The 2014 NFL Draft features several talented cornerback prospects, but it’s a much different group from 2013. Last year’s class featured physical cornerbacks like Dee Milliner, Desmond Trufant and Xavier Rhodes. The players at the top of the 2014 group are smaller in stature, but have just as much potential.
1. Jason Verrett, TCU (1st Round)
Jason Verrett might not have great size or bulk, but he’s an exceptional athlete who features top-notch instincts. Verrett is so fluid with his movements that receivers have a difficult time creating separation. His impact on the game is enhanced by his excellent ball skills which helps him generate turnovers.
The thing I love the most about Verrett is how he can shut down a receiver in every aspect of the game. His explosiveness allows him to quickly close on short routes like slants, outs and comebacks. While his ball skills and long speed to help him protect the deep part of the field.
Despite his small stature, Verrett isn’t afraid to play physical. He’s aggressive versus the run and will take on bigger running backs as they approach. The only real concern his size should generate is durability.
2. Bradley Roby, Ohio State (1st Round)
Bradley Roby is a fluid athlete who uses his long arms to gain position on his opponent. He has a great feel for the routes developing around him and the quick burst to close on the ball. This allows him to both take away a target in the short and intermediate passing attack.
Roby possesses the awareness to track the ball and take the right angles. He also has the ball skills to turn mistakes into turnovers.
3. Charles Sawyer, Ole Miss (1st Round)
Charles Sawyer is flying under the radar at this point in the process, but don’t expect that to last much longer. Sawyer is an explosive athlete who plays an aggressive brand of football. He features a great feel for the cornerback position which makes him a fit for any type of defense.
This is a player who will never be outworked on a play. He’s constantly in attack mode whether it be when the balls in the air or on a running play. Sawyer is able to quickly break on the football because he committed to remaining balanced with a low pad level.
4. Louchiez Purifoy, Florida (Late 1st Round)
Louchiez Purifoy is a bigger cornerback whose best fit is in a man-coverage system. In this defense, Purifoy will be able to uses his size and physical nature to disrupt the timing of the offense.
It will also help mask some of his weakness. Purifoy is a good athlete, but lacks the short-area burst to close on the ball in a zone scheme. Some of his issues breaking on the ball are related to the fact he plays with a high pad level. His zone coverage issues also have a tie in with tendency to allow too much space between him and the receiver.
5. Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State (2nd Round)
Justin Gilbert is a long and athletic cornerback. He uses his length to bump receivers at the line of scrimmage and attack the ball at its highest point. Gilbert features the overall speed to protect the deep part of the field.
However, his length can be an issue because he doesn’t consistently backpedal with a low pad level. This results in some leggy movements which limits his balance and ability to quickly close on the ball. He needs to improve this area of his game to maintain his current draft stock.
6. Aaron Colvin, Oklahoma (2nd Round)
Aaron Colvin would land much higher on this list if he was able to do a better job protecting the deep part of the field. He has a tendency to let the receiver behind him and appears to lack the top-end speed to recover.
This is why Colvin’s best fit might be in a zone system where he can use his click-and-close ability to break on the ball. He shows the instincts and awareness to read the quarterback which only helps his jump on the ball.
I’d also like to see Colvin play the run with more integrity. NFL corners must be well-rounded or risk losing their spot in the lineup.
7. Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State (Late 2nd Round)
Darqueze Dennard’s awareness and ability to locate the ball makes him a great fit for a man-coverage scheme. He has the top-end speed to stick with receivers down the field while also knowing when to get his head turned around.
Locating the football is a key because it allows him to make a play on the ball and avoid pass interference penalties.
Dennard struggles in zone coverage because he gives up too much space and doesn’t appear to have great closing speed. This is a defender who needs to be up close to his target at the beging of the play.
8. Antone Exum, Virginia Tech (Late 2nd Round)
Antone Exum’s stock is in limbo right now until he can show that he’s fully recovered from last year’s knee injury. However, when at full strength this is a player who features first-round talent.
Exum excels at mirroring his target, identifying the developing route and using his long arms to break up the pass. He’s features the short-area quickness to break on the ball in zone coverage and long speed to stick with receivers down the field.
9. Marcus Roberson, Florida (3rd Round)
Marcus Roberson is a good athlete, but just gives up too many plays to land higher on this list. His play is different depending on what coverage he’s asked to run. When in zone, Roberson gives the receiver too much space allowing easy completions. Roberson is the opposite in man coverage as he has a tendency to be overly aggressive.
On top of the odd way he handles his assignments, Roberson is on the smaller side which allows receivers to use their bodies to gain position.
Overall, this is a player with upside because of his athleticism but he needs to show a better feel for the position.
10. Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech (3rd Round)
Kyle Fuller plays the cornerback position with a lot of aggressiveness. This tenacity extends to the way he defense both the running and passing game. Against the pass, Fuller uses his excellent short-area burst to click and close on the football.
His break on the ball also benefits from his awareness and ability to read the quarterback. Perhaps the best way to see how he reads a play is the way he comes up and defends wide receiver screens.
Fuller’s commitment to keeping a low pad level in his backpedal gives him great balance. It also makes him an excellent fit for a zone-coverage scheme. He’s man coverage is a bit of a question mark because Fuller doesn’t get his head around quick enough.
11. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon (Late 3rd Round)
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is a raw prospect who sits at this spot based mainly on his athleticism. His actually production on the field consists of peaks and valleys. He gives up just as many big plays as he produces.
Ekpre-Olomu’s lack of awareness and struggles getting his head turned around often leaves him out of position. He’s also too handsy with the receivers which will result in pass interference issues at the next level.
However, this is a player with a ton of upside and could quickly move up my rankings.
12. Bennett Jackson, Notre Dame (Late 3rd Round)
Bennett Jackson features good length and quickness for the cornerback position. He uses that quickness to break on the ball generate deflections. Jackson also shows the fluidity to stick with his target while in space.
He needs to do a better job playing the run with integrity. I also have questions on just how much he benefits from Notre Dame’s dominant defensive line. It’s not often he’s asked to hold up in coverage for long periods of time.
13. Victor Hampton, South Carolina (Early 4th Round)
Victor Hampton is a physical and aggressive cornerback. He loves playing close to the line of scrimmage and bumping the wide receiver. His balanced helps him deliver a good initial punch while still be able to recover.
The issue is that Hampton doesn’t do a great job getting his head around and locating the football. This causes problems for a player who likes to play with such tight coverage.
14. Tim Scott, North Carolina (Early 4th Round)
Tim Scott doesn’t show as much upside or big-play potential as other prospects in this draft. However, he’s a solid contributor who rarely gives up big plays and contributes to all phases of the game. This is someone who could have a long NFL career as a starter.
15. Dontae Johnson, NC State (Late 4th Round)
Dontae Johnson has great length and shows good quickness. However, he needs to improve his feel for the game and find a defined position. His length limits his fluidity which might force him to safety. However, he doesn’t support the run well enough to really fit at that spot either. He lands here in my rankings mainly based on his potential.
16. Carrington Bynum, Texas (5th Round)
Carrington Bynum just doesn’t have a skill that really stands out. He’s undersized, doesn’t show a quick closing burst and gets beat deep from time to time. The one positive is that he’s fearless despite his small stature.
17. Ross Cockrell, Duke (6th Round)
Ross Crockrell is undersized and doesn’t show great overall athleticism. He also struggles to locate the football. His one positive is that he shows good effort which could lead to improvement.
18. Rashad Reynolds, Oregon State (6th Round)
Reynolds is a smaller defensive back who shows good quickness. His best attribute is his fluidity and ability to mirror the target. However, he needs to do a better job getting his head around and locating the football. Too often, he plays with his back to the ball. His size is an issue, but he also appears to willing to be blocked.
19. Bene Benwikere, San Jose State (7th Round)
Benwikere is a decent athlete who features speed and decent size. However, he lacks the feel and instincts to really excel at the next level. He needs to work on his overall balance and technique. His tendency to play with a high pad level hinds his ability to mirror.
20. Quandre Diggs, Texas (7th Round)
Quandre Diggs is an undersized cornerback prospect who doesn’t play with a lot of aggressiveness. Diggs has a tendency to get lost in zone coverage which allows a lot of space for opposing wide receivers. He also doesn’t show the closing speed to make up for the space he allows. His lack of size is exacerbated by his poor leaping skills and timing. Overall, Diggs just doesn’t show much that speaks to him developing into a big-time player at the next level.
Others to Watch: Ricardo Allen- Purdue, Jimmy Legree- South Carolina, Byron Jones- Connecticut, Jaylen Watkins- Florida, Andre Hal- Vanderbilt, Deion Belue- Alabama