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The 2023 NFL Draft is fast approaching and the cornerback class is loaded. @TheRealForno has his top 12 cornerbacks in this class
The 2023 NFL draft is approaching and there is one thing that’s clear.
This cornerback class is insanely deep.
In my initial study, I have written up full scouting reports on 12 cornerbacks and they all received grades of at least 79.0. That is a high third-round grade and 10 of those 12 got second-round grades.
Here is how I have the class currently graded before the NFL combine and athletic testing.
The Vikings hired Brian Flores as their defensive coordinator on Monday. @MattAnderson_8 highlights 5 players the Vikings could target
The offseason in the NFL is known for changes, whether that’s with coaches going to new teams or players. On Monday, the Minnesota Vikings announced that they’d be making a change at defensive coordinator by hiring Brian Flores.
Flores was with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season as a defensive assistant, but prior to that, he was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. In his tenure with the Dolphins, he led an aggressive, blitz-heavy defense. Hearing that will give fans a breath of fresh air, especially given what we had last season under Ed Donatell.
Flores’ aggressive defense needs players who are fast and versatile, and let’s face it, the Vikings’ defense from last year is an aging unit that could use an infusion of youth. On Tuesday, Tyler Forness took a look at cornerbacks that the Vikings could target. I continued on that by taking a look at some players, including a couple other cornerbacks that the Vikings could target this offseason.
Smith is an incredibly popular selection for the Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings hired defensive coordinator Brian Flores on Monday afternoon and that has changed a lot of things for the defense. They need to prioritize man-coverage cornerbacks with the scheme change and the NFL draft is the place to do so.
Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling agrees as he sent the Vikings South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith. Here is what Easterling had to say about Smith.
“If the Vikings hadn’t had one of the league’s worst defenses, they might have been able to make a deep playoff run. New defensive coordinator Brian Flores should make a huge difference, but he’ll need some help in term of personnel, particularly in the secondary. Smith is a complete player who could step into the starting lineup as an immediate upgrade.”
Smith was selected six times in last week’s mock drafts and it’s easy to see why. His athleticism and length would be a great addition to the Vikings.
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The Vikings stay home at all five picks in the latest seven-round Vikings mock draft
The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of different ways they can go in the NFL draft. There will be some discussion on what needs are most important but the Vikings can address most of them through both free agency and the NFL draft.
In the first mock draft that we did, the Vikings took a cornerback at 23rd overall and took a wide receiver in the second with a trade down. This one, we stayed at each pick and took good players that filled needs.
The Vikings continue to get mocked the Gamecock cornerback
There have been many players mocked by the Minnesota Vikings early this offseason, but there is one player in particular who seems to be the popular pick. On Tuesday, 247 Sports continued that trend in their latest mock draft, when they had the Vikings drafting South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith.
“Smith has put together a nice resume as a versatile defender who can shadow the opposing team’s best wide receiver and is not afraid to tackle against the run. He’s an excellent corner that can be a difference-maker. “
Smith has been mocked to the Vikings this offseason because he brings with him a unique skill set of physicality and speed. With the Vikings hiring Brian Flores as their defensive coordinator on Monday, the connection between Smith and the Vikings will only grow.
Smith has all the tools to be successful in Flores’ scheme. He is a great tackler and would be a weapon for Flores when he wants to blitz. As we get closer to the draft, Smith will continue to be a name to watch.
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There could be a big need for another hit at the position.
There’s just one game left in the 2022 NFL season, as the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs gear up for a matchup in this year’s Super Bowl.
While they’re focused on that event, the other 30 teams and their fanbases turn their attention to the offseason, free agency and the NFL draft.
For the Miami Dolphins, their draft process will involve just five selections due to a number of trades and the loss of a draft pick due to tampering.
It seems like every day there’s an expert putting out new mock drafts that give fans some ideas for who their teams could select. Obviously, it’s not an exact science, but it’s more of an exercise in what teams could be thinking.
ESPN’s Matt Miller recently released his newest mock draft (subscription required) for the first and second rounds. He has the Dolphins using pick No. 51 on South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith.
Here’s what Miller wrote about the projected selection:
“The Dolphins’ first pick in this draft could focus on cornerback. The team’s best corner in 2022 was undrafted free agent Kader Kohou, so despite the presence of Xavien Howard and Byron Jones, it could use some support there. Smith is lean at 188 pounds on a 6-foot frame but has good instincts and quick feet. And he had six interceptions over the past three years at South Carolina.”
Nik Needham is set to hit free agency and is coming off of a torn Achilles, so it wouldn’t be the wisest decision to rely on him for the 2023 season. Jones, who Miller mentions, didn’t play a snap in 2022 and may be on the move to free up some cap space.
We saw what the Dolphins’ secondary looked like this past year relying on guys like Keion Crossen, Noah Igbinoghene and Justin Bethel to play meaningful snaps down the stretch. That’s not a recipe for success.
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Smith has been an extremely popular pick in mock drafts over the last two weeks
The Minnesota Vikings have a major need at cornerback. What will be fascinating is how they choose to approach the position. Brian Flores loves to utilize heavy pressure and prioritizes man coverage.
The scouting department from The 33rd Team agrees with that assessment as they sent the Vikings South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith in their latest mock draft.
“Minnesota gave up the second-most passing yards per game last season. The Vikings improve their secondary with this pick. Cam Smith (scouting report) is a confident player with outstanding quickness and has produced vs. top-level wide receivers.”
Smith is a very versatile cornerback that understands how to use his length and has the long speed and athleticism to keep up with the best wide receivers.
In fact, when the Gamecocks played against Tennessee which they won 63-38, Smith covered potential first-round pick Jalin Hyatt like a glove and limited his production. This was the same receiver who took Nick Saban to school for 210 yards and five touchdowns.
Smith would be a great addition to the Vikings cornerback room.
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The Cowboys are likely back in the market for corner help and thankfully it’s a strong class. Here’s a look at @TimLettiero’s top prospects.
With the majority of eyes set on improving the offense, it will be important for Dallas to not ignore needs on the defensive side of the ball. Numerous starters are in need of new contracts and even if re-signed, more talent is needed to keep this unit at the top of the league.
The top question mark on Dan Quinn’s unit is starting corner. Trevon Diggs is a lock as the top dog and Daron Bland played himself into a long term starting spot but when Anthony Brown’s injury ended his mediocre campaign, Dallas had to improvise.
Brown is now out of contract and of the several players who got a shot at grabbing the throne, only Israel Mukuamu showed legitimate promise, and without a ton of evidence. The external free agency class isn’t very deep, and Dallas rarely plays at the top level anyway ever since signing Brandon Carr a decade ago. Those wandering eyes now turn towards the draft as this 2023 class is loaded from top to bottom. Here are the top five corners Dallas should target come April.
The fifth mock draft roundup is here and cornerbacks continue to be popular
Mock draft season is upon us and that means our mock draft roundup is back!
What we do every week is track the mainstream outlets mock drafts and aggregate how many times a player gets selected. Last season, we tallied up 173 mock drafts and only 10 of them were on offense. This season could end up being much of the same.
We will track them and try to determine trends and patterns, along with giving my own analysis on how they could fit with the Minnesota Vikings.
This week, we tracked 25 mock drafts that had 15 different players.
Cam Smith has been a popular pick for the Vikings in mock drafts this offseason. Yahoo Sports continues that trend in their latest mock
The Minnesota Vikings have a cornerback need this offseason, especially since two of their best starters, Duke Shelley and Patrick Peterson, are set to become free agents in 2022. Luckily, this year’s NFL Draft is loaded with talent throughout days one and two.
In a Yahoo Sports mock draft by Charles McDonald, he has the Vikings fulfilling their need at cornerback by drafting South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith.
“The Vikings got off to a great start in their first season with Kevin O’Connell, but they need to continue adding talent if they want to repeat their success from this past season. Smith is a nice option at this point in the draft and has starting upside for the Vikings’ next defensive coordinator.”
Smith has been a popular pick for the Vikings throughout the early stages of mock drafts, and he’d be able to come in and provide the Vikings with additional depth in the cornerback room. Smith would have the potential to be a starter for this team for the foreseeable future, which is something they’ve lacked since the departure of Xavier Rhodes.
