CJ Henderson | CB | Florida
Elevator Pitch
A fluid, lengthy and intelligent cornerback with Day 1 starting potential, Henderson should be high in demand when the draft rolls around. Given how he put to bed speed concerns (which probably shouldn’t have existed to begin with) with a 4.39 40-yard dash, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him drafted in the top half of the first round.
Vitals
Height | 6-1
Weight | 204
Strengths
From a physical and athletic standpoint, Henderson has all of the tools to be a high-quality starting cornerback in the NFL.
A tall cornerback with a solid wingspan and good length on the boundary, Henderson could hypothetically pair up with some of the bigger receivers the league has to offer. He pairs that length with fluidity and burst, as he can change direction very well and accelerate coming out of his breaks at a high level. He has the long speed to keep up with speedier wideouts who can take the top off of a defense.
Henderson’s fluidity is aided greatly by his route anticipatory skills. He does a good job of mirroring routes and can also read a quarterback’s eyes well. He’s a versatile defender who can play off in man coverage, closer to the line of scrimmage in press, or guarding slot receivers as a nickelback. He also delivers a solid pop as a blitzer, and his closing speed against the run is good, as well.
Weaknesses
Henderson doesn’t have many pressing needs, but there are definitely areas in which he can improve. Among them is his ability to track the ball down, as he can occasionally fail to adjust to the ball and make a play on it in man coverage. He also has occasional issues with his balance and can slip up from time to time.
While a willing tackler, Henderson can do a better job of working on his consistency in that regard. He shows a high motor and good explosiveness on some plays, and he shows a lack of body control and poor pursuit angles on others. He can stand to bring physicality in run support on more of a regular basis.
Projection: Top 20
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