No. 113: Notre Dame CB Troy Pride Jr.
Waiting until Day 3 to address the hole at cornerback was a risky proposition by the Panthers, but they landed a good one with Pride.
During his time at Notre Dame, Pride proved that he has the ball skills to make an impact in the NFL. He posted four interceptions and 18 pass breakups over the last three seasons. Pride also has speed, as he ran a 4.4 second 40-yard dash at the combine.
Pride will need those wheels to keep up with the wide receivers around the NFC South. The question mark here is if he has the size to succeed outside. Pride checks in at 5-foot-11, 193 pounds with 30 5/8 inch arms. Those are the kind of physical attributes you typically see in a slot cornerback.
Assuming that the team sees Pride as the replacement for James Bradberry, they’re rolling the dice. This pick may be the single biggest x-factor in deciding how successful this draft is. Pride will be under more pressure to perform than anyone else in this class.
Grade: B