where Fitzpatrick also excelled due to his athletic gifts. Similarly, I think as much as McKinney could be a Swiss army knife at the next level, he also has the potential to increase his time at free safety in the NFL. It all depends on what his coaching staff wants him to do.
5. Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
Height: 6’0″ Weight: 193
40-Yard Dash: 4.5 seconds
Bench Press: 15 reps
Vertical Jump: 36.5 inches
Broad Jump: 124.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.01 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.13 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: For a while in high school, it was a toss-up as to whether Johnson would focus entirely on his potential as a point guard in basketball, but he decided to commit to a future in football as a highly-regarded receiver and defensive back. He originally committed to USC, backed out over a coaching change, and then chose Utah over offers from Michigan and Oklahoma. In three seasons with the Utes, Johnson totaled 102 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, 28 passes defensed, and seven interceptions.
“Confidence, swagger, toughness, you name it,” Johnson said, when asked the mentality required to play press-man coverage. “It’s just about having kind of that dog mentality and having that will to win and just always wanting to compete and get better and kind of just impose your will on the receiver.
“I would prefer man, just because we played more man at Utah and that’s just what I’m used to and accustomed to doing. I have no problem playing zone. I make plays in zone coverage as well, but I’m used to playing man more.”
Stat to Know: In 1,258 coverage snaps over three seasons for the Utes, Johnson allowed just three total touchdowns (two in 2018, one in 2019) and never gave up an opponent passer rating larger than 57.6 (2018).
Strengths: Johnson is another scheme-diverse cornerback, with the ability and experience to play in both zone- and man-heavy systems. But he also brings to the table some alignment diversity. Utah was not afraid to put him in the slot, and that could make him valuable in the eyes of NFL decision-makers. Johnson is also a willing player in run support, who is likely to help set the edge, stack a blocker and scrape off to help on the tackle. Johnson can be violent and explosive with his jams at the line of scrimmage. He got into Laviska Shenault on one play in Utah’s game against Colorado and barely let him release into his route. Johnson also has the quickness to recover if he gets beaten on a move. He does not panic when tasked with zone coverage, he will continue to read the quarterback’s eyes and click-and-close in an instant.
There is also this:
This critical Pick Six flashes that click-and-close ability, but consider what Johnson told Pro Football Focus after the play: “For me, this is just big film study…it was something I watched all week.” Johnson seems to be a student of the game, and his work in the film room is going to be huge for him going forward. That is something he highlighted in this very insightful discussion with Erik Turner of Cover1.net.
Weaknesses: Johnson is sometimes almost too patient, letting receivers get the better of him out of breaks and relying on his ability to close or drive on routes to make a play on the football. That will work on Saturdays, but it might not work on Sundays. While he can be violent when in press coverage as discussed, his footwork as well as his technique with his hands could use refinement. Johnson relies on brute force rather than solid technique. His hips are also a bit stiffer, and he is not as fluid a mover as the other two corners above him in this group. Something that was reflected in his slower three-cone drill.
Conclusion: Johnson might lack some of the polish and fluidity of Okudah and Henderson, but he offers pro-ready traits with even some room for improvement. His ability to play in a variety of coverage schemes is a plus, as is his experience in handling routes from the slot. Given that teams might view him as undersized (according to Mockdraftable.com his physical profile is basically middle of the pack) he could find a role in the slot, even with his change-of-direction issues. But Johnson’s work ethic off the field, his physicality at the line of scrimmage and his play-making ability are going to make him a difference-maker wherever he lines up.
Comparison: According to Mockdraftable.com, Johnson is almost a perfect match for cornerback Kendall Sheffield, who was drafted in the fourth round by the Atlanta Falcons last year out of Ohio State. In terms of his play style, Johnson reminds some of William Jackson III, the current Cincinnati Bengals’ cornerback. Like Johnson, Jackson was also known for his ability to click-and-close on a route breaking in front of him.
6. Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
Height: 5’10” Weight: 191
40-Yard Dash: 4.48 seconds
Bench Press: 17 reps
Vertical Jump: 37.5 inches
Broad Jump: 124.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.26 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: A three-star recruit out of New Boston High School in Texas, Gladney got offers from TCU and Arkansas, and chose the Horned Frogs. The high school star in football, basketball, and track, who doubled up at receiver and cornerback back then, became the stalwart at left cornerback in Gary Patterson’s advanced schemes. In four seasons, he amassed 146 tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 43 passes defensed, and five interceptions. As Dane Brugler of The Athletic pointed out, Gladney had more passes defenses than starts (42), and he and Amik Robertson of Louisiana Tech are the only FBS cornerbacks with at least 15 passes defensed in each of the last two seasons.
“Very physical,” Gladney said at the scouting combine of his play style. “I go 110 the whole game. I don’t play like most corners. I like to stick my nose in everything. I’m just not a cover corner. I like to hit, too. I feel like I’m the biggest sleeper. They talk about my size a lot, but everyone knows I’m a speed demon and physical.”
Stat to Know: Over the past two seasons, per Pro Football Focus, Gladney has forced tight coverage on 79.5% of his targets 10-plus yards downfield, which is the sixth-best rate in the nation and nearly 20 percentage points above the FBS average. On 46 contested targets over that time, Gladney allowed 10 catches and forced 27 incompletions.
Strengths: Gladney works through the first and second stems of routs with impressive matching footwork. Route anticipation is obvious. Has the body control to make easy catches difficult for receivers, and this is where a lot of his contested-catch success originates. Receivers find it very hard to out-leverage him in the first parts of routes — he’ll hang and stack with them all day. Sticky from the snap to the seam or boundary. Uses his hands well to track targets through the route. Not the biggest guys, but an aggressive tackler who brings the right mentality to blitz packages.
Weaknesses: Gladney is a bit slow in his transitional steps when he needs to up his backpedal speed and flip his hips. This leads to his tendency to give a bit too much cushion on some quicker angular routes. He also gets a lost at times when receivers break late — he seems to be so fixated on his landmarks, it’s tough for him to adjust. Needs his footwork to be on point, because he’s not going to beat anyone in press coverage. Will lose battles to bigger, more practiced receivers. Needs to track the ball in flight instead of playing the receiver as much as he does.
Conclusion: In 2018, I wrote a three-part series about the importance of match coverage in the NFL today, and when you play match, you need defensive backs with the route awareness, foot speed, and intelligent aggressiveness to mirror receivers through their routes and shut down the kind of plays some defenses make far too easy with passive coverage. Whether you’re talking about match or man coverage, NFL teams specializing in those concepts should see Gladney as an appealing addition. He brings all the athletic and competitive attributes to coverage concepts that become more crucial in the pros every season.
NFL Comparison: Byron Murphy. When I wrote Murphy up last year, it was clear to me that the Washington alum, selected by the Cardinals with the 33rd overall pick, was an ideal press cornerback who needed to be with his receiver through the route, and would work well in any environment where he was asked to play a lot of man and match coverage. If you were to superimpose Murphy’s 2019 tape with Gladney’s 2020 tape, the similarities would be illuminating.
7. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
Height: 6’0″ Weight: 197
40-Yard Dash: 4.46 seconds
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: 35.5 inches
Broad Jump: 123.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: 6.94 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.36 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: Fulton was the top-ranked high-school player in the state of Louisiana as a senior, and the third-ranked cornerback in the entire country. Alabama was his ideal landing spot, but Nick Saban didn’t present an offer until two weeks before his signing day, and by that time, Fulton had already narrowed his choices, and decided to stay in-state. He was suspended for the entire 2017 season after he was caught using somebody else’s urine in a drug test, but still managed to carve out a starting role in 2018 and 2019 after backing up Tre’Davious White and Donte Jackson in 2016. In his collegiate career, Fulton amassed 65 tackles, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble, 25 passes defensed, and two interceptions. Not only did he go up against the best the SEC had to offer, he also had nightmare fuel every day in practice from LSU’s impossible cadre of receivers.
“You can look and tell me who’s put up numbers on me,” Fulton said at the scouting combine. “I feel like that’s what really separates me. I mean, like you said, it’s a great cornerback class, but I don’t feel like nobody’s technique is as sound as mine. And I just get the job done every Saturday I feel like.”
Fulton also attributed his calm in coverage to the guys he has to deal with on his own team.
“I say practice. With the guys we go up against everyday, Ja’Marr (Chase), you got Justin (Jefferson), you got Terrace (Marshall), Racey (McMath), those guys, they put you in a tough situation every day. You got to come to work every day, so I feel like that I take everything I learned during the week and just bring it to Saturdays.”
Stat to Know: Against passes of 20 or more air yards in which he was the primary target last season, Fulton allowed just five receptions and one touchdown on 18 targets.
Strengths: Fulton is patient when in press alignment with both his hands and his feet. He waits for the receiver to declare and then works his hands into their frame with his jam. When he misses, Fulton has the presence of mind not to panic, but to recover and fight to the catch point. This play against Alabama is a perfect example of that trait:
The receiver gets inside of Fulton’s initial jam attempt, and appears to get separation on this route. (Alabama is running a run/pass option here, and the route being run is technically as a “break to daylight” route. For more on Alabama’s RPO schemes you can watch this great breakdown of them from their offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian). But Fulton does not panic. He recovers well, breaks up the throw and prevents the completion.
Oh, and the route was being run by Henry Ruggs III, the fastest receiver in the draft and a surefire first-round selection.
Fulton also shows on film the ability to win at the catch point, as we saw on this play. Over his past two seasons he broke up 20 passes, a very impressive number. He is a sticky man coverage cornerback, and that ability translates easily to the NFL. His press coverage skills are more technically sound than others in this class. Where Jaylon Johnson might rely on brute force at the line, Fulton relies on his technique.
Weaknesses: Fulton’s suspension is not a recent red flag, but something to keep in mind. Fulton changes directions well on film and his 6.94 three-cone time is a decent mark, but there were moments on film when he got tripped up on breaks and needed to recover in a hurry. On the first play against Alabama, for example, he got crossed up with his feet and fell to the turf. Twice. Fulton also is fast, as the 4.46 40-yard dash illustrates, but some receivers are going to be faster than him. There are times when you can see receivers extending their separation from him as routes get into the deeper areas of the field. Quarterbacks with time, vision and arm strength (think Patrick Mahomes) will have opportunities against him downfield.
Conclusion: Here’s the thing: You do not become a top-flight cornerback in the SEC, going up against the kind of talent Fulton saw week in and week out, without having skills that translate to the next level. Fulton’s press technique, recovery skills and ability at the catch point are must-haves for the position. He might give up a big play here and there, but all cornerbacks do. For the vast majority of plays, Fulton is everything you want in your CB.
Comparison: New Denver Bronco A.J. Bouye is a valid comparison. When he was coming out of UCF, Bouye ran a 4.55 at his Pro Day, so the long-speed was a concern. But he made up for that with technique and his press coverage abilities, traits that he carries to the field now in the NFL.
8. Grant Delpit, S, LSU
Height: 6’2″ Weight: 213
40-Yard Dash: N/A
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: Delpit, a New Orleans native, saw his family uprooted and relocated to Texas in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He was a five-foot-6, 130-pound defensive back as a freshman, but he wound up at the prestigious IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida as a senior, and earned Under Armour All-American status. Delpit had chosen LSU before his IMG track. Delpit won the Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back in 2019, and over three seasons with the Tigers, he totaled 199 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, 32 passes defensed, and eight interceptions.
One of the more versatile defenders in this draft class, Delpit played 385 snaps at free safety, 316 snaps in the slot and 149 snaps in the box last season, per Pro Football Focus. In 2019, he allowed 14 receptions on 22 targets for an opponent passer rating of 71.1.
“See, that’s what I pride myself on,” he said at the scouting combine. “I think I’m a very versatile player. I think that’s probably my biggest strength on the defensive side. I’ll play anywhere in the secondary. This year I played more free safety because that’s what the team needed, so I played a lot of percent of my snaps in the middle of the field. We went 15-0, so I could never complain. But watch my sophomore tape, freshman tape, I played all over the box. So, I think I can do it all.”
Stat to Know: Delpit is versatile, but there’s one thing he’s going to have to clean up. He had 20 missed tackles last season, and 44 over three seasons at LSU.
Strengths: Outstanding range to all parts of the field — Delpit can roam from the deep third to the box pre-snap with control and coverage sense. Legitimate full-field defender who moves easily from the middle of the field to the seam to the boundary. Defensive shot-caller who understands routes well enough to break with definitive speed to the receiver late in the down. As a slot defender, can play high and off against inside receivers with good closing speed and awareness. Backpedal and hip-flip are ideal for a deep safety. A bit gangly, but keeps his body under control (except for the whole tackling thing). Has legitimate man/match/mirror abilities against receivers even when he’s not pressing them through the route. Has the ball skills to trap anything near him.
Weaknesses: While Delpit’s tackling issues are obvious, they don’t spring from a constant unwillingness to face up to a ballcarrier. On the contrary, Delpit incorporates a weird combination of frenetic motion and a shot-play mentality that has him hurtling his body at opponents with a rudimentary understanding of wrap tackling. He also has an odd inclination to throw his body at a ballcarrier’s feet, and his arm tackles wouldn’t bust a grape. One hopes this can be corrected by the right NFL coaching staff. Delpit’s physical nature trails off when he’s asked to take on blockers; at that point, he’s looking to get around an opponent as opposed to taking him on.
Conclusion: Of all the players I’ve watched in this draft class, Delpit may have the widest range between his assets and his liabilities — outside of Boise State offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland in his pass-blocking (great) vs. his run-blocking (eek). There is absolutely no question about his abilities to play as a space defender, whether it’s against a slot guy up the seam, or taking care of business against a deep post. The problem is, there are certain elements of his play style that are so anarchic and hard to control, and these types of players tend to get exposed even more when they hit the NFL — and the NFL hits back. Delpit could be a top defensive in the league over time, but he’ll require a patient coaching staff that will work with the weird parts and understand that he may allow a big play for every one he prevents for a while.
NFL Comparison: Kenny Vaccaro. Like the Texas alum, who was selected 15th overall in the 2013 draft, Delpit presents total positional versatility in coverage, but the frenetic on-field demeanor is going to cause a few blips. Delpit is quicker than Vaccaro, which makes the need for consistency and body control even more glaring.
9. Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Height: 6’1″ Weight: 205
40-Yard Dash: N/A
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: The younger brother of former Vikings and current Bills receiver Stefon Diggs, Trevon Diggs logged time as a receiver, defensive back, and returner in high school. After he chose the Crimson Tide, Diggs caught 11 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown in his freshman year of 2016 before committing fully to cornerback. Diggs was scheduled to become a full-time starter in 2018, and did start six games before a foot injury shut him down. Diggs came back well in 2019 with 37 tackles, three interceptions, and 11 passes defensed.
“He’s like my dad, honestly,” Diggs said of his brother, when asked at the combine what he’s learned from him. “He was there for me when my father passed, so he has always taken care of me. I always ask him everything, no matter what. Two o’clock in the morning, I’m asking him questions. I called him last night, every day, about this process and how he managed it.”
The elder Diggs also told his brother to focus on the bad plays, so they don’t happen again.
“He always critiques me. We don’t always talk about the good things. We talk about the bad things, the things we can do to get better. He always gives me tips and little cues to work on my game. I’m blessed to have that. I don’t have someone patting me on the back all the time and telling me I’m doing good. I’ve got someone who’s telling me, ‘Let’s get to work.’”
Stat to Know: Diggs’ man coverage rate dropped from 80% in 2018 to 47% in 2019. His opponent passer rating allowed also dropped — from 85.8 to 44.5.
Strengths: Big, long-legged cornerback with a massive wingspan. Aggressive press defender who forces receivers to redirect. Can run upfield in bail coverage, and can trail receivers with inside release up the boundary. Stays in his receiver’s hip pocket for the most part with good straight-line speed and hand-checking. Switched from a zone-heavy diet to more of a balanced system (including match coverage) in 2019 with good results. Boxes out the receiver and has the ball skills to make quarterbacks pay. Smart enough to wait in the weeds and bait quarterbacks. Receiver background shows up in his route awareness. Though press is his primary coverage, he’s quick and adept enough to maintain contact through the route in off coverage.
Weaknesses: Movement skills are average, as one might expect from a bigger cornerback. Vulnerable to quick angles in the short and intermediate game. Needs to maintain lockdown mentality through the entire route — can be suckered throughout by double moves and late movement and leverage. Could struggle in the NFL against receivers who know how to exploit his rudimentary ability to flip his hips. More a runner than a transition player.
This adjustment to Ja’Marr Chase in the 2019 Alabama-LSU game was not ideal. This is the kind of stuff Diggs needs to watch out for. Chase makes huckleberries out of most of the cornerbacks he faces, but Diggs will see more of this at the NFL level.
Conclusion: Last season, per Sports Info Solutions, Diggs allowed just 15 catches on 50 targets for 266 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions and an opponent passer rating of just 16.3. That means opposing quarterbacks would have been twice as efficient throwing the ball into the stands on every snap. No matter which statistical service you subscribe to, Diggs sets himself up as a great eraser cornerback in any system in which his aggressiveness and route awareness are featured.
NFL Comparison: Richard Sherman. When Sherman came into the NFL as a fifth-round pick of the Seahawks in 2011, he had a few rough moments early on. But over time, Sherman used his insane competitive demeanor, on-field intelligence, and physical attributes to become a true old-school lockdown cornerback. Diggs absolutely has all the tools to become that type of player. Whether you see Sherman, or Aqib Talib, or Jalen Ramsey when you watch Diggs, that’s pretty much the prototype.
10. Ashtyn Davis, S, Cal
Height: 6’1″ Weight: 202
40-Yard Dash: N/A
Bench Press: 14 reps
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: A small-school, small-time prospect at Santa Cruz High School in Santa Cruz, California, Davis had no football offers and had to walk on to the Cal track team, at which point he overwhelmed the Bears’ football staff with entreaties to be part of the team. He got on as a redshirt in 2015, and turned himself into a full-time starter by the 2018 and 2019 seasons. In four seasons on the field, Davis put up 171 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 19 passes defensed, and seven interceptions.
Davis also became one of the better readers of quarterbacks in the NCAA, and he easily broke down this interception of Oregon’s Justin Herbert when asked about it at the scouting combine.
“Yeah, so we were in pattern match Cover-3, and I didn’t get an outside stem or anything so I knew kind of where he was running. I knew I had a post safety, followed him to my safety and undercut the route. It worked out. I actually train with him down in Proactive [Sports at the Marke] and I bug him about that every day.”
Stat to Know: You want Davis on that wall when it comes to single-high safety coverage, but as much as he was effective in his 409 snaps at free safety, he also had 120 snaps in the box, and 112 in the slot.
Strengths: Natural single-high and two-high safety who patrols the deep third with speed and transitional movement. Backpedal and hip turn check out. As a slot defender, has the quick turn and change-of-direction skills to hang with quicker receivers through different route concepts. Can scream into the box pre-snap with good body control. Closes to the ballcarrier quickly with the right mentality to limit big plays that originate outside his area. Has the raw ball skills and frame to create contested catches and force incompletions.
Weaknesses: Davis’ relative lack of experience shows up at times when his recognition skills falter, and his speed compounds the problem because he’s so quick to get where he’s going, and it’s not always the right place. Hits run fits with little in the way of GPS. Loses his way against play-action and misdirection. At times, he’s too tentative as he waits to diagnose. Will find himself a gap off in diagnosis too often.
Conclusion: There are NFL teams with defenses in various states of disarray solely because they don’t have a legitimate deep safety who can patrol the field and reduce the potential for big plays. Not everyone can acquire and develop an Earl Thomas or Anthony Harris, but the potential for such a player is also the potential to take one’s defense from the scrapheap to near the top. And in that narrow window, Davis should get a lot of first-round interest. He’s still learning, but his interception against Herbert detailed above puts him as a natural fit in a league where man and match concepts are becoming the order of the day.
NFL Comparison: Darnell Savage. When I watched Savage, the Maryland alum who the Packers selected with the 21st pick in the 2019 draft, I saw a similar player to what I now see in Davis in that Savage mixed an ascending skill set with a kamikaze playing style that needed a bit of seasoning before he was always going to be in the right place. But Savage’s potential was obvious, and so is Davis’. I compared Savage to Bob Sanders, and Davis has some elements of Sanders’ excellent play, as well.
11. A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
Height: 6’1″ Weight: 195
40-Yard Dash: 4.42 seconds
Bench Press: 15 seconds
Vertical Jump: 34.5 inches
Broad Jump: 129.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: A two-year starter for the Tigers in 2018 and 2019, Terrell put up 107 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, and 26 passes defensed in his collegiate career. But what he’s most remembered for is his performance against LSU in the 2019 College Football Championship, in which he allowed five receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns, per Pro Football Focus. Thus, recency bias has taken some of the sheen off what was otherwise a very good tenure in a high-profile defense. LSU receiver Ja’Marr Chase presented nightmare fuel for Terrell, over and over.
“Just great competition,” Terrell said of that game, when quizzed about it at the combine. “We started off strong and he got the best of me on some plays and it went back and forth. Every time we lined up, I couldn’t take a play off.
“Just knowing that there was a whole second half (to play). For me, it was just me being able to understand what happened and that game wasn’t over and having short-term memory at the position of cornerback was key. You can put your head down for too long, you just have to play the next play.”
Stat to Know: Take out his disaster against LSU, and Terrell allowed just 18 catches for 249 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the rest of the season.
Strengths: Yes, LSU did highlight a few concerns with Terrell, but in large part this is an NFL cornerback who has the movement skills, size and speed to be a man coverage corner to excel. Terrell has the background of playing in a scheme-diverse defensive system, and some of his biggest plays have come in zone coverage settings. His interception of Tua Tagovailoa in the National Championship Game two seasons ago is a great example of his awareness in zone coverage. He reads the eyes of the quarterback, peels off his initial threat and jumps the secondary route, and houses it for the opening score of the game.
Terrell also has ideal length and movement skills for the position. Those both showed up early against LSU, on this play against Chase on an in-breaking route:
Terrell’s wingspan enables him to get into the jam of Chase off the line of scrimmage, and then he is able to wrap around the receiver to disrupt the play at the catch point.
The movement skills are also impressive. Terrell can maintain his relationship with receivers all over the field, regardless of where the breaks take place in the route stem.
Weaknesses: While the matchup with Chase is perhaps overblown, and an example of recency bias when it comes to studying a player, it does highlight an issue for him: Physicality. Some of those plays that Chase made in the title game came at the catch point, where Terrell sometimes seems to lose on routes. The lack of physicality and strength also showed up on the first touchdown to Chase. The receiver – perhaps with the aid of a pushoff – was able to extend his separation and Terrell simply could not recover. He could also do a better job at tracking the football in flight. The big slot fade route from Joe Burrow to Chase early in the second quarter saw Terrell lose the football. He tried to make a play at the catch point but again, his physicality let him down.
Conclusion: Despite the struggles in the title game, Terrell is still a very solid cornerback. His awareness in zone coverage and ability to change directions well will serve him in the NFL. The play against Alabama is emblematic of hi mat his best: Playing in off coverage or zone technique, reading the quarterback and breaking on the throw. Defensive coordinators who like to matchup their cornerbacks to receivers will love his combination of length and long speed. He could be used on X receivers who are vertical threats.
Comparison: His technique and ability to thrive playing off coverage is very similar to Darius Slay.
