The Houston Texans couldn’t quickly bolster their secondary with two picks and a little fortune in the 2022 NFL draft.
The Houston Texans need help everywhere heading into 2022.
One area where the Texans could instantly upgrade with two picks in the 2022 NFL draft is in the secondary. Some mocks have the Texans taking Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton with the No. 3 overall pick.
While much attention is given to the fact Houston’s 4-13 record scored them a top-5 pick in the draft, it also provided them with a top-5 pick in the second round. At pick No. 37, Houston has as close to another first-round pick as you can get.
Who can Houston take in that range to complete the overhaul of their secondary?
Enter Auburn cornerback Roger McCreary. Although the 6-0, 190-pound defensive back is projected to go in the bottom portion of the first round, if McCreary gets passed over for other needs, he could be available for the Texans.
Luke Easterling from the Draft Wire was able to visit with McCreary, and the former Auburn product gave a glimpse into how he plays as a cornerback.
Pre-snap, I look at down and distance. When I do that, I see what situation I’m in. After that, I look at the receiver alignment; do they own the hash on the outside? Because that can eliminate a lot of routes just by looking at the alignment on the field. When I do that pre-snap, I look at the play, and I’m set on my techniques and what I’m going to do on that play. I got to know my cutback, so that’s another thing, too; my technique. When the receiver comes off the line, depending on the receiver; is he a quick guy, is he a strong guy? Sometimes I’ll be more physical and try to interrupt them at the line of scrimmage. I look at the heels, that’s the main thing. I always look at the heels. If you get beat, that’s the main thing, so I don’t look up. I try my best to look at the heels, and I’d say I do great at that.
It might take Houston using one of their third-round picks to package with their second-rounder to move up to McCreary. However, as general manager Nick Caserio showed in his first draft last season, if there is a player they believe can help, they will make the move to get him.
Tyler Browning ( @DiabeticTyler ) takes a dive into the film of the player who would lock down the opposite side of the field as Trevon Diggs.
The Dallas Cowboys have massively benefitted from a jump in play for second-year corner Trevon Diggs. But what about the rest of the CB position? Jourdan Lewis is locked in until the end of the 2023 season, and Anthony Brown’s deal expires following 2022. The Cowboys recently invested in Nahshon Wright with the 99th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and Kelvin “Bossman Fat” Joseph with the 44th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
What does the long term plan at the position look like for the Dallas Cowboys? Will Brown be re-signed? He will be 30 when he is looking for a new deal and Lewis will be 29. Will Wright and Joseph develop into quality starters? Can the Cowboys wait for those answers before addressing that position again? Many a wise person has said draft for talent as free agency is meant to fill for needs on your roster.
If Auburn cornerback Roger McCreary is available when the Cowboys are on the clock in the 2022 NFL Draft, they may be very tempted to take him. A dive into the tape to figure out why is necessary.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Auburn cornerback prospect Roger McCreary
When you’re talking about top cornerbacks in the 2022 NFL draft, one name that often comes up is Auburn’s Roger McCreary.
With 29 pass deflections and 6 interceptions over the last three seasons, McCreary solidified himself as a dangerous defensive back over the course of his collegiate career. He tied for the best PFF grade in press coverage in the nation in 2021, and his shutdown style of coverage have many analysts projecting him in the first round come this April.
Draft Wire had the chance to speak exclusively with McCreary about his tenacious mentality, his upcoming Senior Bowl performance, which cornerbacks he models his game after, and more.
JI: You finished off this season as a consensus All-American and received an invitation to the Senior Bowl. How do these accolades feel, and how do you keep grounded with all your successes?
RM: I’m glad I got invited to the Senior Bowl. Growing up out of Mobile, I feel like that was the biggest compliment to me, with that and being All-American, I feel like it was great for me. It feels like it’s my time, but I still gotta keep pushing. I know I have to prove more, so I’m gonna keep pushing and try to accomplish more goals.
JI: What are you looking to get the most out of the Senior Bowl?
RM: I’m looking to go up against some great receivers. I really want to see Jalen Tolbert, I know him and I want to go against Jahan Dotson, so I’m just looking to go against all the great receivers and be coached by NFL coaches. I feel like it’s going to be a big opportunity for me to see how the next level is and being coached by professional coaches.
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JI: You had the most forced incompletions and the highest grade in press coverage from Pro Football Focus this year. What kind of mentality do you have to have in those physical coverage situations to thrive like that?
RM: It’s a competition. I try to go against the best receiver every week. With that, I’m just trying to work on what I need to do [and my] technique to go against the receiver. I just press on that the whole week, and when the game comes through, I just try to do my work. My grades, this year I feel like I did great. We’re trying to try different techniques. I don’t do the same technique with every receiver, so I try to do different stuff with different people, and I’ve been doing different training every week.
JI: Let’s picture you lining up against a receiver. What are the first things you’re looking at pre-snap, and as the receiver shoots off the line of scrimmage?
RM: Pre-snap, I look at down and distance. When I do that, I see what situation I’m in. After that, I look at the receiver alignment; do they own the hash on the outside? Because that can eliminate a lot of routes just by looking at the alignment on the field. When I do that pre-snap, I look at the play, and I’m set on my techniques and what I’m going to do on that play. I got to know my cutback, so that’s another thing, too; my technique. When the receiver comes off the line, depending on the receiver; is he a quick guy, is he a strong guy? Sometimes I’ll be more physical and try to interrupt them at the line of scrimmage. I look at the heels, that’s the main thing. I always look at the heels. If you get beat, that’s the main thing, so I don’t look up. I try my best to look at the heels, and I’d say I do great at that.
JI: Which cornerbacks have you grown up idolizing?
RM: When I was growing up, I’d always watch Champ Bailey. I’d just always see him where the ball was. When I was young, I didn’t understand everything he was doing, but I just knew he was great at doing it. As of now, my favorite cornerback I look up to is Jaire Alexander. He’s not a big guy – we’re like the same height – but I feel like when he’s attacking [the ball], he plays like a big guy. I like how he plays, and that’s what I look up to the most. I watch him, I watch every 1-on-1 he has against people, and that’s the person I look up to the most.
(Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
JI: How do you like to spend your free time outside of football?
RM: I like to compete, so I love to play games like NBA [2K] and Madden and compete with people on that. I like to bowl – even though I’m not that good at it, I try [laughs] – I took golf class, I try to compete with that. Any competition is fun: Bowling, golf, I even tried to skate against somebody once. Whoever’s around me, I just like doing activities with my friends.
JI: Who’s your go-to team in NBA2K?
RM: I always gotta go with Giannis Antetokounmpo [and the Bucks]. It’s crazy because I never lose games. I get mad if I lose, but I don’t lose.
JI: Let’s say I’m an NFL general manager. What would I be getting if I drafted you to my team?
RM: You’re getting a hard worker. Even though I’m quiet, I feel like I lead by example. No matter what, I’m gonna give it my all. [I bring] leadership; I’m gonna talk when I need to.
Roger McCreary was one of the best cornerbacks in college football in 2021.
The NFL will call his name earlier in the 2022 NFL draft coming up in a few months.
Matt Miller of The Draft Scout predicts that McCreary will go to the Dallas Cowboys with the 28th overall pick in his latest seven-round mock draft.
Here were his thoughts on the selection.
It’s hard to top what Dallas has done in the draft recently with star-like CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs, and Micah Parsons; they need that same energy this offseason to reload in key spots. Opposite Diggs, there is an opening at cornerback and Roger McCreary’s length and toughness at the line of scrimmage are tailor-made for Dallas.
The only other Auburn Tiger in his seven-round mock draft was Owen Pappoe who has announced that he will not be entering the NFL draft and will stay another year at Auburn.
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On Christmas, Matt Miller of The Draft Scout (paid subscription), released a Christmas Day mock draft and the Auburn Tiger found himself in the first round.
He had McCreary slated to go the Cincinnati Bengals with the 25th overall pick.
Here’ what miller wrote about the selection.
“I really wanted an offensive tackle for the Bengals here, but none are on the board. That’s a situation to monitor in free agency or even a draft-day trade up. For now, we address a secondary that could still use help with the stout, sticky cover man Roger McCreary.”
The mock draft was two rounds and McCreary was the only Auburn Tiger mentioned. Former Auburn quarterback Malik Willis was paired up with the Washington Football team with the 11th pick.
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He posted on his social media pages that he will not play in Auburn’s upcoming bowl game, the Birmingham Bowl, and he will be focusing on getting ready for the 2022 NFL draft.
McCreary was one of the best defenders in college football and according to PFF, lead the country in pass breakups.
His ability to play close to the line of scrimmage as well as off-ball will provide some versatility and value to any NFL team that drafts McCreary in the NFL draft.
He has risen and essentially became a lock to be a first-round selection for a team.
The Cowboys have nailed it with their early-round picks on defense in the last two drafts (Trevon Diggs, Micah Parsons) and keep it going with the talented McCreary. He’s a thicker bodied cover man with great speed and lock down experience in the SEC. He’s ready for the Dallas starting lineup.
McCreary is expected to be drafted in the mid to late first round.
Matt Miller, of The Draft Scout (Paid subscription), released his updated 2021 NFL draft Big Board on Friday.
He ranked McCreary as the number 19 player in this year’s draft class.
This ranking put him as the number two cornerback in the class behind Derek Stingley Jr of LSU.
Other SEC players ahead of McCreary included offensive tackle Evan Neal of Alabama, offensive tackle Charles Cross of Mississippi State, defensive tackle DeMarvin Leal of Texas A&M, linebacker Nakobe Dean of Georgia, wide receiver Jameson Williams of Alabama, and Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral.
Miller also put McCreary on the “All Scouting Senior Bowl Team.”
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Here are the post-regular season grades for Auburn.
Auburn had a disappointing finish to the year. But still, there were some bright spots.
There were some individual game performances that shouldn’t be forgotten, like Bo Nix’s magic game against LSU, Auburn’s first win in Baton Rouge since 1999. Or Auburn’s comeback win vs Georgia State. Or Roger McCreary’s performance in the Iron Bowl. Or Auburn’s win over Ole Miss (now ranked No. 8). There were so many moments that fans can look back on and enjoy, even with the breakdown the Tigers had in November.
For Auburn’s individual units, there were some ups and downs, but overall I think the Tigers can make improvement at every position group heading into next season.
Here are the post-regular season grades for Auburn.
“McCreary has been excellent in coverage all season, with 14 pass breakups and two interceptions, including a pick six, to lead the SEC in passes defended,” The Athletic wrote. “He’s PFF’s highest-graded cornerback in the Power 5 and was included as a projected first-round draft pick in Brugler’s latest mock draft.”
In their latest mock draft, they had McCreary going to the Arizona Cardinals with the 32nd pick in the first round.
“McCreary committed to South Alabama in high school because he believed it was going to be the best scholarship offer he would get,” ESPN’s Mark Schlabach wrote. “Auburn’s coaches finally came around to offering him after his senior season, and he has developed into one of the best lockdown cornerbacks in the country. This season, he had 49 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and 14 pass breakups.”
ESPN’s Todd McShay ranks McCreary as the 13th best prospect ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, and the No. 2 corner, trailing just LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr.
