NEW Scouting Report: Top Cornerbacks

Travis Hunter - Colorado 

- Not wasting too much time.  An elite talent who won't last until our draft pick.

Jahdae Barron - Texas

- Strengths: Versatile player who can excel both outside and in the nickel position. Potential day-one starter for the Bucs and I feel could be the best Bucs’ nickelback since Ronde Barber. He’s an aggressive tackler and consistently around the ball; a well-rounded player. 

- Weaknesses: Primarily played zone coverage, with limited man-to-man experience, but that aligns well with Bowles' scheme.

Will Johnson - Michigan 

- Strengths: A true outside corner and arguably the best cover corner in the draft, second only to Hunter. Fits seamlessly into Bowles' system and has strong familiarity with cover 3 and cover 4 schemes. Excellent timing when jumping routes. 

- Weaknesses: His ability to jump routes was aided by Michigan’s dominant front seven, which pressured quarterbacks and limited their chance to get to second and third reads.  Johnson knew this and played to its advantages. Not the most aggressive tackler.

Trey Amos - Mississippi 

- Strengths: A highly athletic and physical player. Does a lot of hand fighting. Better fit for a man-to-man scheme. 

- Weaknesses: Early in his career, he may face penalties for holding and pass interference due to a tendency to rely heavily on his hands while in coverage.

Shavon Revel - East Carolina 

- Strengths: Capable of playing inside or outside and a great athlete. Very effective blitzer and a standout special teamer with multiple blocked field goals. 

- Weaknesses: Concerns about health and injuries; his hands are decent but not exceptional.

Maxwell Hairston - Kentucky

- Strengths: Well-coached at Kentucky, disciplined, and has a knack for making plays on the ball. 

- Weaknesses: More suited to zone coverage; likely a third or fourth-round pick in my view.  Doesn’t do anything spectacular. 

Darien Porter - Iowa Stat 

- Strengths: Good length, very coachable, and an excellent special teams player with a blocked field goal and punt to his credit. Effective tackler. 

- Weaknesses: May be more of a system player, but Bowles could appreciate his coachability.

Azareye’h Thomas - FSU 

- Strengths: Strong in press man coverage while also capable in zone; a good athlete with sticky coverage skills. 

- Weaknesses: May not align perfectly with Bowles' preferred coverage style.

Cobee Bryant - Kansas 

- Strengths: A true outside zone cornerback who is adept at finding the ball, has good hands, and is a physical tackler. 

- Weaknesses: Slightly undersized, but plays with physicality; not the strongest jam at the line of scrimmage, though that's not a primary requirement for our corners.

Summary: I hope we draft a cornerback within the first four rounds, with Barron standing out as a well-rounded football player. I still feel like Bowles should play more M2M defense, to be able to mix it in more.  And you have to play it more to be good at it when you need it.  I favor selecting strong man-to-man cornerbacks and teaching them zone techniques, as that typically translates well. Although Barron, Johnson, and Revel showcase the athleticism to be effective man defenders when needed. Porter and Bryant could also fit well into Bowles' system. I wouldn’t mind drafting two corners, similar to when we selected Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting in the same draft.