2020 NFL Draft Cornerback Rankings Top Ten
10. Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
Size: 6-2, 188
The Good: Tall, long, and with great range and radius when the ball is thrown his way, he’s an interesting prospect with the all-around athleticism to get around the field without any problem. He has no problems providing a jolt – he’s more physical than his body type might make it seem – and he wins more than his share of battles for the ball.
The Not-So-Good: SLOW. He’s a great athlete who knows how to play and get to the ball, but he’s missing the raw wheels to be anyone’s No. 1 corner. He ran a sluggish 4.64 at the combine. Combine that with his okay tackling ability, and there’s just enough to drop him a bit.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: The all-around package is too good to let him drop any lower after the second round. He might not be the perfect prospect, but he made a whole lot of plays at Mississippi State with 20 career broken up passes and 108 tackles in three years.
Projected Round: Third
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9. Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn
Size: 5-10, 198
The Good: One of the best all-around athletes in the draft, he’s fast enough to get by, explosive out of his cuts, and smooth as glass when he’s closing on a play. A elite kick returner, he can change direction on a dime – he averaged 27.3 yards per try on kickoffs – and he’s fantastic against the run with 92 tackles over the last two seasons. However …
The Not-So-Good: He’s still a work in progress. He has two years of experience as a defensive back, but he’s a converted receiver who needs a whole lot of refinement. On talent alone he was able to come up with 18 broken up passes since moving to the defensive side, but he only picked off one pass.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: At the absolute worst, use him as a return man and throw him out there in nickel and dime packages. He’s going to get roasted for a while if he’s thrown to the wolves at corner, but he’s worth the effort. Give it a year or so and the payoff will come.
Projected Round: Second
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8. Jaylon Johnson, Utah
Size: 6-0, 193
The Good: A good, smart player who’ll get physical and knows how to slow down the better receivers. He’s a bit limited, but he makes up for his issues by pounding away on receivers. He got in on 102 tackles over the last three years with seven picks and 21 broken up passes – he more than held his own.
The Not-So-Good: He’s a great athlete, but the 4.5 40 speed is a wee bit slow for a No. 1 corner. That’s getting nitpicky, especially considering his game is about getting tough, but the NFL blazers will be testing him early and often.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: It’s a deep class of corners and he could slide a little bit, but he’s got the makeup to start right away for someone’s secondary. The raw skills are good enough, but he’ll go relatively high because some coach will fall in love with his toughness.
Projected Round: Second
7. Jeff Gladney, TCU
Size: 5-10, 191
The Good: A baller with great quickness and explosiveness, he attacks with a fantastic burst whenever he gets a chance to break on the ball. A more than willing tackler, he came up with 146 stops in his four years, and blew up as a ball-hawker with 26 broken up passes in the last two seasons. He makes plays.
The Not-So-Good: He’s not as big as you might like for a guy as physical as he likes to play. He might be able to move, but he’s better in short spaces and could have a few problems with the blazers. The long speed is there, but he doesn’t have that special long gear.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: There might not be enough all-around raw tools to assume he’ll be a superstar right away, but he’s a fighter who makes things happen. Challenge him, and he’ll keep coming through.
Projected Round: Second
6. AJ Terrell, Clemson
Size: 6-1, 195
The Good: Fast and long, he rolled out a 4.42 at the combine and has the length and size to hang with any type of receiver. Physical as well as fast, he can be a good fit for any style with the NFL tools to start right away.
The Not-So-Good: He’s not really built to be as physical as he was in college. He production when the ball was in the air went down a bit after a strong freshman campaign – there weren’t enough big plays with just six broken up passes over the last two seasons.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: A great all-around cornerback who’ll fall just behind the top prospects, he can do everything. He might be seen as a long corner with wheels, but he can tackle, too, with 101 stops in three years with six picks. Expect him to be a great value pick.
Projected Round: Second