The defensive players continued to shine during the final day of testing on Sunday. Teams in need of adding talent to the defensive secondary paid close attention to this crop of talent, with cornerbacks and safeties participating in on-field drills. Who among them was able to raise their draft stock and stand out amongst the crowd?
Minnesota Safety Antoine Winfield, Jr
One of my personal favorites in the entire 2020 NFL Draft class is Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield, Jr. After a stellar 2019 season, Winfield was selected as a representative for the 2019 All-American team. He was a leader all year for the Golden Gopher’s defense who was instrumental in one of the greatest seasons in program history. He put on one of the best Combine workouts of any player there, not just defensive backs. If I were a general manager, I would make him the first safety off the board but we shall see if others agree with me. He was so fluid and natural during drills and he was able to impress with a 4.45 40-yard dash. He will be a second-generation stud for whoever brings him in.
Lenoir-Rhyne Safety Kyle Dugger
The darling of the draft process so far, Division II all-star Kyle Dugger. At 6-feet-1 and 217 pounds, he has tremendous size for an NFL safety that is often tasked with stopping tight ends or helping in the run game. He underwhelmed a bit in the forty but still managed an official time of 4.49 seconds. Dugger also jumped 42 inches in the vertical. He helped himself a lot and going into this week he was believed to be a solid third-round choice but he most likely snuck into the second-round conversation after his showing. I have a feeling that this kid could be special.
Southern Illinois Safety Jeremy Chinn
Another small school prospect impressed and maybe even more so than Dugger. Chinn is a giant at the safety position, at 6-feet-3 and 221 pounds, he ran a 4.45 forty-yard dash, put up 20 reps on the bench press, and nearly jumped out of the building with a 41-inch vertical and a 138-inch broad jump. Then, he moved like a wide receiver and caught balls like one too during his on-field workout. Chinn surely climbed up boards for multiple NFL teams.
TCU Cornerback Jeff Gladney
Gladney has been linked to the Chiefs in multiple mock drafts as of late and after his combine workout, he all but solidified his fringe first-found consideration. A 5-10, 191-pounder who has a nice tape to back up his reputation added to his resume with some nice numbers in the DB events. He finished among the best in the 40-yard dash (4.48), vertical (37.5 inches), and broad jump (124 inches). Cornerback seems to be a chronic need for teams every year and Gladney should be able to fill that need for whoever takes a chance on him.
Auburn Cornerback Noah Igbinoghene
Noah Igbinoghene made the switch over to cornerback from wide receiver and he has a lot of room to grow. He tested really well in Indianapolis with a 4.48 40-yard dash and a 128-inch broad jump. Even though he isn’t a finished product by any means, the promise and potential for this player are blinding. He’s most likely a day two pick but he has the tools to be a top tier corner within the first three years of his career. His background as a receiver as well as his successful move to the defensive side of the ball proves his athleticism. He will be a fun one to keep an eye on.
