2024 NFL Draft: CB Rankings
1
CB, Terrion Arnold
School: Alabama
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 189 lbs
Strengths:
Arnold is a high quality CB prospect with the ability to shadow top receivers. He is a good athlete that can run deep with the best of them. Arnold is also able to make quick cuts and stop/start pretty quickly, allowing him to stay tight in coverage against any type of route, and from any alignment. He is an aggressive, feisty player. Arnold will press up and cause some route disruption. He also can have just the right level of physicality at the catch point, and will extend his arm out to breakup the pass. I like how he gets his head turned and is able to track the ball with the receiver. As well, he shows no fear in helping out in run support. Arnold will fly in there, and has shown he can make good form tackles.
Weaknesses:
There aren’t any glaring weaknesses in his game, but I think Arnold can tighten things up a bit in off man coverage. There were times where he was a bit late closing down on his man after the break had been made. Not much was allowed after the catch, but the catches themselves weren’t contested. He has shown capable of making good form tackles, but his consistency needs to improve. Too many times, he will fly in there with no technique, and just whiff on his tackle attempt.
Summary:
Arnold has the athleticism, physicality, cover talent, and ball skills to be a CB1 in the NFL. Some little things can be improved on, like tightening things up when in off man, and being more consistent as a tackler. But overall, his game is already in a good place, and he will only keep getting better. Arnold projects as a day 1 starter and eventual CB1.
| Grade: 87.2 | Round Grade: 1st |
2
CB, Nate Wiggins
School: Clemson
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 173 lbs
Strengths:
Wiggins has good cover talent, and has put some good stuff on tape in press man, off man, and zone. He shows some physicality down near the line, and his length also can make it challenging for receivers to get going. His speed is good enough to stick close to his opponent. In off coverage, he closes down tight on plays. He has the ability to get back in time to pick off the pass, break it up, or at worst, make the tackle right there if the ball is caught. His length is a big asset when it comes to breaking up passes. In zone, he reads things well. He has the knowledge of when to attack and when to sit back. His high football IQ has also shown up on some of his plays in man coverage, where he left his guy to suddenly double team another. He could recognize where the ball was about to go.
Weaknesses:
There are still times where he can get burned deep, despite having enough speed to prevent someone from gaining a step on him on just a simple route. There is some physicality in his game, but I would like to see more of it. Especially if he could bring some of it into run support. His willingness to help out seems to come and go. Wiggins is a good athlete overall, but there is a slight hint of stiffness when he is flipping his hips to run with the WR.
Summary:
Wiggins projects as a CB1 at the next level. The athleticism, length, and instincts are there for him in coverage, and he shows several glimpses of toughness too. Wiggins is a tad lacking when it comes to certain things, but they are mostly correctable, or nitpicks. At the next level, better run support will be needed. As well, less instances of getting beaten deep.
| Grade: 86.4 | Round Grade: 1st |
3
CB, Quinyon Mitchell
School: Toledo
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 195 lbs
Strengths:
Mitchell is a high end athlete, not only shown by his game tape, but also his outstanding testing numbers at the NFL level. He can match receivers on any kind of route. Elite straight line speed allows him to shadow on deep routes, while his quickness and cutting ability allow him to stay tight, even on complex routes. In zone, he can easily redirect when he has toMitchell has the burst to close down quickly on receivers who have just made the catch. He is a willing tackler, capable of making plays against the run.
Weaknesses:
Mitchell played a lot of off man and zone, at least during my exposures. Got a lot of reps in tighter coverage during the Senior Bowl practices. He generally did well, but had a few blips mixed in. At this point, Mitchell is a bit lacking when it comes to instincts and awareness. Double moves and route fakes suck him in every once in a while. As a tackler, there are times where he is content to just lay a hit, rather than using proper tackling technique. Will need to be ironed out.
Summary:
Mitchell has the athletic traits and enough physicality to be a CB1. His coverage is generally good, though I wish he would play things a bit tighter in man coverage. Mitchell’s coverage instincts are still a work in progress, and will have to improve as things go on. As a tackler, his willingness to contribute is alright at times. However, he can’t just go in without any form. He’ll need to better figure out how to use the right technique. Overall, Mitchell has some things to work out, but the highs jump out way more than the lows. Mitchell projects as an eventual CB1 or CB2 at the next level.
| Grade: 85.4 | Round Grade: 1st |
4
CB, Kool-Aid McKinstry
School: Alabama
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 199 lbs
Strengths:
McKinstry is a smooth player with the ability to handle complicated routes that require tough movements from him. Overall, he plays well in man coverage and is able to stay pretty tight. He plays with some toughness, which shows when he is in press, and when he is in a physical battle at the catch point. McKinstry has a smooth backpedal, and is also able to efficiently move laterally in zone when it is required of him. Enough closing burst is also visible when he makes a play in the ball or the receiver. McKinstry puts in good work against the run. He is a willing tackler, and generally an effective one.
Weaknesses:
McKinstry is a good athlete overall. However, he seems to lack the long speed to really hang with the speedsters of college football or the NFL. He can lose a step and get burned deep down the field, if he is not careful. McKinstry does well in run support, but he could stand to improve his technique and tackle with better form. Also, there were a few that were able to slip out, so ironing out a few inconsistencies would be good.
Summary:
McKinstry projects as a good CB2 at the next level, with a chance of being a solid CB1 with the right development. Though he lacks the long speed to run side by side with the fastest players, he has enough athleticism to do his job. There is a nice fluidity to the way he plays, and then he adds an extra bit of physicality. Some technical inconsistencies could be ironed out, but that won’t stop him from being an early pick. Round 1 is in play, and he shouldn’t make it out of round 2 if he falls.
| Grade: 85.2 | Round Grade: 1st |
5
CB, Caelen Carson
School: Wake Forest
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 199 lbs
Strengths:
Carson is extremely effective in man coverage, possessing both the speed and agility to tightly blanket any opponent. He plays like a spark plug, exploding back down to make a tackle if the ball carrier is within his range. And he is pretty reliable as a tackler. Carson is sturdy enough to get in some effective jabs when he is playing press, and is quick enough to make necessary adjustments when he is in zone. Carson has the size and strength to win contested battles at the catch point.
Weaknesses:
There are times where Carson can be a bit slow to diagnose plays, and he can sometimes unknowingly drift out of position. His ball skills are good when he picks up on when it is in the air. However, there are times where he is either late to get his head turned or he doesn’t turn at all. He’ll instead try to get his hands up. But this method is less effective, and is also a bigger penalty risk.
Summary:
Carson is a hgh upside prospect who already shows tremendous ability in all types of coverage. He can handle any opponent when he is at his best. For him, it is the mental side that is still coming along. He can be a bit slow at diagnosing plays, and he still needs to more consistently get his head turned around so he can make a play on the ball when it is thrown deep in his direction. The issues, luckily, are fixable, and Carson should be a quality starter at the next level.
| Grade: 83.8 | Round Grade: 2nd |
6
CB, Cooper DeJean
School: Iowa
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 203 lbs
Strengths:
DeJean is an interesting evaluation. He possesses tremendous downhill burst. This shows up, first of all, when he is in zone coverage. He is able to come back down to the ball to either breakup the pass or prevent the receiver from picking up yards after the catch. This downhill speed also shows up in run support, which he always ensures is a big part of his game. DeJean will fly down from any area to make a play on the ball carrier. And it isn’t just a tackle. He’ll track the guy down and deliver a firm hit, but also while using good wrap-up technique. He looks like a box safety at times. DeJean plays with physicality in press coverage, which allows him to disrupt routes. DeJean’s vision and top end speed have allowed him to be a big threat in the return game as well, and his strengths also scream elite gunner on special teams.
Weaknesses:
Really, the one main weakness to his game is that he is tight hipped. But although it is only one weakness, it impacts his game on so many levels. This allows quick receivers to create separation at the top of their routes, as DeJean struggles to blanked more complicated routes. On down the field stuff, he can give up a lot more separation than I’d like to see.
Summary:
DeJean has the speed, instincts, and toughness that you look for in any player at any position. He has talent to play the CB position, but his lack of fluidity in his transitions complicates things. There are questions as to whether he can stick close enough to quicker NFL receivers, or if they will be able to take advantage and create large amounts of separation. I’m sure he’ll get his shot at CB, as he should. The good thing, or at least somewhat of a silver lining, is that there is a bit of a safety net that comes with drafting him. If he is unable to make it at CB, his skill set allows for an easy transition to safety, a position he already has some experience playing.
| Grade: 83.6 | Round Grade: 2nd |
7
CB, Nehemiah Pritchett
School: Auburn
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 190 lbs
Strengths:
Pritchett is a twitched up athlete who also has dynamic speed that will allow him to run with the fastest deep threats. He is very sticky in man coverage, and is able to stop/start as needed, to maintain a low separation level. Pritchett has good length and a scrappy nature, which helps him in press coverage. In zone, his movements are fluid, and he also has the instincts to undercut passes. Pritchett is willing to help out in run support, and he has a good tackle radius to bring people down.
Weaknesses:
Despite having a good tackle radius, tackling is an issue for Pritchett because he has such a lean frame. Adding weight will be an important part of his development early on in his time in the NFL. Doing so should also give him an added boost in press coverage. Overall, he is good in coverage, but can sometimes give too much cushion in off man, and allow the receiver to make an easy catch.
Summary:
Pritchett brings a lot of upside thanks to his elite athleticism and coverage talent. He has good ball skills and the instincts to make plays. However, he will need to get a lot stronger, not only to handle more physical NFL receivers, but also to improve his tackling, which has been an issue. The good thing is that his issues are correctable. In time, I’d expect Pritchett to be starting.
| Grade: 77.9 | Round Grade: 3rd |
8
CB, Renardo Green
School: Florida State
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 186 lbs
Strengths:
Green is a solid all around CB with the IQ to have success in coverage. He shows tremendous patience when in man, really concentrating on matching the route of his opponent. And he has the quickness and suddenness to be able to do this. His suddenness also shows up when in zone. He reacts quickly to what is going on and can get back down low, should he need to. Green plays a physical game. He has no problem pressing up and striking his opponent with hand jabs. As well, he will make contributions in run support.
Weaknesses:
Green has solid speed, but things can be a bit questionable when he has to run long with faster receivers. Might be just passable, but certainly not a strength of his game. His physical playing style is generally a good thing, but it can have a reverse effect from time to time. Specifically, when it comes to penalties. And in college, more stuff gets let go when it comes to CB’s being physical. But in the NFL, he‘ll have to be more careful to not take penalties.
Summary:
I wouldn’t say Green is someone who will blow you away, but he does his job. Speed is average, but enough quickness is there for him to at least blanket his opponent at the first two levels. As well, his toughness and ability against the run will help his stock. But he’ll have to learn how to control the physicality, as he transitions to the next level. Might start sometime down the line, but should be a good depth player, if not.
| Grade: 77.3 | Round Grade: 3rd |
9
CB, Max Melton
School: Rutgers
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 187 lbs
Strengths:
Melton is a versatile player who brings a little bit of athleticism and aggressiveness to the table. He is athletic enough to stick by his opponent in man coverage. Melton likes to jab his opponent at the line of scrimmage, and has been quite successful in press coverage. I also like what he brings in zone coverage, showing the instincts to break early on passes to make a play. He also does well to read the play and come back downhill if the ball carrier were in front of him. Melton is hungry when it comes to run defence. Full effort is given when the ball is in his vicinity.
Weaknesses:
Melton can have some inconsistencies in man coverage. He doesn’t read the play as well as he does in zone. As well, there is a slight bit of stiffness that shows up when he is at the top of his breaks and even in his backpedal. Melton is a physical player, but has to be careful not to be too reckless with his hands, as to take a penalty. He could also use a bit more composure in run defence, not getting carried away and taking the wrong angle or whiffing on the tackle.
Summary:
Melton projects best as a zone CB, but is also able to hold his own in man coverage. Though there are instances where he gives up a bit too much separation, he still has the athleticism and skill set to stay close in coverage more often than not. His willingness to help out in run defence is an asset, though some mental errors can be eliminated from this part of his game. His versatility, being able to play on the outside or in the slot further adds to his value.
| Grade: 76.0 | Round Grade: 3rd |
10
CB, Ennis Rakestraw
School: Missouri
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 183 lbs
Strengths:
Rakestraw is a tough, physical CB who never passes up an opportunity to mix it up. He loves pressing up to the line and jamming the receiver. And he is effective too. Rakestraw has no problem lending a hand in run support, and is a pretty reliable tackler and a hard hitter. He’ll sometimes venture over from the other side. In coverage, he possesses enough quickness to get by, and also has good instincts that allow him to stay relatively tight. His instincts also show up in zone coverage. He gets solid depth in his drop, and has a knack for when to make a break on the ball.
Weaknesses:
Rakestraw is lacking high end speed, which will limit his game a little bit. Matching up against the fastest receivers are likely to be a problem for him. To mitigate, more zone and off man would be suited. Press would be a bit risky, given that recovery is unlikely on a rep that he misses his strike. Rakestraw plays an aggressive game, but he has to be careful not to take it too far. There are instances of grabbing and overdoing it with the physicality, which can lead to penalties. A lack of ball production is also a concern.
Summary:
Rakestraw is a solid, but unspectacular CB. He lacks the speed to consistently win on an island in man coverage. However, his quickness, toughness, and instincts will provide ways to mitigate the issue. He plays the run well, and is generally still solid in coverage. While the ceiling isn’t there, he does have a pretty safe floor, and should be able to carve out a role for himself somewhere.
| Grade: 74.4 | Round Grade: 4th |
11
CB, DJ James
School: Auburn
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 175 lbs
Strengths:
James is a twitchy enough athlete to be able to cover the quicker receivers in short areas, and has enough speed to stick to his guy into the intermediate parts of the middle. His control in off man and zone coverage is very good. There is no overreacting or biting on anything that he shouldn’t. He is competitive at the catch point and will look to knock the ball loose before the receiver comes down. James is more than willing to help out in run support and will venture close to the line of scrimmage.
Weaknesses:
James is very undersized, and I don’t see him playing on the boundary at the next level. He will likely be limited to the slot, where he won’t have to play as much press coverage. Physicality, although he welcomes it, is not a great part of his game. Bigger players tend to get the best of him. Even as a tackler, he often reverts to going low, as he doesn’t trust himself to bring down the ball carrier by wrapping up. James is a good athlete overall, but on tape, it looks like he might just be lacking the long speed to keep up in a footrace against elite speed.
Summary:
James has the twitch and instincts to cover the shorter and intermediate parts of the field. However, he lacks the size to play press or consistently win against bigger boundary receivers. This likely sees him kick into the slot at the next level. Though he may lack the deep speed to match certain players, his quickness should serve him well against a lot of the slot receivers that have themselves been kicked inside due to athletic limitations. His size will limit his effectiveness against the run, but he is willing to put himself in the way. Overall, there will be limitations that must be accepted, but he has enough coverage talent to be a solid player on defence.
| Grade: 74.3 | Round Grade: 4th |
12
CB, Kamari Lassiter
School: Georgia
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 186 lbs
Strengths:
Lassiter is a boundary CB prospect with the quickness to stick with receivers as they make lateral cuts. He plays a physical brand of football and is able to have success in press coverage, jamming up at the line. Lassiter is a pretty solid tackler and demonstrates the ability and the willingness to come back down low to lend a hand near the line of scrimmage. His quickness makes him an asset in zone coverage, where he is able to react as receivers try to sit in the soft spots. He has enough burst to make the tackle before any additional damage is done after the catch.
Weaknesses:
Lassiter is a solid player, but still has his mixups in coverage. Receivers crossing his face can get him a bit tangled up in his feet, and open up a chance for the receiver to separate. As well, I don’t think he has the long speed to stick with the faster receivers of the game. When he loses a step, he will sometimes begin to grab. His ball skills are still a work in progress. Lassiter likes to play physical, but will need to add to his frame to sustain it at the next level.
Summary:
Lassiter has some ability in man thanks to his quickness and instincts, but can begin to struggle when his long speed is tested by deep threat wideouts. His technique needs some polishing still, as there are times where he loses his footwork, or reverts to grabbing when beaten down the field. I like him best in zone coverage, where he can let his quick feet and instincts take the centre stage. Overall, he has his weaknesses, but Lassiter should be a solid CB3 or CB4, with a few tweaks.
| Grade: 74.1 | Round Grade: 4th |
13
CB, Decamerion Richardson
School: Mississippi State
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 188 lbs
Strengths:
Richardson has a great blend of size and athleticism, which he uses to his advantage. He has the speed and agility to blanket quality receivers in man to man coverage. His length makes it a true battle whan a jump ball is tossed up by the QB. Richardson’s straight line speed gives him a recovery avenue if he loses the initial part of a rep. His long arms also help, in case he has to reach the pass up.
Weaknesses:
Downhill burst could be a bit better. This is a little bit limiting when he is in zone or even off man. Richardson will, from time to time, bite on something like a double move and give up a big gain. Awareness of these kinds of things will have to improve. As well, I’d like to see more from him as a tackler, especially given his size.
Summary:
Richardson has great size and speed, and enough agility to go with it. His talent in coverage, combined with these measurables, will appeal to teams. However, he needs to improve his awareness, so as to not give up as many big gains. Also, improvement as a tackler against the run will be necessary.
| Grade: 74.0 | Round Grade: 4th |
14
CB, Kris Abrams-Draine
School: Missouri
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 179 lbs
Strengths:
Abrams-Draine is a nifty CB who displays good ball skills. His receiver background is evident whenever he gets the chance to make a play on the ball. He showed good downhill speed when the play was in front of him. This is where he is at his best. His feet are fluid enough to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time while he is sitting in zone, and this allows him to breakup passes and create turnovers.
Weaknesses:
Abrams-Draine has a very light frame, which impacts him in multiple ways. He can actually play tight in man coverage, but there are a lot of instances where he gets boxed out by a bigger receiver when it comes time to make a play on the ball. In my exposures, he played a lot in off man, but I thought he was giving too much cushion in some of these reps. His size limitations also impact his ability to defend the run. He is willing to put in the work, but he isn’t a great tackler, and oftentimes slips off, or is forced to just go low.
Summary:
Abrams-Draine has some cover talent, but his size may prevent him from truly being effective on a consistent basis in tight man coverage or press man. He can play in off man, but will have some technical tweaks to make. At this point, I like him best in zone, where he can keep things in front of him and let his instincts and ball skills take over. Overall, he has the talent to contribute in the right system, but will have his fair share of limitations. But hopefully he can add a little mass to improve against the run and as a tackler.
| Grade: 65.7 | Round Grade: 5th |
15
CB, Mike Sainristil
School: Michigan
Ht/Wt: 5’9”, 182 lbs
Strengths:
Sainristil is a slot CB that brings the quickness to match a lot of the competition that he’ll be seeing in the NFL Although he is a converted WR, Sainristil actually has football instincts that are quite good. He makes plays on the ball and is able to create turnovers. I wouldn’t call him a dynamic athlete, but he has the speed to hang with most receivers, and his quickness suits his game in the slot. Sainristil is also fine with helping out down low near the line of scrimmage. He’ll make tackles against the run, and is also good at blitzing the QB from the flat.
Weaknesses:
Sainristil is undersized, which is part of the reason why he is stuck in the slot. But he isn’t one of those guys who is small, but has a stout frame. His frame is pretty slight, which leads to some trouble when physicality is involved. As a relatively newer guy to the position, he does bit on some route fakes and different stutters that savvy receivers are able to implement. He also doesn’t offer much when it comes to press coverage, and again factoring in his size, he’ll have a hard time improving his inconsistencies against the run.
Summary
Sainristil will operate out of the slot in the NFL. He won’t blow you away, but he is quietly a solid player. Sainristil has enough quickness to keep things mostly under control in the short-intermediate areas, and his turnovers have proven that he is someone that can find ways to change the game. His lack of size will limit his game, and he is still working to polish up his technique, but Sainristil does enough things well to be a solid slot CB that challenges one day for a starting gig.
| Grade: 65.5 | Round Grade: 5th |
16
CB, Chau Smith-Wade
School: Washington State
Ht/Wt: 5’10, 184 lbs
Strengths:
Smith-Wade has some cover talent, and is smooth enough to remain relatively tight on most routes. He is able to react to the movements of his opponent and follow accordingly. Smith-Wade has good ball skills. He’ll contest 50/50 balls and also reach his arm in to breakup the pass, if it is within range. He put on a good performance at the Senior Bowl and in the practices that week, which should bode well for his stock. Smith-Wade is a smart player who anticipates routes nicely. He brings some ability to make plays against the run, as well.
Weaknesses:
Smith-Wade is smooth enough to hand around in coverage, but not perfectly fluid. When watching him, there is a hint of stiffness when he is moving laterally. The grit that he plays with in run defence can come and go. I’d like to see him play with more force, more often. Another issue is that he can revert to holding when beaten down the field, which leads to penalties.
Summary:
Smith-Wade has some cover talent, and at times plays bigger than his size. However, at other times he played smaller than he is capable. I’d like to see him be more consistent. He isn’t a perfect athlete and will get beat down the field, from time to time, but he generally has enough to hold his own. At the end of the day, he might not be a starter, but he can be a very reliable depth option
| Grade: 64.9 | Round Grade: 6th |
17
CB, Qwan’Tez Stiggers
Team: Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 204 lbs
Strengths:
After the tragic passing of his father, Stiggeres elected not to play college football. But some time later, he decided to return to the game, first in the Fan Controlled Football League, and then in the CFL. Coming into the CFL as a rookie and playing as well as he did is impressive. Doing it without college experience is even more impressive. Stiggers has great instincts and ball hawking tendencies. He tied for 2nd in the CFL with 5 interceptions, and seemed to have a nose for the football all year long. Stiggers has good speed, and can also play downhill. His frame is well built, and he is a pretty reliable tackler.
Weaknesses:
Making the jump to the NFL will be an adjustment. Not just because he’ll be facing competition, but also because the CFL is a different game. With defences in the CFL lining up a yard off the ball, CB’s don’t press as often. As well, CFL offences are allowed to put their slot receivers in motion, which is a big difference. There are a lot of little things that one may be used to in one league, that they will have to forget about when they go to the other. Stiggers is a good athlete for his size, but I wonder if he has the twitch to matchup against NFL receivers. Perhaps a move to safety would be good for him. This decision could be deferred to the offseason, though, if his new team is considering it in the first place. Stiggers will also need to clean up his technique, as he transitions to the NFL game.
Summary:
Stiggers is an interesting prospect who lacks college experience, but enters the NFL already having pro experience. His size and ball hawking tendencies are very intriguing parts of his game. But in the NFL, he will need time to adjust. It is hard to say just how high his ceiling is, but it seems to be relatively high.
| Grade: 64.7 | Round Grade: 6th |
18
CB, Dwight McGlothern
School: Arkansas
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 185 lbs
Strengths:
McGlothern has a good blend of size and athleticism. At his best, he is matching up in press coverage and getting powerful jabs in on his opponent. He is always surveying the field, waiting to find a breakdown that he can pounce on. McGlothern is great at jumping and undercutting routes, especially when he is in zone or soft man, where he can come back down towards the line of scrimmage.
Weaknesses:
McGlothern makes splashy plays, but a lack of control or urgency on other plays can lead to big gains for the offence. There are times where he seems like he is sort of just nonchalantly going through the motions. At other times, poor technique will lead to a big play against. In some cases, he’ll try to get a jab in, but it won’t have an impact on the receiver. The receiver will then get past McGlothern, who is flatfooted in that moment, and unable to stay with him in coverage. He also needs to play with more urgency and effort in run support.
Summary:
McGlothern has exciting flashes that showcase his ballhawking tendencies. If you were to take the high points, and then look at his combination of size and athleticism, you have an early pick. However, the tape indicates that he is still quite raw, and will need to play with better technique and more control, as he transitions to the next level. But still, he is an interesting flyer in the later rounds.
| Grade: 61.4 | Round Grade: 6th |
19
CB, Elijah Jones
School: Boston College
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 185 lbs
Strengths:
Jones is a long CB who shows flashes of good downhill straight line speed. He made some great plays attacking the ball carrier, showing the ability to lower the shoulder and deliver a big hit, one of which resulted in a fumble. His length allows him to reach in and breakup passes at the catch point. He can even match receivers with a larger than normal catch radius, and prevent them from coming down with the ball. In coverage, Jones can read plays pretty well, which often gives him an early jump on a pass that he is looking to breakup.
Weaknesses:
Jones has good speed, but his lateral agility is below average, and it shows on a routine basis. Twitchier receivers are often able to create quick separation through jukes and stutters. In some cases, even just forward bursts are rough to separate early in the route, as Jones will lose ground when he goes to flip his hips. He is pretty clunky when turning around, and this opens up a big opportunity for the receiver to separate. Jones flashes in run support, but missed tackles also littered his tape.
Summary:
Jones projects as a depth player at the next level. His lack of lateral agility should be enough to keep him out of man coverage, for the most part. He can play in zone, but even in those cases, there are still limitations to his game. His straight line speed, long reach, and toughness should translate to special teams success in the NFL, if he can’t secure a regular role on defence.
| Grade: 57.1 | Round Grade: 7th |
20
CB, Cam Hart
School: Notre Dame
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 202 lbs
Strengths:
Hart has great size and length, which makes it a chore for receivers when he presses up at the line. His length allows him to reach into catch windows for late pass breakups. Hart has the size to contribute efforts to stop the run. I wouldn’t say he is the most physical player when he is playing closer to the trenches, but his size helps him out. Hart generally reads things well when in zone coverage, and has been able to help generate a few turnovers.
Weaknesses:
Hart has good size, but is lacking the speed and quickness required to routinely blanket receivers in coverage. He might matchup well from time to time, but I see more receivers taking advantage of the extra separation, rather than others taking advantage of not showing up. Hart is stiff in the hips and can be a bit slow to get turned around, which helps the opponent separate and get up the field vertically.
Summary:
Hart has the size and length to potentially be an asset in certain matchups. However, he lacks the fluidity for me to feel comfortable having him in anything outside of zone coverage. With some development, he can be a solid backup.
| Grade: 56.1 | Round Grade: 7th |
CB Rankings:
- Terrion Arnold (87.2, Rd 1)
- Nate Wiggins (86.4, Rd 1)
- Quinyon Mitchell (85.4, Rd 1)
- Kool-Aid McKinstry (85.2, Rd 1)
- Caelen Carson (83.8, Rd 2)
- Cooper DeJean (83.6, Rd 2)
- Nehemiah Pritchett (77.9, Rd 3)
- Renardo Green (77.3, Rd 3)
- Max Melton (76.0, Rd 3)
- Ennis Rakestraw (74.4, Rd 4)
- DJ James (70.3, Rd 4)
- Kamari Lassiter (70.1, Rd 4)
- Decamerion Richardson (70.0, Rd 4)
- Kris Abrams-Draine (65.7, Rd 5)
- Mike Sainristil (65.5, Rd 5)
- Chau Smith-Wade (64.9, Rd 6)
- Qwan’Tez Stiggers (64.7, Rd 6)
- Dwight McGlothern (61.4, Rd 6)
- Elijah Jones (57.1, Rd 7)
- Cam Hart (56.1, Rd 7)
Notables Not Graded:
- TJ Tampa
- Andru Phillips
- Khyree Jackson
- Myles Harden
- Jarvis Brownlee
- MJ Devonshire
- Jarrian Jones
- Deantre Prince
