Tag: Cameron Dantzler

Titans showing interest in Mississippi State’s Cameron Dantzler

Could Dantzler be the guy for the Titans at No. 29?

If their prospect meetings are any indication, the Tennessee Titans are going to try and nab at least one cornerback during the 2020 NFL Draft.

Tennessee met with a slew of them during the 2020 NFL Combine, and those meetings have continued since.

The latest reported meeting the Titans had with a cornerback came with Mississippi State corner, Cameron Dantzler, according to Justin Melo of Draft Wire.

The Titans need to start figuring things out for the future at the position, as well as adding depth for the upcoming season.

We still don’t know what will happen with Logan Ryan, and Malcolm Butler could be a cut candidate after 2020. In 2021, Adoree’ Jackson will be on the fifth year of his rookie deal, assuming the Titans pick it up and don’t extend his contract at some point before that happens.

Dantzler offers versatility, with the ability to play multiple types of coverages, and has the potential to be a lockdown corner at the next level.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound corner does need to add some weight to his frame, which is perhaps the biggest concern about his viability in the NFL.

After a lackluster 40-yard dash time at the Combine (4.64), Dantzler dazzled at his pro day on Thursday, recording a 4.38, which shows he’s got the speed to hang in today’s NFL that features more and more speedy receivers.

Most projections have Dantzler as a potential Day 1 pick, but even if he falls further than that, it’s doubtful he’ll still be around for the Titans late in the second.

It’s quite possible that if the Titans do go with a cornerback in the first round at No. 29 overall (they should), Dantzler will be the guy.

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Browns have met with Mississippi State CB Cameron Dantzler

Dantzler is of similar build and style to Greedy Williams

The Cleveland Browns have conducted another of their pre-draft prospect visits. This latest one was a virtual meeting over a teleconference with Mississippi State cornerback Cameron Dantzler.

With no in-person visits allowed this year, Dantzler met with the team from a remote location. Justin Melo of Draft Wire confirmed that Dantzler met with the Browns, one of several teams he’s spoken with in the last few weeks.

Dantzler is generally projected as a Day 2 prospect. He played well for the Bulldogs in man coverage, using his 6-2 length and good closing speed to make plays. Like current Browns CB Greedy Williams, Dantzler is lighter than ideal at just 183 pounds and looks like his frame is maxed out, and also like Williams he’s not noted for his tackling. He did miss time in 2019 with an injury.

A poor combine — he ran a 4.64 in the 40-yard dash — did not help Dantzler’s draft stock.

Report: Top CB prospect had pre-draft FaceTime visit with 49ers

Cameron Dantzler’s 40 time is up for debate, but he’s still a player the 49ers could target in the NFL draft.

The 49ers had a digital pre-draft visit with one of the draft’s top cornerback prospects. Mississippi State’s Cameron Dantzler told Justin Melo of the Draft Wire that San Francisco was among a slew of teams he met with via video chat.

Dantzler was recently in the social media spotlight after a video of an independent pre-draft workout showed him running a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash. That was after he clocked a disappointing 4.64 at the NFL combine. There were some questions about the reliability of his own workout video and whether he actually clocked in at a 4.38.

The reality is Dantzler is a good athlete on tape and probably runs in between those 4.64 and 4.38 times. He has terrific size at 6-2, 188 pounds and uses his length well to contest throws. In three years with the Bulldogs, Dantzler intercepted five balls and notched 20 pass breakups.

There was some first-round love for Dantzler early in the draft process,  but it’s hard to imagine the 49ers aiming for him as early as No. 31. If they trade down from that spot though and wind up somewhere in the middle of the second round, Dantzler is the type of corner who could step in and compete for a starting job right away. If he doesn’t win a starting job, he has a lot of tools to work with and eventually earn that role beyond his rookie season.

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Jaguars have met with Mississippi State CB Cameron Dantzler

The Jags’ top need in the eyes of most is cornerback and that could lead them to Cameron Dantzler of Mississippi State during the draft.

Most would argue that the Jacksonville Jaguars’ top need heading into the draft is at cornerback as they’ve lost two Pro Bowlers in Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye over the span of four months. That almost certainly means they will draft one in the top-3 rounds and that player just may have to start.

One player they could end up selecting is Mississippi State cornerback Cameron Dantzler, who definitely fits the mold of what the Jags like on the outside. According to our comrade at Draft Wire, Justin Melo, the Jags are one of many teams who’ve had some form of pre-draft contact with him.

The Jags’ interest doesn’t come as a shock when looking at Dantzler’s height (6-foot-3) and the top-notch competition he’s faced at Mississippi State. NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein even pointed out how he held his own against the receivers at Alabama and Louisiana State in his scouting report, two teams who most would argue had the best receiving corps in college.

By the accounts of most draft pundits, Dantzler has been projected to go anywhere between the early part of the second-round to the early part of the third. That makes the Jags No. 42 and No. 73 selections possible spots where they could acquire him. If general manager Dave Caldwell really likes him and doesn’t want to chance it, don’t rule out him trading up from either selection as he’s been known to maneuver in the second and third rounds.

Pro Football Focus thinks Mississippi State’s Cameron Dantzler and Vikings are perfect fit

Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson thinks Mississippi State corner Cameron Dantzler and the Vikings are a good match. Do you agree?

Minnesota has two cornerbacks on its roster who have shown success when they’ve been on the field. It’s the being on the field part that’s a problem.

Mike Hughes, has been injured in the past, and he’s coming off a season where he suffered a neck injury.

Also, Holton Hill has looked promising, but he served two suspensions for a total of eight games in 2019.

If those two can play in every game of the 2020 season, then the Vikings don’t have a problem at cornerback. But going with those two and not preparing for either of them to miss playing time is risky.

That means the Vikings will likely have to draft a corner in the 2020 Draft. The corner has to be good enough where the team can start him for at least a couple games and not have to worry about him. A corner like that could be Mississippi State’s Cameron Dantzler.

Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson thinks the Vikings and Dantzler are a perfect fit. Dantzler is projected to be a late first-round pick or second-round pick in many mock drafts.

The two starting cornerbacks from last season both left in free agency. Xavier Rhodes is now on the Colts and Trae Waynes is now with the Bengals. Also, Mackensie Alexander, who was the nickel corner in 2019, left for the Bengals, too.

PFF sends Bills OL, CB in 3-round mock (2020 NFL Draft)

Buffalo Bills select Damien Lewis, Cameron Dantzler in latest 2020 NFL Draft mock.

Louisiana State Tigers offensive lineman Damien Lewis. Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

The Bills don’t have many, if any, holes in their roster heading into the 2020 NFL Draft. That gives Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane a luxury.

Beane and the Bills can take the best player on their draft board when their first selection at No. 54 overall in the second round rolls around. Pro Football Focus‘ latest three-round mock draft reflects just that.

While offensive line isn’t a big need at all for the Bills, LSU’s Damien Lewis is the pick for Buffalo first:

54. BUFFALO BILLS — IOL DAMIEN LEWIS, LSU
The Bills have one of the more complete rosters in the NFL but could still stand to upgrade at right guard. Enter Lewis, who bullied his way to an 82.3 run-blocking grade last season.

Lewis is a realistic pick for the Bills, seeing as they reportedly had a pre-draft meeting with him. Draft analysts see a better run blocker in the 6-foot-2, 327-pound prospect than pass blocker, but in a situation with the Bills, he could be given time to develop that craft. Buffalo is returning their entire starting offensive line next season, so Lewis would be an option for the future.

While perhaps a potential long-term option, there is some positive praise for Lewis’s outlook. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein predicts that Lewis “should outperform his draft slotting.”

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2020 NFL Draft: The 7 best cornerbacks the Jets should target

Jets Wire takes a look at six of the top cornerbacks in the 2020 NFL draft that the Jets should target with picks No. 48, No. 68 or No. 79.

Cornerback is a position of need that the Jets will have to address in the draft.

Joe Douglas filled two starting spots with Brian Poole and Pierre Desir, but the Jets will need to take an outside cornerback on Day 2 of the draft, assuming they take a tackle or receiver in the first round. That player will compete with Blessaun Austin for the open starting spot on the outside.

So, which top cornerbacks should the Jets target between picks Nos. 48, 68 and 79? Let’s take a look at the best players to keep an eye on.

Trevon Diggs, Alabama

(Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports)

The brother of Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Trevon Diggs lines up on the opposite side of the ball. If Gang Green elects to take Diggs with the 48th pick, he could be covering his brother two times a season.

Diggs started 12 games for the Crimson Tide as a senior, picking up third-team Associated Press All-American and second-team All-SEC accolades. On the season, Diggs had interceptions and tied for the team lead with eight pass breakups, along with 37 tackles and two fumble recoveries.

Diggs has the combination of size, standing 6-foot-1, strength and ball skills to be a more than capable press cover corner at the next level.

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Cardinals go OT, CB in new 3-round mock draft

The Cardinals take Alabama’s Jedrick Wills in the first round and Cameron Dantzler in the third.

Another mock draft is out from Draft Wire managing editor Luke Easterling. In this one, there aren’t any trades but there is a surprise pick in the top five. The Miami Dolphins pass on Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the player they have been most connected for almost a year, and take Oregon’s Justin Herbert. Tagovailoa goes sixth overall to the Los Angeles Chargers.

What about the Arizona Cardinals?

Round 1: Alabama OT Jedrick Wills

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

In the first round, they go with a predictable choice — an offensive lineman.

After trading for DeAndre Hopkins, the Cards aren’t likely to spend a top-10 pick on another pass-catcher, no matter how much Kyler Murray might like to throw to CeeDee Lamb again. Instead, the Cards opt to improve the protection for their young quarterback. With D.J. Humphries back, Wills slides in as the immediate starter at right tackle.

Wills is the second tackle taken in the draft in these projections, with Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs going fourth overall to the New York Giants.

In terms of offensive linemen in the draft, Wirfs and Wills are probably the two best fits, especially at right tackle. Wirfs has experience playing left tackle as well. Wills describes himself as a natural right tackle, although he believes he can play left tackle as well.

At Alabama, Wills protected QB Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side, as he throws with his left arm.

Since the Cardinals traded for DeAndre Hopkins, many believe that probably takes a receiver off the board with their first-round pick.

That might not be the case, considering the Cardinals’ belief in their current lineup on the offensive line and their desire to give second-year quarterback Kyler Murray weapons to throw to.

Wills is a safe pick. He was fantastic in college and should be a very good addition, even as a rookie, to the Arizona O-line.

Arizona does not have a second-round pick. What about the third round?

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2020 NFL Draft: 7 CBs for Bills to consider in second round

Here are seven cornerbacks players who could be on the board for the Bills at No. 54

The Buffalo Bills first scheduled draft selection won’t occur until Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft, as the team picks No. 54 overall.

Luckily, the Bills do not have a glaring need on their roster, making this year’s draft quite intriguing. Buffalo’s front office, led by general manager Brandon Beane, can go in a multitude of directions with the pick, leaving quite a bit of interest and uncertainty with whom the Bills could select. 

This position-by-position series will take a look at several realistic options of players who may be available for the team to select. 

Here are seven cornerbacks who could be an option for the Bills in the second round of the draft:

Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White. (AP Photo/Rich Barnes)

Current roster

The Bills have one of the best cornerbacks in the league in Tre’Davious White. They also have a solid slot cornerback in Taron Johnson. Levi Wallace has played fairly well opposite White as Buffalo’s No. 2 corner, although it seems that he may have a lower ceiling than some players in the draft. To compete with Wallace, the Bills also brought in Josh Norman and EJ Gaines via free agency. 

The No. 54 pick would be a good spot for the Bills to find a high-ceiling player who could have a year to grow and develop. This would the player on track to make major contributions in 2021.

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Titans select Cameron Dantzler in Touchdown Wire’s latest mock draft

The Titans address their need at cornerback in Touchdown Wire’s latest mock.

The Tennessee Titans have addressed several needs ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, but could still afford to solidify the secondary.

While it hasn’t been a popular projection among analysts, one way they could do this is by adding former Mississippi State cornerback, Cameron Dantzler.

Mark Schofield of Touchdown Wire sees this as a possibility for the Titans with the No. 29 overall pick in the first round.

The Titans could find a way to hang onto Logan Ryan, but as noted by Schofield, both he and Malcolm Butler have struggled in the past.

Bringing in another cornerback with as much college success as Dantzler only seems smart.

“This might be a surprising selection, with both Trevon Diggs and A.J. Terrell on the board, but the Titans are looking at the scheme fit with this pick,” Schofield wrote. “A year ago, the Titans were predominantly a zone-coverage team, running zone on 64 percent of their snaps. Dantzler is solid in both zone and man coverage, while Diggs and Terrell are at their best in man coverage. That flexibility makes the Mississippi State product a wise choice for Tennessee.”

Dantzler totaled 40 tackles (31 solo), 0.5 sacks, two interceptions, eight passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 2019.

Over three seasons with the Bulldogs, Dantzler racked up 108 tackles (78 solo), 1.5 sacks, five interceptions, 20 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Only time will tell if the Titans make the move to bring Dantzler into the fold, but it certainly would give them a boost by adding a prospect with such a high ceiling.