Breaking down a cornerback that the Chargers could consider in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL draft.
It is difficult to find a cornerback that checks all the boxes to cover receivers at the next level. They must have ideal length, height, and weight that does not sacrifice the player’s agility and change of direction skills. Cornerbacks need to be able to match the movements of their opponent, find means to slow down their route and display the necessary coordination to prevent the catch when the ball is in the air. A fiery hunger to set the tone as a competitor and provide a strong presence in run support is also desirable.
That complete player is a rare find and even Auburn’s Roger McCreary does not score superior marks in every category. But the senior is a well-rounded prospect at the position capable of excelling in many roles for the defense. In a stacked class of cover men that all seem to have garnered recognition for one superlative or another, McCreary has largely gone undetected to no fault of his own.
Even though McCreary is not the most elite cornerback in one particular specialty of playing the position, he has plenty of upside as a developed cornerback that showcases competence across a broad range of talents.
As a four-star recruit out of Mobile, AL, McCreary committed to Auburn after a brief pledge to South Alabama. McCreary waited for his chance to make an impact, playing a reserve role for his first two seasons before earning a starting job as a junior. From that moment, he performed consistently for the Tigers’ secondary. By the end of his four-year career, McCreary tallied 135 tackles (10.0 for loss), six interceptions, and 30 passes defended in 39 games. To cap off an impressive 2021 campaign, he was voted to the first-team All-SEC squad by the league’s coaches.
As McCreary has blossomed into the cornerback prospect he is today, one aspect of his game has remained constant. McCreary is a great athlete who traverses the field smoothly with little hiccups in his footwork. His hips are quick to change course he has an easy-fire burst to the ball. Furthermore, McCreary’s fluidity allows him to glue himself to the hip of the receiver in man coverage through the entire duration of the route. McCreary’s remarkable stickiness in coverage makes him a versatile option for the defense who is a candidate to slide into the slot if required.
Even in zone coverage, McCreary’s ability to coast from threat to threat is evident. He has great instincts and feel for where the passing game will try to take advantage of the defense. Against Ole Miss, McCreary identified the receiver traveling across the formation in pre-snap motion and adapted his coverage accordingly. McCreary guarded the flat as the receivers progressed through their releases, buying time for his teammate to recover and fly to the boundary. Then McCreary turned upfield and resumed work covering the receiver that had made his way into the end zone.
The perfect execution of match coverage defense eliminated all of Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral’s read to the right side of the field. When the quick pass was taken away, Corral had nowhere to go with the football and had to frantically improvise. Auburn’s pass rush broke through the offensive line and tripped up Corral behind the line of scrimmage.
Another strong quality McCreary possesses is keen ball skills and great timing to disrupt the catch point. He exhibits maximum aggression contesting catches and raking his arms to dislodge the ball. He tracks the ball well and recognizes its final destination, especially on deep throw opportunities. This real-time processing sets himself up to elevate and make a play.
Lined up in press coverage against future Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick Ja’Marr Chase, McCreary simultaneously mirrored Chase to the sideline while landing a strong two-handed strike. McCreary kept Chase close with another extension, which forced the LSU protege to defend his inside hip from McCreary’s contact. At this point, McCreary observed Chase’s eyes locating the ball and in turn got his head around to find the ball himself.
With Chase now draped across his back, McCreary halted to a sudden stop as the ball arrived. McCreary timed his jump to match Chase’s identical leap, boxing out the physical receiver and using every inch of his frame to shield Chase from the ball. McCreary reeled in the catch with strong hands, securing the interception despite Chase’s best efforts to attack the ball as the two fell to the turf.
What is tremendously attractive about McCreary’s coverage is his recovery when beat. McCreary wipes away gaps of separation soon after they are created. He reacts to sudden changes in route pattern and closes in on the receiver with urgency. This has resulted in several timely pass breakups stemming from McCreary’s ability to bait quarterbacks and soar in front of the intended target for a clean pass breakup.
This deep incompletion in coverage against Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks, another projected first-round pick when the NFL Draft opens on April 28, is a great example of McCreary’s expertise in this area. Facing 4th-and-10 and needing quick points to mount a last-minute comeback, the Arkansas offense employed Burks on an out route against Auburn’s deep Cover 3 defense. Lined up in off-man coverage, McCreary kept a generous cushion to avoid getting dusted by Burks’ straight-line speed. When Burks broke out just past the first down marker, McCreary shot forward and gained downhill momentum. McCreary showed up on time and in stride, batting away the ball with a punctual hop in front of the big receiver and securing the Auburn win.
Recovery also includes a cornerback’s ability to forget bad plays and focus on making a difference on the next snap. McCreary has given up his fair share of touchdowns through his time in college football to high-profile receivers that are now excelling in the NFL. Yet through those shortcomings, McCreary proved he also had a short memory to rebound on the next drive with the same lockdown mentality to get a stop. Scouts and evaluators can be assured that McCreary is a mentally strong cornerback whose performance will not falter based on a bad play or two.
While McCreary is fluent in a variety of desirable traits for his position, he is not a cornerback free of flawless. On routes over the middle, McCreary was beaten often because he was slow to break on quick-slanting routes against nimbler receivers. His long speed is good, but not great. This has led to outside speedsters pulling away from him on vertical opportunities. At times, it appears he relies more on his supreme athleticism to blanket receivers instead of his football intelligence.
McCreary is an athletic, ball-hungry cornerback that can fit into almost every scheme. McCreary is deserving of first-round consideration and would be a perfect complement to Asante Samuel Jr. if the Chargers elect to spend their No. 17 overall pick on him.
