Category: Cornerbacks

2020 NFL draft: Jeff Okudah scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah

Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

Height | 6-1

Weight | 200

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

In terms of physical tools at the cornerback position, you’d have a hard time finding a player in this class with more than Okudah.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound defensive back has great length and the bulk to keep up physically with bigger receivers in coverage. He isn’t afraid of contact, jamming the opposition well in press coverage with refined hand usage and maintaining focus on the ball in tight windows. He’s also a willing tackler who plays with a high motor in run support.

Okudah’s fluidity and athleticism is among the best in the 2020 draft. He can change direction on a dime: he might have the most flexible hips in the class. His tape showcases impressive acceleration coming out of his breaks and great closing speed when attacking the ball. In case he ever slips when defending the top of the route, he has the recovery speed to keep himself in the play.

Weaknesses

Okudah isn’t an incredibly flawed prospect, but he still has some room to improve.

Though his instincts have gotten progressively better throughout his collegiate career, they’re still a work in progress. He currently has average route anticipation and can be a split second too slow to read the quarterback’s eyes and jump a route at times. Those developing instincts hampered his ball production early in his career: he had no interceptions prior to 2019.

Okudah’s technique could use some work, as both a cover corner and a tackler. He has a tendency to arm tackle at times, and his pad level in run support could be improved. While he’s a stellar athlete, he tends to trust his athleticism too much, and his footwork and patience could be polished a bit.

Bottom Line

Perhaps no cornerback in this draft class has the upside that Okudah has. With his size, athleticism and physicality, he fits the prototype for a top cornerback prospect. If all goes well, he should be able to excel very early in his professional career.

Projection: Top 10

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2020 NFL Draft: Trevon Diggs scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs

Trevon Diggs | CB | Alabama

Height | 6-2

Weight | 207

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

If the name Diggs sounds familiar then you have seen Trevon’s older brother Stefon play in the NFL. Trevon can lean on his brother as he looks to make the jump from Alabama cornerback to NFL cornerback.

In the NFL, it is all the craze these days with long athletic cornerbacks and with Diggs, he fits that to a “t”. Diggs show the ability to use his length at the line of scrimmage in hopes of throwing off timing and re-routing the wide receiver. He uses his length to his advantage to contest catches with good back to the ball technique. Very good corner when playing in trail technique and has speed to close.

When looking at Diggs production, you wouldn’t think he has big time ball skills but his play proves it. Diggs finished his career with 17 passes defended and four interceptions including a pick six. He can attack the ball in the air and uses his length to do so.

Diggs is able to keep up with quicker wide receivers due to his footwork. You rarely see a false step with Trevon and that allows him to be in prime position to make a play on the ball. That will be a huge reason why Diggs is coveted by corner needy teams.

Weaknesses

If there is any one aspect of Diggs’ game that is concerning would be his tackling. He is a very inconsistent tackler and that can make him a liability in run game. Diggs needs to work with coaching on getting him up to speed with tackling technique, given his size being physical shouldn’t be a problem.

There will be some re-checking on Diggs’ medicals during the NFL Combine this year. He missed time in 2018 due to a broken ankle that required the team to move Xavier McKinney to corner from his safety spot.

Bottom Line

Diggs is one of the top cornerbacks in the upcoming class. The former wide receiver has the tools to help a team immediately. When he attacks the ball in the air, you aren’t sure if that is Trevon on Stefon.

Projection: Top 20

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2020 NFL draft: Paulson Adebo scouting report

Everything you need to know about Stanford cornerback Paulson Adebo

Paulson Adebo | CB | Stanford

Height | 6-1

Weight | 190

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Teams like length at the cornerback position, and Adebo certainly fits that criterion.

His 6-foot-1 frame bears lengthy arms and the size to match up physically with some of the league’s taller wide receivers. Adebo has the physicality in his skill set to jam receivers in press-man coverage, and he does a very good job of using his hands to counter release techniques and shut his opponents down. He is also a willing tackler who takes good angles and possesses the play strength to bring ball carriers down.

Adebo is more than just a big and physical corner, though, as he blends intelligence and athleticism into his game, as well. He is a patient defender who times his jumps on routes very well and fires out of his stance with great acceleration for his size. His hip fluidity is intriguing: he flips his hips with ease and has the athleticism to mirror his receivers’ routes consistently. If you’re looking for ball production, Adebo has that, too, as he has topped four interceptions and at least 10 pass deflections in each of his two seasons as a starter.

Weaknesses

Adebo did not see any playing time during his freshman year. Though he has been productive since, there are some flashes of his relative inexperience at times. His ball production is impressive, but there are times when he can be late to turning his head towards the ball and tracking it down on deep throws, thus impacting his ability to make a play on a more consistent basis.

He shows promise as a tackler, but his form could still use a little bit of work. His footwork in press-man coverage isn’t incredibly consistent yet, so considering he will likely spend a lot of his time in that role in the NFL, he should work on not wasting any steps at the line of scrimmage.

Bottom Line

Adebo is a length, physical and athletic cover man who has the physical tools that teams love at the outside cornerback position. His upside makes him one of the best prospects at his position in this draft class.

Projection: Round 1-2