2nd round: Noah Igbinoghene
A high school track star, Igbinoghene still holds the Alabama HS record in the triple jump. He played wide receiver in HS and started there in college before Auburn figured out he couldn’t catch or run routes very well despite being so physically gifted.
The lack of experience on defense shows. Igbinoghene has poor feel for route concepts. He grabs jersey instead of swiftly flipping his hips when a receiver gets a step. He still can’t catch.
But the athletic potential and the growth in his game from the middle of 2018 to the end of 2019 is remarkable. He’s getting better at using his eyes and not using his hands so much. Igbinoghene is a very physical tackler and has improved his press technique. As a bonus, he’s arguably the best return man prospect in the draft.
3rd round: Bryce Hall, Virginia
If you like aggressive corners who are at their best with the ball in the air, you’ll love Hall. He might be the best in the entire draft class once the ball is thrown his way, leading all of college football with 22 passes defended in 2018.
Virginia CB Bryce Hall forced an incompletion on 24.8% of targets since 2017.
2nd highest rate in college football. pic.twitter.com/7DzFVw0cl7
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) April 19, 2020
At 6-1 and 202 pounds, Hall has the natural length and strength to play press-man coverage on the outside. He’s physical in run support and doesn’t stay blocked on the outside. As an added plus, Hall is a very good blitzer off the edge (6 career sacks). His 2018 game tape was better than any other CB in this draft, including Okudah.
He’s in the third round — and could even slide farther — because of injury and speed concerns. Hall broke his ankle halfway through the 2019 season and still wasn’t ready to run at the combine in February. His acceleration to top speed when turning and running with outside receivers isn’t great, and he doesn’t have the elite top gear in chase mode. Some teams might view him eventually converting to safety as a result.