9. Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Sometimes you want a cornerback to do just one thing, and do it better than anybody else in his draft class. In the case of Diggs, the brother of former Vikings and current Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs, that would be the ability to tie receivers up in press coverage. Last season, per Sports Info Solutions, Diggs allowed just 15 catches on 50 targets for 266 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions and an opponent passer rating of just 16.3 — which means opposing quarterbacks would have been twice as efficient throwing the ball into the stands on every snap. Any team with a lot of aggressive coverage concepts at the line of scrimmage would do well to consider adding Diggs to their cornerback room.
10. Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
Speed is an asset at any position, and cornerback is no exception. Gladney is a perfect example. At 5-10 and 191 pounds, he ran a disappointing 4.48 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, but he’s more of a 4.3 guy on the field. Per Pro Football Focus, Gladney has forced tight coverage on 79.5% of his downfield targets over the last two seasons, the sixth-best rate among all NCAA cornerbacks, and nearly 20 percentage points above the FBS average. He’s forced 46 contested catches over that time, and just 10 of those passes turned into receptions. He’s averaged 417 coverage snaps over the last three seasons, and he’s passed every test he’s been given as a boundary cornerback.
11. Grant Delpit, DB, LSU
One of the more versatile defenders in this draft class, Delpit played 385 snaps at free safety, 316 snaps in the slot and 149 snaps in the box last season, per Pro Football Focus. In 2019, he allowed 14 receptions on 22 targets for an opponent passer rating of 71.1. Delpit has the quickness, recovery speed and instincts to excel at safety and in the slot at the NFL level, but he will absolutely have to clean up a tackling style that allows far too many misses and will drive his coaches nuts at the next level.
12. C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
If you’re looking for a pure cover cornerback in this draft class, Henderson might be your guy — especially if your team plays a lot of man coverage. In 2018, Henderson played man coverage on 60% of his snaps, per Sports Info Solutions, and he allowed just 15 catches on 40 targets for 211 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and an opponent passer rating of 24.1. The Gators had Henderson playing more zone coverage in 2019 — 67% — and it didn’t go as well. Last season, Henderson gave up 20 catches on 39 targets for 394 yards, no interceptions, two touchdowns, and an opponent passer rating of 93.3. Tackling effort is also a concern, especially against the run, but Henderson is a top-level cover man in the right system.
13. Zack Baun, EDGE/LB, Wisconsin
The linebacker position has become increasingly “positionless” over the last few years, and Baun brings his own interesting versatility into that discussion. Last season, he played 664 snaps as an edge rusher and 76 as an off-ball linebacker. He totaled 12.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hits and 28 quarterback hurries for the Badgers in 2019. Over the last two seasons, per PFF, Baun dropped into coverage 195 times and allowed just 112 yards, while combining for five pass breakups and interceptions. Any team searching for a defender who can excel at two levels of the defense should be looking Baun’s way. The only question is how he’ll be able to hold up against NFL offensive tackles at 238 pounds.
14. A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa
There are those collegiate edge rushers who make the most of their athleticism to get to the quarterback while displaying very little in the way of pass-rushing moves and technique. Epenesa is not one of those guys. At 6-5 and 275 pounds, he’s able to produce at the edge and inside with a prodigious bull-rush and violent, practiced hands. Epenesa won’t blow anybody away with his burst off the snap, but the production — 22 total sacks over the last two seasons and 104 total pressures in that time — speaks to a consistency that quicker defenders might struggle to match.
15. K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
Danielle Hunter was selected out of LSU by the Vikings in the third round in 2015 despite his first-round athletic talent because Hunter was raw and needed to learn so much about the edge position. Hunter has done that in the NFL — in 2019, he put up 14.5 sacks for the second straight season and ranked second in the NFL among edge defenders with 88 total pressures, behind only Green Bay’s Za’Darius Smith (93). Chaisson projects to be a very similar player at this point in his career — coming out of LSU as an athletic marvel without much of a plan. He amassed 6.5 sacks, seven quarterback hits and 21 quarterback hurries last season with little more than the speed to beat offensive tackles around the edge. Like Hunter, Chaisson has Pro Bowl potential, but he needs to add a lot of tools.
16. Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M
Were Madubuike able to take his strength and athleticism from game to game in a more consistent fashion, he’d be an undeniable first-round pick mentioned right up there with Javon Kinlaw and Derrick Brown. The hot-and-cold nature of his game will require next-level coaching, but it’ll be worth it. Because when you turn on the right tape with Madubuike, you see a violent, disruptive tackle able to give stunning performances. In 2019, he put up 11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, nine quarterback hits and 26 quarterback hurries. The scary thing is, he could double those numbers in the NFL if he’s able to maximize his athletic potential.