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With the 136th pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected cornerback Marco Wilson from the University of Florida.
Arizona traded up to acquire Wilson, sending the 160th pick in this draft and a fourth-round pick in next year’s class to ensure Wilson would be a Cardinal, while also tucking away an extra seventh-round pick this year.
Wilson was a tricky prospect to evaluate after he declared for the NFL draft because of the disparity between his skills and his traits. Physically, he has everything you’d want from a shutdown corner. He’s supremely fast and strong, meaning he’ll theoretically be able to stick with opposing burners or come downhill in run support.
However, his tape tells a different story. Wilson’s freshman year was his best in terms of on-field production and it slowly grew worse. He was one of the worst cornerbacks in the SEC in terms of coverage last season and put up some truly atrocious reps for the Gators as the season wound down.
From the standpoint of many fans, the door on Wilson’s career with Florida was slammed shut when he lashed out at an opposing player during the LSU game and threw the opponent’s dislodged shoe across the field. He regretted what happened and seemed to have learned a harsh lesson, but it certainly brings up maturity concerns.
This is a big swing on Arizona’s part. It is gambling they can get the best out of his jaw-dropping physicality and squash the undesirable parts of his game. It’s an immense risk, but the payoff could be just as impressive. The most likely outcome is somewhere closer to his floor than his ceiling, but it’s easy to see him becoming a lethal special teamer who gets downhill like a blur and pile-drives opposing players on kickoffs.
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