Even casual followers of the NFL Draft have probably heard the hype around this year’s cornerback class already. The more the process goes on, the more legitimate that hype seems to be.
An important thing to remember with every NFL Draft is that a player being projected as a ‘first round pick’ and ‘first round talent’ are two different things. It scales year-to-year. Team needs and just the overall availability of players the draft can significantly skew the board. Think about it this way – what are the odds that every single year, there would be exactly 32 first-round-worthy players in the NFL Draft, and that those 32 players line up positionally with what teams are looking for?
14th overall pick
Nov 6, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Devon Witherspoon (31) celebrates a win against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Throughout this series we’ve generally broken down the position ranges starting with ‘reaches’ followed by ‘first-round picks’ and then either ‘Day 2’ or ‘second round’ projections. Given all the talent at cornerback, this group is going to look a little different.
Instead of just looking at the first-round as a whole, we’re going to look at the cornerbacks the Patriots would need to use their own first-round pick on. Odds are they if they trade down, they’ll lose the chance at any of these three players. It’s not a guarantee that all three will be on the board at 14 – they probably won’t be – but it would also be surprising if all three were gone by that point. The Patriots may not get their pick of the three, but any of the three should be considered a good pick.
For Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez, there was serious consideration in adding a ‘reaches’ category. Personally, I believe Gonzalez is a lock to be a top-10 pick, but some experts suggest there is still an outside chance he falls with one of the other two top three cornerbacks being the first player at the position. Given the range, ease of motion, and football IQ Gonzalez plays with though, it’s hard to see why a team would choose another cornerback over him.
The two real considerations for the Patriots to go cornerback at 14 are a couple of Big Ten players – Devon Witherspoon from Illinois and Joey Porter Jr. from Penn State (the son of former All-Pro linebacker Joey Porter who played most of his career with the Steelers). When it comes to just those two, it’s hard to definitively say which one is a better player. It’s more so a matter of what traits the team on the clock is looking for at the position.
Witherspoon is the technician of the two. There are very few flaws in the technical part of his game, which means he should be able to come right in and compete in the NFL. He’s smart, knows what he’s looking at, reacts quickly, and sticks to receivers across an entire route tree. He’s also a strong and punishing tackler when he gets to the football.
Last year, Witherspoon had tremendous on-ball production. Opposing quarterbacks completed just 34.9 percent of the passes his way, and he recorded 14 pass breakups and three interceptions in 12 games.
If there’s anything that will give team’s pause about Witherspoon, it’s his size. He’s on the smaller side for a boundary corner at 5-foot-11, 181 pounds, but plays well beyond his frame. That may not be a concern for some teams, but if the Patriots are specifically targeting size, that may knock him down their board. At the same time, there is a Belichick connection here – Witherspoon’s coach at Illinois is Bret Bielema, a former Patriots assistant.
Porter, on the other hand, brings as impressive a physical makeup as any player at the position this year. He stands 6-foot-2, 193 pounds with 34-inch arms. At that size he ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the Combine, with a 35-inch vertical and put up 17 reps on the bench.
As expected, Porter wins with his size and athleticism. He beats receivers up at the line of scrimmage, and uses his length to shrink passing windows don the field. Porter also has significant special teams experience. Last year, Porter was targeted 30 times in 275 coverage snaps. He allowed just 15 completions for 143 yards, while breaking up nine passes.
Late 1st round
Sep 10, 2022; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs cornerback Emmanuel Forbes (13) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
While the Patriots may miss out on the top three cornerbacks if they trade down in the first round, they still should have a shot at plenty of plug-and-play guys at the position. It could be a way for them to take advantage of the depth in this class while adding additional draft assets.
When looking at this group, the first player that stands out as a real Patriots fit is Emmanuel Forbes from Mississippi State. If there are two things the Patriots have targeted in recent years in the draft, it’s college production and impressive Combine testing. Forbes checks both boxes emphatically.
Last year for the Bulldogs, Forbes led the SEC with six interceptions in 12 games – returning three for touchdowns. He also broke up 10 passes. In his three-year career, he had 14 interceptions (with six returned for touchdowns) and20 pass breakups in 35 games. At the Combine, he built on that resume by running a 4.35-second 40 with a 37.5-inch vertical.
What’s knocking Forbes down the board is his size. He measured in at 6-foot-1, but just 166 pounds. While he’ll likely put on mass once in the NFL, he could struggle in physical situations (in press, on jump balls) against stronger receivers.
Forbes also plays very aggressively. He’s more of a ‘ball hawk’ than a ‘lock down’ corner, but that’s something the Patriots could work with him on. J.C. Jackson made a similar transition once in Foxborough.
When it comes to Combine testing, NFL.com gave Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks the top ‘Athleticism Score’ among cornerbacks. He ran a 4.35 40 with a 42-inch vertical at 6-foot, 197 pounds. He’s a bit more technically raw that some of the other cornerbacks at the top of the draft, but the fact he’s handled so many different kind of assignments in his career in college should help him pick things up quicker. Still, he got caught off-guard at times last year, and was called for eight penalties in 12 games.
Cam Smith is the latest star corner to come out of a South Carolina program that has sent a number of stars to the NFL, including Stephon Gilmore and Jaycee Horn. Smith plays in a similar style to those two – he’s smart, disciplined, and uses his size (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) and athleticism to his advantage as much as possible. He had 18 pass breakups and four interceptions in 22 games over the last two years, although he was called for 14 penalties in that span. If he can work on being a little less handsy, his game could really take a leap.
Then there’s Kelee Ringo from the defending champion Georgia Bulldogs. Ringo entered the pre-draft process as the top cornerback in this class, but worries about consistency have seen him slide down the board. When he’s on, he’s on and can be the most complete corner in this class. At 6-foot-2, 207 pounds he can hold his own against bigger receivers and make an impact in the running game, but with a4.36 speed he can also run with burners down the field. However, slips in coverage and misreads got him a bit too often, which has him with this second group. If the Patriots believe their coaching staff can get the best out of him, he’d be a logical pick.
2nd round
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 03: Cornerback Julius Brents #23 of the Kansas State Wildcats intercepts a pass intended for wide receiver Quentin Johnston #1 of the TCU Horned Frogs in the second half at AT&T Stadium on December 03, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
This is, in my personal opinion, where the real focus of this cornerback class should be. All of these players would be first round picks most years, but are going to get nitpicked out of the top 32 and some even out of the top 50.
For no player is that more true than Julius Brents from Kansas State. He stands 6-foot-3, 198 pounds with 34-inch arms, but isn’t as stiff as typical big cornerbacks. He topped both agility drills for cornerbacks at the Combine with a 6.63-second 3-cone and 4.05-second short shuttle. He also has the production, with four interceptions and three pass breakups last year on 52 targets in 14 games last year, with a 4.62 completion percentage against.
What pushes Brents to the second round is his straight-line speed. He’s quick, but his 4.53-second 40 hits that he’s not going to be a guy who will cover burners man-to-man in the NFL. Still, he’s plenty fast enough to compete with bigger, more physical type receivers – the kind of matchup the Patriots will see often against the top teams in the AFC. With players like Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones on the roster, that kind of straight-line speed isn’t as much of a need.
If it is straight-line speed the Patriots want, then DJ Turner from Michigan will be their target. Turner ran the fastest 40 of any player at the Combine at 4.26 seconds, and was the only player to record a sub 4.3 time. He’s not just fast but quick, and has the change of direction ability needed to play cornerback in the NFL. He also shows an advanced understanding of route matching. Pair that with a solid 2022 season (allowed completions on 33 of 71 targets, had seven pass breakups and an interception while being called for two penalties), and he’s a logical Patriots target as long as they don’t mind adding another sub-six-foot corner to the roster (Turner measured in at 5-foot-11 178 pounds at the Combine).
We already discussed the kind of cornerback talent South Carolina has put out in recent years, and Smith isn’t alone. Darius Rush is another Combine star who ran a 4.36-second 40 and had a 45-inch vertical at 6-foot-2, 198 pounds. Rush also was one of the best players at the Senior Bowl. Rush is another physical man cornerback who plays in the style the Patriots typically like. He did convert to corner from wide receiver just two years ago, so his game is still a bit of a work in progress, which is why he’s projected to fall to Day 2. But there’s a lot to like so far.
Tyrique Stevenson from Miami is another Senior Bowl standout. At 6-foot, 198 pounds, the three-year starter (one at Georgia, then two in Miami after transferring) is more advanced technically than some of the other players on the board at this point. Another physical press-man corner, he allowed just 17 catches on 40 targets in 11 games this season with five pass breakups and two picks. He doesn’t quite have the eye-popping Combine numbers of other players at the position (4.45 40, 38.5-inch vertial, 7.09 3-cone, 4.41 shuttle), but they’re not bad by any means.
This is also where we get the first slot corner of this class, Clark Phillips III from Utah. While most projections have him in the second round, if a team feels they need a slot corner specifically he could sneak into the back end of the first.
3rd round
Stanford cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (17) breaks up a pass intended for Notre Dame wide receiver Lorenzo Styles Jr. (4) during the Notre Dame vs. Stanford NCAA football game Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. (Michael Caterina/USA Today Network)
Even getting into Day 3, there should still be cornerbacks on the board who are potential plug-and-play guys at the NFL level.
The standout player here is Kyu Blu Kelly from Stanford. A four-year starter in college and the son of long-time NFL defensive back Brian Kelly, Kyu Blu is a pure boundary corner at 6-foot, 191 pounds. He’s good in press and strong off the line, so he rarely gets beat clean off the snap. He’s another player who is getting bumped down in the projects by a less than ideal Combine in a strong class. He ran a 4.52-second 40 with a 36-inch vertical.
Jaylon Jones from Texas A&M is a similar player in this range. A three-year starter with the Aggies, Jones has overpowering size at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds. He was lock down in 2022, targeted just 19 times on 278 coverage snaps, allowing 10 catches for 94 yards. His coverage skills aren’t as refined as some other players in this class though, and while he tested well in the agility drills (6.88 second 3-cone, 4.3-second shuttle), his 4.57-second 40 ranked towards the bottom of this class. He plays faster than he tested, and some teams may value that. And if he can’t stick with receivers on the outside in the NFL, he has the instincts and tackling ability to play safety.
Then there’s Eli Ricks from Alabama, who on the surface seems like a very logical Patriots target. On top of the fact he’s from Alabama, he has the size at 6-foot-2, 188 pounds and is a former five-star recruit and high school All-American. However, Ricks hasn’t played a lot, and struggled to stay on the field at Alabama last year after transferring from LSU. He has the physical tools down, but his game still needs some development. When it comes to the Patriots, the question is what kind of review he’ll get from Nick Saban after just one year in Tuscaloosa.
There are also a couple of slot cornerbacks or hybrids expected to go in this range. That includes Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson from TCU, who is one of the most interesting players in this draft. The nephew of NFL Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson, ‘THT’ was this year’s Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation’s best defensive back. Playing almost exclusively on the boundary, opposing quarterbacks had a 42.5 passer rating when targeting him, and he then ran a 4.41 40 at the Combine with a 39-inch vertical.
However, at 5-foot-8, 178 pounds there are questions about whether Hodges-Tomlinson, can play on the boundary in the NFL. He’s more likely to transition inside to the slot. Even if he is a boundary corner, he doesn’t have the size the Patriots will be looking for at the position.
Garrett Williams from Syracuse is another player who played on the boundary in college, but projects more as a slot corner in the NFL. He’s 5-foot-10, 192 pounds and didn’t test at the Combine as he works his way back from a torn ACL he suffered in October.
Early Day 3
Purdue Boilermakers cornerback Cory Trice (23) deflects the pass intended for Northwestern Wildcats wide receiver Donny Navarro III (80) during the NCAA football game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue won 17-9. (Alex Martin/Journal and Courier/USA Today Network)
Starting Day 3 with a player who fits the mold of a guy the Patriots may jump to early. That’s Cory Trice from Purdue, who has received a lot of draft hype in recent weeks. Trice comes in at 6-foot-3, 206 pounds and still managed to run a 4.47-second 40. His game is still very raw and he’s likely a year away from being a regular contributor on defense, but his size and athleticism suggest a high upside as a hybrid cornerback/safety, as well as a player who can contribute heavily on special teams.
If the Patriots want that kind of hybrid corner/safety player, Riley Moss is another player to know. The Iowa corner measured in at 6-foot-1, 193 pounds and plays with great instincts that help him still make plays even when beat initially. Over 486 coverage snaps last year, Moss allowed 31 catches of 65 targets, with eight pass breakups while being penalized three times. One of his best games came against Ohio State’s high-powered offense full of NFL receivers, when he allowed just three catches on four targets for 28 yards on 35 coverage snaps.
Another player the Patriots may be willing to take early because of his makeup is Jakorian Bennett from Maryland. The second Terp corner on our list, he stands 5-foot-11, 188 pounds but with very long arms for his frame, helping him play bigger than his size. He also tested incredibly well at the Combine with a 4.3-second 40 and 40.5-inch vertical. He’s at his best covering deep routes and breaking passes up at the catch-point, rather than keeping things locked down in front of him. Last year, in his second year as a starter, Bennett allowed 24 catches on 54 targets with seven pass breakups and two interceptions.
In terms of more technically refined players in this range, Mekhi Garner from LSU and Terell Smith from Minnesota look like fits. Smith, in particular, is a logical Patriots target having played for them at the Shrine Bowl. At 6-foot, 204 pounds Smith plays the position as physically as any cornerback in this draft, both at the line of scrimmage and at the catch point. He also does well sticking with receivers through complex routes. He ran a 4.41 40 at the Combine.
Late Day 3
Sep 25, 2021; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Louisville Cardinals defensive back Kei’Trel Clark (13) catches the game ending interception to win the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
This group is made up of a couple more Shrine Bowl standouts in Kei’Trel Clark from Louisville, Nic Jones from Ball State and Myles Brooks from Louisiana Tech. Both being smaller school prospects they’ve fallen under the radar a bit, but both can play.
Clark was clearly the best cornerback on the field for either team at the Shrine Bowl, although he was working with the Falcons coaching staff. After watching him compete against big receivers on the boundary, blow up screens by fighting through blocks, and high-point the ball, it was surprising to see him measure in at the Combine at just 5-foot-10, 181 pounds. His game somewhat resembles that of 2022 Patriots draft pick Jack Jones, although Jones is slightly bigger. Clark will probably be a tweener in the NFL, probably playing both on the boundary and in the slot. A good fit for the Patriots stylistically, but again they may simply be looking for a bigger player.
If Clark was the best cornerback at the Shrine Bowl, Jones was a close second – and the best on the Patriots-coached West team. The 6-foot, 189-pound corner has receivers clamped all week, and is especially dominant when a receiver reaches the top of his route. He also has plenty of special teams experience, and blocked both a kick and a punt during his time in college.
Brooks, who is a bit bigger at 6-foot-1, 201 pounds has the mentality teams look for in a boundary cornerback, thriving on matchups against top receivers. At the Shrine Bowl, he was very competitive at the catch point which is a must for a big corner. His athleticism looks to be one of his better traits, but he didn’t test at the Combine.
This is also where the team may look for project corners who can be core special teamers in the future. Such players include Jarrick Bernard-Converse from LSU and Cameron Brown from Ohio State. The Patriots were at both of their pro days.
UDFAs
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 10: Steven Gilmore #3 of the Marshall Thundering Herd celebrates an interception return for a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half at Notre Dame Stadium on September 10, 2022 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Even though this class is loaded with talent at cornerback, that doesn’t mean the Patriots can’t add UDFAs in addition to their draft picks. After all, they historically have an exceptional hit rate on undrafted cornerbacks.
Rounding out our group of Shrine Bowl participants are Lance Boykin from Coastal Carolina and Eric Scott Jr. from Southern Miss. Boykin stands 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, is a former track star, and was a team captain for the Chanticleers. Although he didn’t run the 40 or agility drills at the Combine, his speed appears to be mostly linear. He could be a candidate for a switch to safety, and is definitely a potential special teams contributor.
Scott is more technically sound but doesn’t have the athleticism Boykin does (although he’s still big at 6-foot-2, 202 pounds). Multiple times during the week in Vegas, he received one-on-one coaching from Bill Belichick both on defense and special teams.
Another player who may be on the Patriots’ radar is Steven Gilmore from Marshall, who is the brother of former Patriot and 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore. The younger Gilmore stands 6-foot-2, 169 pounds, and has a track background in addition to football. Gilmore’s lean build will be something teams need to consider, but he made it work for the Thundering Herd last year. In 504 coverage snaps, he was targeted 55 times allowing 23 catches for 356 yards with seven pass breakups and three interceptions. He was also only penalized just one.
