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2024 NFL draft: Bowl season cornerback big board from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon
Bowl season is starting to ramp up around the college football landscape. There have even been some interesting prospects for the 2024 NFL draft who have already played out their exhibition finales.
Up next in the positional rankings are the cornerbacks. This tends to be one of the most volatile positions over the course of a draft process, in part because athletic testing plays such a big role in how the NFL views these players as prospects.
Wide receivers (via Brennen Rupp)
2024 NFL draft: Preseason CB watch list and early rankings entering the 2023 college football season
The popular saying is true: no NFL team can ever have enough cornerbacks. More CBs are drafted each year than any other position, with no less than 36 selected in every draft since 2020.
With such a huge demand comes a giant group of aspiring collegiate corners. The early impression on the class is that there is room for a couple at the top to seize the bull by the horns and emerge as the best, while the next grouping is slightly lower-end than the similar tiers of the past couple of seasons at the same preseason point.
These are very fluid rankings. In general, these are early impressions about the NFL potential of players who still have a considerable amount of football to play before they’re drafted. Some underclassmen are included here strictly as mentions; it is not meant to advocate for a player to leave early.
After watching enough to get a baseline feel for the players, here is an early listing and my preliminary ranking for the cornerbacks in the NFL draft class of 2024.
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Gonzalez is one of the top CBs in a good class after transferring from Colorado to Oregon
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One of the more talented corners in the entire draft, Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez will look to tap into his immense physical traits to try and vault his draft value as he enters the 2023 NFL draft.
Here is everything you need to know about the Ducks defender:
Scouting report on Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon for the 2023 NFL draft
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One of the toughest defensive backs in the country, Devon Witherspoon is looking to bring his grit and tenacity into a secondary near you as he enters the 2023 NFL draft.
Here is everything you need to know about the Illinois cover man:
Scouting report on Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr. in the 2023 NFL draft
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Another son of a NFL star comes roaring out of college and likely straight into the first round, will Joey Porter Jr. experience the same success as his father? He will look to replicate it as he enters the 2023 NFL draft.
Here is everything you need to know about the Penn State prodigy:
Scouting report on North Carolina WR Josh Downs for the 2023 NFL draft
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A dominant slot receiver for North Carolina, wide receiver Josh Downs had his best season yet and will look to turn that into capital as he enters into the 2023 NFL draft.
Here is everything you need to know about the Tar Heels playmaker:
Breaking down Maryland CB Deonte Banks and how he projects in the 2023 NFL draft
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A long and fast corner with ideal size for the NFL, Maryland corner Deonte Banks will hope his physical skillset as well as improved play is enough for him to get his name called early in the 2023 NFL draft.
Here is everything you need to know about the Terrapins defender:
Scouting report for Georgia CB Kelee Ringo and what he offers in the 2023 NFL Draft
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One of the top defenders on an elite defensive unit for the national champions, defensive back Kelee Ringo will look to bring that same level of success to a defense at the next level as he enters the 2023 NFL draft.
Here is everything you need to know about the leader of the Bulldogs secondary:
2020 Buffalo Bills cornerback preview
The Buffalo Bills are a few short weeks away from arriving for training camp in Western New York. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the preseason festivities will be diminished; the team will not hold their sessions at St. John Fisher College, their training camp location since 2000.
Nevertheless, the aim of the training camp remains the same. The organization must prepare players for the preseason, which depth players will compete in their final battle for a roster spot.
Training camp could hold greater importance this year, as the trimmed down preseason slate leaves fewer opportunities for players to impress the coaching staff.
The Bills Wire will complete a position-by-position analysis of each group on the Bills roster. This edition will focus on the cornerback position:
Tre’Davious White was the story last year. He tied for the league lead with six interceptions. He earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. White’s stats include 58 total tackles, 17 passes defended, and even a sack on the 2019 ledger. Pro Football Focus gave White the fourth-best coverage grade in the league last year, even as the third-year pro habitually was manned up against the opponent’s best wideout. To top it off: he didn’t allow a touchdown his was during the regular season.
Levi Wallace started 16 games opposite White. Wallace totaled 76 tackles and two interceptions. He’s been consistent for the Bills, often an unheralded and underappreciated piece of Buffalo’s defense. Kevin Johnson played as the team’s primary reserve cornerback. However, he was called upon to start the Wild Card matchup against Houston, recording nine tackles in the playoff game because of an injury Wallace suffered in Week 17.
Taron Johnson worked out of the slot for the Bills. He piled up 50 tackles and one sack last year. Siran Neal, primarily a safety, matched up against opponents playing in the team’s “big nickel” packages.
Now here’s a rundown of storylines to follow in this position group:
White is the Bills’ unquestioned No. 1 shutdown cornerback. He took on difficult assignments in stride in 2019. The league finally recognized his contributions.
White is looking at a massive pay day if he keeps up this pace. The Bills already picked up White’s fifth-year option, so the first draft pick of the Sean McDermott era will be around for at least two more years. This gives Buffalo some time to work out a long-term agreement with White.
The challenge for White will be for him to erase the memory of the Wild Card game. The Texans moved wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins out of the slot in the second half, and he put immense pressure on White. Hopkins is exceptional, but for White to continue to be mentioned among the league’s best, he’ll have to shut down the best of the best out wide.
Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Notre Dame cornerback prospect Troy Pride, Jr.
Pride is a speedster on the outside. His speed allows him to cover a lot of ground. Projects as a backup at first with plenty of room to grow into an eventual starter. Does his best work when asked to play off man or in trail technique.
Height | 5-11
Weight | 193
Class | Senior
Pride does a good job of closing on ball carriers with his top level speed. Click and close is on full display. Has speed to keep up with vertical route runners. What he lacks in length, Pride makes up for with his quickness and footwork. Has the agility to play either outside or nickel cornerback.
Has good football instincts, reads the quarterback well when playing in zone coverage. Can limit a receivers production with his technique. Does well in off man coverage but can also press at the line. He could do a better job at re-routing the receiver but there are definitely flashes of the good here. Defensive backs coach should only help his development there.
Teams that like a competitive cornerback will love Pride. He is like a bulldog on the field with his demeanor. Likely a guy who will get under the skin of receivers and force them out of their game. Despite a lack of ball skills, did a good job of breaking up passes with 18 passes defended in three seasons.
Pride wasn’t a true ballhawk at the position during his time with the Fighting Irish. Only a handful of interceptions to show for it. He created just five turnover opportunities in four seasons. He has a habit of being grabby downfield that could draw the attention of referees at the NFL level. Will need to focus on technique to limit the number of flags thrown in his direction.
Pride will need to do a better job of closing on receivers in the NFL, he doesn’t contest well enough on the jump ball. He does lack the length that some defensive coaches desire so he needs to win on athleticism when climbing the ladder at the catch point. The physical part of his game is concerning, doesn’t provide much in run support.
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